World War I diary, 1918-1919

Discrete manuscripts, 1713-2011 and undated, contains numerous small manuscript collections, printed material, and other items for which no creator or provenance information could be identified. The 19th-century American currency includes United States and Confederate States currency, bank notes, and state and city currency. The autograph album for "Willie" contains signatures, quotes, and aphorisms written by classmates of a young child named Willie. Willie's school is not named, but was most likely located in Rock Island, Illinois. The Canadian missionary papers, 1880-1920 and undated, is a collection of notes, correspondence, reports, photographs, and clippings apparently related to a series of mission trips to various Canadian provinces, including Newfoundland, Labrador, and British Columbia. At least one of these mission trips was focused on educational reform in Birchy Head, Newfoundland, and the collection includes what appear to be several examples of elementary student writing assignments. The House on the Hill guestbook, 1959-2011, contains signatures from guests and visitors to Augustana College's House on the Hill, including several notable guest speakers, local and regional celebrities, and potential candidates for faculty and administrative positions. Letters and drawings, 1866 and 1878, contains two sketches of a bird and a stag sent to Clara A. Brown of Rock Island from George W. Reynolds, and a letter, 18 August 1866, from Anna Neal of Skeldrake, New York, to her brother, Elias Thompson of Preemption, Illinois. The letter describes her home life and her loneliness and longing for a visit from her family. The merchandise ledger, 1851-1858, lists items and services sold to and payments rendered by patrons of a general store, probably located in Rock Island. The scrapbook, circa 1890s, in box 21 contains illustrations clipped from various 19th-century magazines and art books. Predominant among the images are pastoral scenes, young children, farm animals, religious iconography, and fruit. The World War I diary, 1918-1919, appears to have been created by Augustana Book Concern employee Clarke L. Swanson, who was assigned as a district accountant and then a secretary for the First Polish Division of the Y.M.C.A. during the latter part of World War I. The diary contains approximately one year of entries, beginning with Swanson's voyage to Europe, describing his activities and work at the Y.M.C.A. headquarters in France, and ending with his return voyage to the United States in July 1919.