Collection Summary
Willard B. Prince collection of World War
I maps and related materials 1917-1949
1917-1949
G5831.S65 coll .P7 Vault : Prince
Prince, Willard B., 1888-1949
336 items
336 pieces chiefly of printed maps,
manuscript maps, manuscripts
32 containers
English
Collection material in English
Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
The Willard B. Prince collection of World
War I maps and related materiels contains Prince's wartime diary, manuscript maps,
printed maps, postcards, photographs, letters, personal papers, military reports, and
other materials. Sgt. Major Willard B. Prince served as a mapmaker in the 5th Division
of the United States Army during World War I. After the war, Prince worked for the
Downtown Athletic Club and conceived of the idea for the Heisman Trophy. A limited
number records related to that history are present.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Prince, Willard B., 1888-1949, cartographer.
Prince, Willard B., 1888-1949--Correspondence.
Prince, Willard B., 1888-1949--Diaries.
Prince, Willard B., 1888-1949.
Stevenson, Kenyon, 1895-
Organizations
United States. Army. Division, 5th.
Subjects
Argonne, Battle of the, France, 1918--Maps.
Saint-Mihiel, Battle of, Saint-Mihiel, France, 1918--Maps.
World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France--Maps.
World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France--Vosges Mountains.
Places
France--History, Military--20th century--Maps, Manuscript.
Scotland--Maps.
Vosges Mountains (France)--History, Military--20th century.
Provenance
Gift of Marjorie Prince Howard (daughter), March 2006.
Processing History
The collection of Willard B. Prince was arranged and described in March 2006.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Willard B. Prince is governed by
the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Geography
and Map Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance
notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Willard B. Prince collection of World War I maps and related
materials, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1889
1910
Born and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts, where he attended school. Entered
college at the Boston School of Fine Arts and graduated in 1910.
1917
1918
Became a cartographer and sergeant in the American Expeditionary Force during
World War I. Prepared intelligence maps for the 5th Division, which saw combat in
the Vosges, St. Mihiel, Argonne Meuse and East of the Meuse offenses. Designed the
Division’s crest. Prince claimed he was the first American trained in aerial
photography under the French at Chaumont. Received the Verdun Medal and the Silver
Star for bravery on the battlefield. Kept a diary of his wartime experiences.
1919
Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major.
1935
Elected chairman of the Downtown Athletic Club and conceived of the idea for
the Heisman Memorial Trophy.
Scope and Content Note
Consists principally of maps, some annotated, of France and of individual territories
and regions of France during World War I. In addition, there are postcards, photocopied
aerial views (many negatives) of ancient cities and fortresses, as well as various
letters and a wartime diary. Materials related to his work with the Downtown Athletic
Club and the Heisman Trophy are available.
Container List
Container
Contents
1.
War Diary, Willard B. Prince. June 1917 - December 1918
June 1917 - December 1918
Field Book 360 1. The Vosges, St. Mihiel.
Argonne-Meuse and East of the Meuse offenses.
2.
Field Book 2. September 30,
1918
September 30, 1918
Headquarters Detachment of 5th Division. G-2-C Intelligence Section.
Guide regarding aeroplane photographs.
Confidential: Asst. Chief of Staff-GA, 5th Division.
3.
Fifth Regular Division Book.
Presented to Willard B. Prince by the 5th Division Society.
Includes maps by Willard B. Prince.
See pages 6, 364, 424.
4.
"Told from the Inside by former Regimental
Sergeant Major W.B. Prince, 5th Division Headquarters."
Six pages.
Handwritten.
5.
Reminiscence of a Topographical Man in the U.S.
Army.
Four pages.
U.S. Army Headquarters, 5th Division, American
Expeditionary Force. Luxembourg.
6.
Headquarters Fifth Division.
November 21, 1918
November 21, 1918
21 pages.
American Expeditionary Force, France. Report of the Part Taken by Fifth Division
in Operations of the First Army from September 26 to November 11, 1918.
Report by Commanding Major General H.E. Ely.
Presented to Willard B. Prince by G.E. Office.
7.
Newspaper photo of the Mauretania. 1918
1918
From annotation: "The Mauretania as she looked in war
time. My berth was six high in the smoking room. Left. N.Y. June 4, 1918 with no
convoy, as she was a fast ship and considered able to avoid submarines. Land[ed]
in Liverpool thence to France."
8.
"Battle maps of Napoleon, Foch and Pershing by
Willard B. Prince, Formerly Regt. Sgt. Major, G-2-6, A.E.F. A Story."
In tan folder.
9.
Collection of eight photographs. 1918
1918
General Hanson Ely.
Seven soldiers - U.S. Official - W.B. Prince,
farthest to the right. U.S. Official 28294.
Signal Corps picture of farm house and wagon.
U.S. Official 40045.
Note on verso: "Just before Armistice, Nov. 11,
1918. I slept in the French Chateau."
Three soldiers studying a map.
Bombed out church interior with soldier in
center. U.S. Official 31344.
Pontoon bridge over a small river with a
soldier. U.S. Official 40070.
Field and small town in background. U.S.
Official 40098.
Bridge with two horses and eight soldiers. U.S.
Official 85386.
10.
Map on cardboard. November 2,
1918
November 2, 1918
Taken November 2, 1918.
Annotation: "November 4-5 1918, Fifth Division crosses here."
Annotation: "This aeroplane photograph taken while Germans still held town. They
can be seen in the streets between A-B. November 6, 5th Division, HQ, Red Cross
hospital (2), shell holes, bridges destroyed in all places. Dun-sur-Meuse, church
on the hill. Note shadow of plane."
11.
5th Division Crest Design by Willard B. Prince.
Color and black and white.
Used in World War II.
12.
First Reunion of 5th Division.
List of 5th Division's units.
13.
Field Order No. 1. May 15,
1919
May 15,
1919.
Last Division Order: "Who won the war?"
14.
Three French Maps. 1918
1918
Enemy Order of Battle Showing German Divisions
Engaged by the 5th Division. Sgt. W.B. Prince, G-2. Map.
6th Infantry at Treves by W.B. Prince.
West of the Meuse, October 12 - November 4;
East of the Meuse. November 4 - 11, 1918
1918
15.
Scrapbook page.
Enlisted June 1917, Beverly, MA, before draft.
Joined field hospital #30.
Later transferred to HQ of 5th Division.
16.
Scrapbook page.
Annotation: "I was the first man in the American Army
to be trained in aeroplane photography and work under the French..."
17.
Scrapbook page.
Two photographs with notes.
18.
Scrapbook page.
Document granting Willard B. Prince advancement to
Sergeant Major.
19. and 20.
Scrapbook page.
Awarding of Verdun Medal to W.B. Prince.
21.
Scrapbook page.
Letter from King George to American
soldiers.
22.
[Aerial photograph composite] Taken from a German
Dugout South of Metz. September 13 - 18, 1918
September 13-18, 1918
German title: Bodenstaendig an die abloesende Truppe
abgeben.
23.
A.B.C. Railway Guide.
Railway Guide Map, Scotland.
24.
Map showing route of the Fifth Division from the
Base Ports to the Training Areas, then to the Front and lastly to the "Army of
Occupation" Zone.
Manuscript map by Willard B. Prince.
25.
Four letters and one memorandum. October 15, 1918
October
15, 1918
Related to the discharge of Sgt. W.B. Prince.
Photograph of front lines.
26.
(Manuscript) Maps to Show the Movements and
Locations of the 5th Division in France. 1918
1918
Map showing route of the 5th Division.
The Anould Sector Held by the 5th Division.
July 14 - 15, 1918
July
14 - 15, 1918
The St. Die Sector Held by the 5th Division.
July 16 - August 23, 1918
July
16 - August 23, 1918
Map of Frapelle. Map Operations of the Fifth
Division in St. Mihiel Offensive. September 12 - 17, 1918
September 12 - 17, 1918
Trench lines in defense of the 5th Division
sector.
Operations of the 5th Division West of the
Meuse, Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Map 1. October 12 -
November 4, 1918
October 12 - November 4, 1918
Operations of the 5th Division West of the
Meuse, Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Map 2. November 4 - 11,
1918
November 4 - 11, 1918
Area Occupied by the 5th Division in Belgium
and Luxembourg. 8a. Enemy Order of Battle in the Argonne-Meuse Offensive.
St. Mihiel Offensive.
Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
November 1918
November 1918
German map showing troop positions. May - June, 1918
May
- June, 1918
27.
Letter from Charles Weber to Willard B. Prince.
August 29, 1918
August
29, 1918
Handwritten letter.
28.
"Permanent Record and Data" book by Willard B.
Prince. 1905 - 1936
1905 - 1936
Comments on Prince's role in the establishment of the
Heisman Memorial Trophy by the Downtown Athletic Club.
29.
Downtown Athletic Club Journal. October 1949
October
1949
Portrait of Willard B. Prince on the cover and article
dedicated to the memory of Willard B. Prince on page 1.
30.
Confidential Memo, HQ, 5th Division. September 30, 1918
September 30, 1918
Annotation: "Maps to be distributed before an
attack..."
31.
Liberty. March 24, 1928
March
24, 1928
"Balloon Buster of Arizona..." Illustration annotated
by W.B. Prince.
32.
"Post Cards of Europe and the War. W.B.P."
293 postcards.