Manuscript Group 1082 Jack C. Richer Papers, 1917 – 1919
Archives Documents, Manuscripts, Maps, & Photographs
Manuscript
Group # 1082
Jack C. Richer Papers
Papers,
1917 – 1919
32 folders (3 boxes)
Processed by C.A.L.
Updated by S. Sullivan
February 2000
Biographical
Sketch:
Jack Richer was born in Newark in 1893, attended Barringer High
School, graduated from Rutgers College in 1913, and New Jersey
Law School in 1916. After graduating from law school Jack
joined the United States Navy for two years, 1917-1919 and
followed his military career by working for the New Jersey State
Highway department and then the Newark Water Department.
Scope and Content Notes:
The Jack C. Riucher Papers consist of letters Richer sent and
received during his military service in World War I, and spans
the years 1917-1919. The collection also includes various
military documents pertinent to Richers service, as well as
newspaper clippings and other memorabilia. Much
of the material documents the experiences of a Jewish family in
New Jersey during World War I. Elements of the collection are in
Yiddish.
The collection has several research values. Richers
correspondence provides information on his experience in war-time
France, and more importantly, the full interchange of letters
between Richer and his family reveals ways in which the war
affected the life of a Jewish family in Newark. Also, the
effect of the war on Newark itself are evident through this
collection. These papers are pertinent to research on war,
women, ethnic groups and urban history.
Provenance:
This collection was donated to the Society as a gift from the Richer
Cousins Club in 1978. This organization is comprised of
various family members of the Richer family dedicated to the
research, and preservation of the Richer family heritage.
Manuscript
Group # 1082
Jack C. Richer Papers
Papers,
1917-1919
Inventory
Folder
Description
1-3 Jack Richer to Barnett C. Richer, 1917-1919 (approx. 85 items)
Richers letters to his father, written in Washington,
Newport, Paris, and elsewhere.
Chiefly concerning his military training and experiences. Several
items are written in Yiddish
4-6 Jack
Richer to Jennie Richer, 1917-1919 (approx. 100 items)
Richer’s letters to his sister Jennie describing his
experiences on arriving in France.
Characterizes life in that country, and contains specific references to the
activities of Jewish soldiers in the A.E.F. Numerous enclosures are filed with their
respective letters.
7
Jack Richer to Eva Richer, November 28, 1918 (1 item)
Richer describes the A.E.F.’s Thanksgiving dinner to his
sister
8
Jack Richer to friends, 1917-1919 (approx. 10 items)
Written in France, these describe wartime experiences
9
Letters from Howard Richer, 1918-1919 (approx. 8 items)
Chiefly pertain to family matters
10-13 Letters from Jennie
Richer, 1917-1919 (approx. 100 items)
Chiefly pertain to family matters
14
Letters from Pauline Richer, 1917-1918 (approx. 10 items)
Richers sister writes chiefly about family matters but also
describes her employment at Prudential Insurance in Newark
15
Letters from Israel Richer, 1917-1919 (approx. 15 items)
Richers brother writes chiefly about family matters
16-17
Letters from Anna Richer, 1917-1918 (approx. 75 items)
Richers sisters letters chiefly concern family
affairs. Her November 1918
letters comment on peace celebrations in Newark
18-19
Letters from Eva Richer, 1917-1919 (approx 50 items)
Richers sisters letters chiefly concern family
matters. One, February 21, 1919
describes a visit to a Newark spiritualist
20-28 General Correspondence,
1917-1919 (approx 600 items)
Letters to and from friends concerning the war, the Rutgers
alumni association, Newark’s commission form of government and other subjects
29
Papers referencing Navy Service, 1917-1919 (approx 15 items)
Contain military service documents, including a description of
Richers tour of duty
30
Newsletters 1917-1919 (approx 30 items)
Published by War Service Bureau, Rutgers University, informing
Rutgers alumni in the armed forces of Rutgers activities
31
Rutgers Alumni in Military Service, (10 items)
Materials pertinent to Rutgers alumni in the armed forces
32
Miscellaneous (approx 10 items)
Includes, among other things, French playbills from the war era
