By Johnamarie Macias and Nicole Milano
Title: Ashley W. Olmsted Collection, ca. 1917-1960
Predominant Dates:1943-1946
ID: RG2/015
Creator: Olmsted, Ashley W. (Ashley Williams) (1915-2005)
Extent: 5.5 Cubic Feet. More info below.
Arrangement: This collection is partially processed. Box 1 contains papers and the scrapbook and is arranged alphabetically by folder title. The artifacts in Boxes 2 and 3 and other memorabilia in Box 4 are arranged by size.
Languages: English
Educator Ashley Williams Olmsted (1915-2005) was an American Field Service (AFS) ambulance driver during World War II. The Ashley W. Olmsted Collection consists of correspondence, papers, newsletters, a scrapbook, and memorabilia related to his involvement with AFS.
The Ashley W. Olmsted Collection consists of correspondence and official papers documenting his application process with the American Field Service (AFS), correspondence from AFS that was sent to Olmsted’s family during the war, a leather portfolio that was likely carried by Olmsted during the war (containing documents formerly stored inside the portfolio, including promotion notices, ribbons, and his Geneva card and license), a scrapbook created by Olmsted in 1950 (which contains papers and items from the war, including a loose movement order and letter of service which were formerly stored in between the front cover and first page), and post-war AFS student exchange program newsletters (1953-1960.) The collection also includes documents and correspondence from AFS to Olmsted’s family during the First World War, including a newsletter from the Buffalo Unit Ambulance Committee, an AFS Bulletin and report, and a letter from Stephen Galatti thanking Mr. and Mrs. George W. Olmsted for donating ambulance No. 612 (1917.)
The collection also contains a significant amount of artifacts, including military uniforms and apparel, a netted tent, visor cap, garrison cap, white canvas belt, leather belt, and insignia, buttons, patches, and other memorabilia related to his service as an ambulance driver. The memorabilia also includes a post-war AFS Stephen Galatti Heritage Society award, which was presented to Olmsted or his family at an unknown date.
Alternate Extent Statement: 4 boxes
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research. The scrapbook and some artifacts are fragile and should be handled with care.
Use Restrictions: Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be submitted in writing to the Archives. In the event that this research becomes a source for publication, a credit line indicating the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs is required. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Acquisition Method: The Ashley H. Olmsted Collection was donated to the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs at an unknown date.
Appraisal Information: No items were deaccessioned, separated, or removed from the collection.
Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], [Date]; Ashley W. Olmsted Collection; Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs, New York, NY.
Processing Information: This collection was partially processed by AFS Archives staff at an unknown date, and again by Johnamarie Macias in March 2011. Preliminary finding aid written by Johnamarie Macias and Nicole Milano in 2011 and encoded in EAD by Nicole Milano in 2011 under the scope of the 2010-2011 Basic Processing grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
