Louis S. Bauer Papers, 1911-1919

  • IdentificationMidwest MS Bauer L
  • TitleInventory of the Louis S. Bauer Papers, 1911-1919, bulk 1917-1918
  • PublisherThe Newberry Library Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections Midwest Manuscript Collection Chicago, Illinois.
  • Date
    • 1911-1919
    • bulk 1917-1918
  • OriginationBauer, Louis S., 1894-1975
  • Physical Description0.2 linear feet (1 box and 8 digital images)
  • RepositoryNewberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections
  • Location1 4 5
  • AbstractLetters written to Louis S. Bauer while serving in the army during World War I at Camp Grant near Rockford, Illinois. Correspondence is primarily from his siblings, with some from other family and friends. Letters document life for the Bauer family in Chicago during World War I. Includes approximately 50 postcards, most produced in Germany, a few of which have messages sent to Louis while in Europe. Also contains physical and digital photographs.
  • LanguageEnglish.

Gift, Susan Kroesche, 2017.

The Louis S. Bauer Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

The Louis S. Bauer Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Louis S. Bauer Papers, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Catherine Grandgeorge, 2018.

Chicago World War I solider and accountant.

Louis Sebastian Bauer was born in Chicago on Sept. 24, 1894 to Henry Michael Bauer and Catherine Lange Hoerner Bauer. His siblings included Henry J. Bauer (1887-1925), Barbara Louisa Bauer Rose (1889-1929), Catherine or Cathryn M. Bauer Butzen (1897-1979), and Bernard Jacob Bauer (1904-1968).

Louis enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was in basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Illinois. Louis served as a clerk, and was eventually sent to France and Germany. He served in the 6th Illinois Infantry, 86th Division, 344th Infantry Co. I. After the war, Louis married Kit Irene Peters in 1920 and worked as an accountant in the Chicago area until the death of his wife in 1942. He moved to Amboy, Illinois with daughter Mary Lou and worked for the Green River Ordinance until his retirement in 1962. Louis died in Rochelle, Illinois on May 27, 1975.

Letters written to Louis S. Bauer while serving in the army during World War I at Camp Grant near Rockford, Illinois. Correspondence is primarily from his siblings Cathryn, Henry, Barbara, and Bernard, with some from other family and friends including his brother in law Joseph Rose. Letters document life for the Bauer family in Chicago during World War I. Includes approximately 50 postcards, only a few of which have messages sent to Louis while in Europe. Many of the cards were produced in Germany. Also contains two photographs, one of the Bauer family and one reproduced photograph of Louis Bauer. Additional digital photographs, mostly of Bauer in Europe during World War I, are available online.

Correspondence is arranged chronologically with miscellaneous at the end. Postcards are in original order.

  • NamesBauer, Louis S., 1894-1975
  • Subject
    • Bauer family
    • World War, 1914-1918
    • Families of military personnel -- Illinois
    • Manuscripts, American -- Illinois
  • Geographic CoverageCamp Grant (Ill.)