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Frank F. Newth PapersFrank F. Newth Papers1914-1999 (Bulk: 1914-1927)5 boxes (3.5 linear feet)Call no.Call no.: MS 1012

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Read collection overviewFrank “Nick” Newth was born in Lynn, Mass., on Oct. 9, 1895, the son of shoe cutter Charles H. Newth and his wife Mary HobartBrackett. A talented baseball player in high school, Newth used his sport connections to become a manager, and eventuallyowner, of a billiard parlor. On October 5, 1917, however, he was drafted for service in the First World War an deployed to Francewith the Quartermaster Corps in January 1918. Unusually, for most of his service, Newth was posted in northwestern France(Abbeville, Amiens, Rouen) as a disbursement officer for American troops serving with the British Expeditionary Force an thendisbursing to the wounded in base hospitals. He was promoted to Corporal in May 1918, and ended his overseas service in May1919 as a Sergeant working with the Quartermaster’s financial unit. After returning home, Newth married his longtimesweetheart Letitia “Letty” Crane, with whom he raised a family of four. He worked as proprietor of the New Buick Billiard Hall until1928, when he opened a successful business selling rubber tires in southern New England. Newth died on May 29, 1979, and isburied in the Forest Chapel Cemetery in Barrington, R.I.

Frank Newth, ca. 1918

The Newth collection consists of many dozens of letters written between Frank Newth and his fiancee Letty and other membersof his family back home in Lynn, Mass., while his served with the Quartermaster Corps in the First World War. Although his lettersare subject to the censorship typical of that war, Newth was an excellent and observant writer and because often served near thefront, but in a support role, he had time and energy to write. His affection for Letty (and hers for him) come through in everyletter, but Newth also discusses his duties in the service, recreation and travel, and the sights and people of France. Thecollection also includes a fine letter describing the relief after the Armistice went into effect; a brief, but outstanding typed diarykept during the early months of his overseas service; and a small handful of pamphlets, keepsakes, and official papers.

Background on Frank F. NewthBackground on Frank F. NewthFrank, “Nick”, Newth was born in Lynn, Massachusetts onOctober 9, 1895 to shoe cutter Charles H. Newth and his wifeMary Hobart Brackett. Growing up, baseball had a huge impactto Newth’s life and eventually led him to Worcester Academy,where he played on the baseball team through high school.After Worcester Academy, Frank briefly worked for Blue Seal OilCompany, which is where his letters to his longtime girlfriendLetitia, “Letty”, Crane begin. During his time here, he was draftedfor World War I on October 5, 1917. In January of 1918, Newthwas deployed to England for a short period of time before beingtransferred to northwestern France (Abbeville, Amiens, Rouen),where he remained for the entirety of his deployment. WhenFrank was transferred to France in February 1918, he wasreassigned to the finance department of the Army. By the end ofhis service, he had been promoted to Sergeant and thenpromoted again to Corporal. During his short month-long stay inEngland, Frank and his unit tried to visit as much as they could,including the oldest Cathedral in the country. When walking intothis Cathedral, the church officials played "The Star SpangledBanner," which was the first time the anthem was played sincethe cathedral was built.

When World War I ended in November 1918, Frank finallyreceived news that he would be returning home to Lynn,Massachusetts in May 1919. After returning home, he marriedhis longtime girlfriend Letitia “Letty” Crane, with whom he raiseda family of four. Newth became a business owner of the NewBuick Billiard Hall until 1928 when he then decided to openanother business selling tires in southern New England. Rightbefore his death, Frank hand wrote a part of his memoirdescribing not only his time in the military, but also his life withLetty. Newth died on May 29, 1979, and is buried in the ForestChapel Cemetery in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Scope of collectionScope of collectionThis collection features dozens of letters between Frank and Letty, as well as Frank’s handwritten diary kept during the war,pamphlets from the places he traveled, original pictures, and official papers.

In his letters home, Frank describes his experiences during World War I, details of which were subject to the censorshipcommittee. In many of the letters, parts of Frank’s writing was cut or crossed out to protect national safety. Although his letterswere censored, he still tried to share as much of his life with Letty as possible through stories of travel, people in his unit, andcontemplation of their future together. In over 300 letters back and forth, Letty and “Nick” talked about everything from whatthey were feeling to finances to their families. Their affection for each other is shown in every letter. Even when they did not havemuch news to exchange, they still made sure to write to each other frequently, focusing on the hope of being reunited soon.

InventoryInventoryCorrespondence1917-1919Correspondence1917 Nov

Box 1: 3Correspondence1917 NovBox 1: 4Correspondence1917 NovBox 1: 5Correspondence1917 DecBox 1: 6Correspondence1917 DecBox 1: 7Correspondence1917 DecBox 1: 8Frank receives news of deployment and writes last letter to Letty before leaving

Correspondence1918 JanBox 1: 9Correspondence1918 JanBox 1: 10Correspondence1918 JanBox 1: 11Correspondence1918 FebBox 1: 12Transferred to France

Correspondence1918 FebBox 1: 13Letter from Bill, Letty's brother, to Ma

Correspondence1918 FebBox 1: 14Promoted to finance department

Correspondence1918 MarchBox 1: 15Correspondence1918 MarchBox 1: 16Correspondence1918 MarchBox 1: 17Correspondence1918 AprBox 1: 18Correspondence1918 AprBox 1: 19Correspondence1918 AprBox 1: 20Newspaper clippings of French refugees

Correspondence1918 AprBox 2: 1Letter from Hal, an old friend, to Frank

Correspondence1918 AprBox 2: 2Correspondence1918 MayBox 2: 3Correspondence1918 MayBox 2: 4Correspondence1918 MayBox 2: 5Letter from Ed, an old friend, to Frank

Correspondence1918 MayBox 2: 650 cent paper money

Correspondence1918 JuneBox 2: 7Correspondence1918 JuneBox 2: 8Correspondence1918 JuneBox 2: 9Correspondence1918 JuneBox 2: 10Photo of the Sergeant in one of Nick's letters

Correspondence1918 JulyBox 2: 11Correspondence1918 JulyBox 2: 12Correspondence1918 JulyBox 2: 13Correspondence1918 JulyBox 2: 14Correspondence1918 JulyBox 2: 15Correspondence1918 AugBox 2: 16Correspondence1918 JulyBox 3: 1Pressed poppy sent from Nick

Correspondence1918 AugBox 3: 2Letter from Jim, friend who is now in the Navy, to Nick

Correspondence1918 AugBox 3: 3Correspondence1918 SeptBox 3: 4Letter from Schoppert, friend who is now stationed in Bordeaux, to Frank

Correspondence1918 SeptBox 3: 5Correspondence1918 OctBox 3: 6Letty writes about the influenza epidemic in the United States

Correspondence1918 NovBox 3: 7Recommendation letters for Frank to be promoted to a commissioned officer

Correspondence1918 NovBox 3: 8Letty writes about V day on the State-side

Correspondence1918 DecBox 3: 9Correspondence1918 DecBox 3: 10Correspondence1919 JanBox 3: 11Correspondence1919 FebBox 3: 12Correspondence1919 FebBox 3: 13Old newspaper clipping of Nick on the Worcester Academy baseball team

Correspondence1919 MarchBox 3: 14Correspondence1919 MarchBox 3: 15Letter from Tom Power to Nick

Correspondence1919 MarchBox 3: 16Certificates appointing Nick first to Sergeant then to Corporal to the Army

Correspondence

1919 AprBox 3: 17Correspondence1919 AprBox 3: 18Correspondence1919 AprBox 3: 19Correspondence1919 Apr 16Box 3: 21Correspondence1919 MayBox 3: 21Frank receives news on when he is returning home

Correspondence1927Box 3: 22CorrespondenceundatedBox 3: 23Correspondence: fragments1914Box 4: 1Correspondence: cards1917-1918Box 4: 2Correspondence; cards1918-1919Box 4: 3Correspondence: letters of recommendation1918 Oct-NovBox 4: 4American Expeditionary Forces, Headquarters Services of Supply Extract1918 SeptBox 4: 5Booklet: "Legal Suggestions for Soldiers and Sailors and Their Dependents"1918Box 4: 6Brochure: Saint-Malo, Franceca. 1917Box 4: 7Brochures, viewbook: Mont Saint-Michel, Franceca. 1917Box 4: 8Brochures: Winchester, Englandca. 1916Box 4: 9Diaryca. 1918Box 4: 10Diary: transcriptundatedBox 4: 11Envelopes1917-1918Box 4: 12Map: France1918

Box 5: 1Memoir, handwritten1979 MayBox 4: 13Memoir, transcript1979Box 4: 14Military manuals1918Box 4: 15Newspaper clippings1999Box 4: 16Personal objectsca. 1918Box 4: 17Includes a key, a bullet, a tag, and mandolin string.

Photographs1918Box 4: 18Frank Newth and Letty Crane

Postcard: Vieilles Maisons sur la Sommeca. 1917Box 4: 19Programsca. 1918Box 4: 20Quartermaster: daily pay rate charts1918Box 4: 21Quartermaster instructions1918Box 4: 22Quartermaster sergeants' training schoolca. 1918Box 4: 23Twomey, Harry E.: evening school of shorthandca. 1918Box 4: 24U.S. Naval Forces stationeryca. 1918Box 4: 25Viewbook: Abbeville, Franceca. 1917Box 4: 26Viewbook: Amiens, Franceca. 1917Box 4: 27Viewbook: Paris, France (Galleries Layette)1917Box 5: 2Viewbook: Paris, France1917Box 5: 3War Department: public voucherca. 1918Box 4: 28Wedding Invitation: Crane Letitia and Newth, Frank

1919 NovBox 4: 29Wedding Invitation: McCarty, Adelaide and Lynch, Austin1919 NovBox 4: 30

Administrative informationAdministrative informationAccessAccessThe collection is open for research.

ProvenanceProvenanceGift of Lee Roberts, Jan. 1918

Processing InformationProcessing InformationProcessed by Alyxandra Bassile-McCarthy, October 2018.

Language:Language:English

Copyright and Use Copyright and Use ((More informationMore information ) )Cite as: Frank F. Newth Papers (MS 1012). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts AmherstLibraries.

Search termsSearch termsSubjectsSubjectsWorld War, 1914-1918

Genres and formatsGenres and formatsCorrespondencePhotographs

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