Royal W. Brouard papers
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Abstract
This collection consists of material pertaining chiefly to Royal Willis Brouard's U.S. military service during and after World War I. It includes military-issued maps of France, memorabilia, correspondence, photographs, printed documents, and a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings pertaining to the War. The collection also contains Brouard's enlistment and honorable discharge papers.
Biographical Note
Royal W. Brouard was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. about 1891. At the age of 18, in November of 1909, he enlisted with the 12th Company of the New York Coast Artillery of the National Guard (13th Coast Defense Command). On August 5, 1917, he was drafted into federal service. The 13th Coast Defense Command became the 59th Artillery, Coastal Artillery Corps, and Brouard served with Battery F of the 59th Artillery. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of October 20, 1918 notes that "The 59th, with its 1,100 members of the old 13th as its nucleus, is, of course, essentially a Brooklyn regiment, with a Brooklynite, Col. Sydney Grant, its commander." The 59th Artillery was the first Brooklyn organization sent to the line of battle in France and participated in the St. Mihiel drive, the Verdun offensive, and the battles of Argonne Forest and Romagne. Battery F in particular was recognized for its work at the Argonne.
The 59th Artillery returned home to New York on January 24, 1919, and Brouard returned unwounded on the battleship USS New Hampshire. He remained a member of the National Guard, achieving the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on December 24, 1920. In April of 1921, he resigned and received an honorable discharge from the National Guard.
Scope and Contents
The materials in this collection are arranged first by topic and then chronologically. They span the dates 1909 to 1922, with the bulk of the material dating from 1918 to 1919. Materials are comprised of military records, printed documents, correspondence, memorabilia, maps, and a scrapbook. The military records give evidence to Brouard's service in both the United States Army and in the National Guard. These records include enlistment records, appointments, and honorable discharge papers. Included are maps of the Vosges region in France that indicate the Allied Forces front line on July 18 and 19, 1918, and September 5, 1918.
The collection also contains the complete run of The Daily Log, the onboard daily publication of the USS New Hampshire during its voyage from January 9 to January 23, 1919 from France to New York City. Included with The Daily Log is a postcard bearing a photograph of the New Hampshire addressed to Mrs. R.W. Brouard and dated January 10, 1919. Also included is a scrapbook that primarily contains newspaper clippings from the wartime period. The clippings date from 1915 to 1925, with the bulk dating from 1918.
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Royal W. Brouard papers, 2006.005, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Kim Peters, 2006.
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Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level.
