Scope and Content
The Peter Shemonsky collection documents Shemonsky’s 30-year career in the United States Army. Spanning from 1898-1970, the collection contains artifacts; civilian papers; correspondence; creative works; a diary; maps; military papers; other manuscript materials; periodicals; printed matter; scrapbooks; and digital prints.
Artifacts consist of a postcard of quartermaster depo in Jeffersonville, Indiana, a booklet produced by the military for distribution, "The Soldier's Ration," and various membership cards from clubs and organizations. Civilian papers include a certificate attesting to Shemonsky’s membership in the St. Jude Apostolate Church and photocopies of his certificate of naturalization and medical certificate of death. The correspondence chiefly consists of twenty-four letters from Peter to his wife, Olga, sent during his military career. Topics covered include Shemonsky’s posting, activities, and his relationship with Olga. Three additional items include a letter from Ray Slenderson to the veteran, a Christmas card from Shemonsky to an unidentified individual, a letter from Willie Worton to the veteran, and a letter from Research Collection at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, to Olga. Creative works consist of poems and songs created by the veteran about the military and war. The diary is a set of seven small pages documenting a day of travel by train on April 29, 1905.
Of noteworthy interest, the military papers in the collection extensively document the administrative aspects of Shemonsky’s service. Topics cover transportation requests, pay, reimbursement, assignments, retirement, pension benefits to Olga, and various other topics related to Shemonsky's career. Several oversize items include certificates of commission and a discharge letter from Walter Reed. Periodicals include the September 1930 edition of the newsletter, "The Retired Men's News." Printed matter includes a card, a musical score, and a clipping from "Army Register" and "Officers of the Army." One of the scrapbooks contains 32 black and white photographs, taken by Shemonsky, and one clipping during his time at Fort Banks in Winthrop, Massachusetts, and Camp Meade in Maryland. Scenes captured include camp life, scenery, training exercises, and various individuals. The oversized scrapbook contains invitations, clippings, certificates, letters, ephemera, and numerous photographs documenting Shemonsky's personal and military life. Digital prints contain images of Shemonsky in uniform, Olga, his wife, and another unidentified individual.