Salvator Cillis Correspondence, 1917-1919

Salvator Cillis (September 5, 1892-February 17, 1966) was born in Potenza, Italy and immigrated to New York with his family in 1901. He worked as a sign painter at The Levy Company before being drafted for service in World War I attached to the 77th Division, 306th Infantry. This collection is composed of illustrated letters, postcards and envelopes produced by Cillis during this period (1917-1919). The correspondence covers his basic training at Camp Upton, Long Island before being sent to France and often invokes a sense of humor while discussing military life, with descriptions of the quality of food at Camp Upton, a snowball fight with other soldiers, everyday aspects of training, as well as his experiences abroad. Illustrations in pen and ink, and watercolor, depict fellow soldiers, and scenes from both Camp Upton and France. Cillis' letters are mainly to Morris Van Veen, William Chasin and Dorothy M. Harris, his coworkers at the Levy Company.