This collection contains a myriad of information concerning the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Philippine-American War, 1899-1902, and the veterans organizations associated with the war. Correspondence and personal accounts written during the war and occupation as well as newspaper clippings and photographs reveal details and effects of the war. The later correspondence and materials refer to the history of the First and Second Volunteer Infantry Association, the Thirty-eighth U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association, and the United Spanish War Veterans. Photographs and newspaper clippings accompany the organizational materials to supplement the other information. Non-military correspondence is also included in this collection concentrating on Mr. Hudson’s years at Arkansas Industrial University.
Walter Cole Hudson was born July 17, 1879, in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas, the son of James Madison Hudson. Walter attended Arkansas Industrial University (now the University of Arkansas) at Fayetteville from 1895-1897. In April 1898 the United States declared war on Spain; men, including Walter, petitioned Arkansas Governor Daniel Jones for service in the State Guard. The First and Second Arkansas Volunteer Infantry were organized and Hudson entered the service in May 1898. The regiments saw no action and he was mustered out in October of that year. However, the Philippine population rebelled against American rule and the 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry was organized for service. Hudson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He spent the years 1899-1901 in this particular regiment with most of his service being in the Philippines. After being mustered out in 1901, he was offered commission in the regular army, which he declined and returned to Pine Bluff, engaging in banking until the banks collapsed during the Depression. In 1907, he married Nellie Ray Brian. After the bank collapse, Hudson went into the real estate business.
Walter Hudson was actively involved with several war related organizations: The First and Second Volunteer Infantry Association, the Thirty-eighth U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association, and the United Spanish War Veterans (U.S.W.V.). However, the local chapter of the U.S.W.V. was given the most attention. The local camp, established in 1927, was named in honor of Hudson. He served as Officer of the Day for five years and was Department Commander of Arkansas in 1943. In these organizations, annual encampments were held which Hudson attended until his death in 1968.
NOTE: When requesting materials please specify collection number [M89-34], box number, and file number.
Arrangement: The collection is divided into four series which include: Series I, Non-Military Materials; Series II, Military Materials; Series III, Veteran Organizations’ Materials; and Series IV, Oversize, Books, Maps.
Series I – Non-Military Materials: Biographical Materials; Personal Papers; Non-Military Correspondence; Folk Stories and Historical Vignettes; Diary; Notebook; General Materials; Non-Military Clippings and Photographs
Series II – Military Materials: Spanish-American War Correspondence; Philippine Occupation Correspondence; Rosters of the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry and the 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry; History and Service sketch of Company C, 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry; Summary of Principal Events Involving 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry; War narratives by W.C. Hudson; Military Manuals; Publications on the Spanish-American War; Philippine Occupation Newspaper reports; Military Administrative Papers; Military orders; Military Clippings and Photographs
Series III– Veteran Organizations Materials: 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence; Materials and Dues Record; 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence and Materials; Uncle Sam’s 123 Boys’ Association; United Spanish War Veterans (U.S.W.V.) Correspondence, Materials and Dues Record; Roster of Members of W.C. Hudson Camp No.8, U.S.W.V.; Bank Statements; Organizational Clippings and Photographs
Series IV – Oversize, Books, Maps: Scrapbook; Nametags; Gubernatorial Commissions; U.S. Army Commission; Newspaper Reprint; Map; Photograph Album; American Flag; Photographs
Series I – Non-Military Materials
Box 1
File 1 – Biographical Materials, 1898-1945
File 2 – Personal Papers, 1879-1927
File 3 – Non-Military Correspondence, May 4, 1878 – December 28, 1895
File 4 – Non-Military Correspondence, January 30, 1896 – September 20, 1899
File 5 – Non-Military Correspondence, May 2, 1900 – December 1, 1904
File 6 – Non-Military Correspondence, January 7, 1905 – October 19, 1925
File 7 – Non-Military Correspondence, March 22, 1935 – October 16, 1945
File 8 – Non-Military Correspondence, July 1, 1946 – September 14, 1960
End of Box 1
Series I – Non-Military Materials
Box 2
File 1 – Folk Stories and Historical Vignettes
File 2 – Diary, 1896
File 3 – Notebook, Undated
File 4 – General Materials
File 5 – Non-Military Clippings, 1918-1961
File 6 – Non-Military Photographs
Env 1 – Walter Cole Hudson, c. 1950
Env 2 – Walter Cole Hudson, c. 1950
Env 3 – Walter Cole Hudson
Env 4 – Walter Cole Hudson with two unidentified ladies
Env 5 – Walter Hudson with an unidentified group
Env 6 – Walter Hudson with unidentified women, 1956
Env 7 – Walter Hudson with unidentified man, 1958
Env 8 – Walter Hudson with unidentified man
Env 9 – Walter Hudson with unidentified man
Env 10- Charles Payne, Co. B., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf., 1942
Env 11- Charles Payne, Co. B., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf. 1942
Env 12- Leo V. Burchett, Co D., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf. 1946
Env 13- Ray McKinney, Co. D., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf., his wife & Mrs. Robert T. Black, 1946
Env 14- W. D. Rogers, Co. B, 38th U.S. Vol. Inf. at his store near Lexington with Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Robert T. Black 1946
Env 15- James H. Self, Corporal of Co. D., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf. with Mrs. Self, Mrs. Robert T. Black and daughter Sybel Self 1946
Env 16- Mr. James H. Self, Corporal of Co. D., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf. with Mrs. Self, Mrs. Robert T. Black and Self’s grandson 1946
Env 17-20- Unidentified Photographs
Env 21- Residence of Edward W. Scales 1st Sgt. Co. D., 38th U.S. Vol. Inf. Petersburg Indiana, c. 1910
Env 22- Two Unidentified Men, Date Unknown
End of Box 2
Series II – Military Materials
Box 1
File 1 – Spanish-American War Correspondence, May 5, 1898 – October 18, 1898
File 2 – Philippine Occupation Correspondence, January 29, 1899 – December 25, 1899
File 3 – Philippine Occupation Correspondence, January 2, 1900 – April 27, 1900
File 4 – Philippine Occupation Correspondence, May 2, 1900- June 25, 1900
File 5 – Philippine Occupation Correspondence, July 4, 1900 – December 27, 1900
File 6 – Philippine Occupation Correspondence, January 4, 1901 – December 18, 1901
File 7 – Rosters of the 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry
File 8 – Rosters of the 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry
File 9 – History of Company C, 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry
File 10- Service sketch of Company C, 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry
File 11- Summary of Principal Events Involving 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry
File 12- Service Record Summary of the 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry
File 13- W.C. Hudson’s Account of Spanish-American War and Philippine Occupation
File 14- War narrative by W.C. Hudson
File 15- Military Manuals
File 16- Publications:
Soldiers in the Philippines: A History of the Insurrection by William Thaddeus Sexton, 1944
The Spanish-American War by John Schoenborn, 1945
File 17- Publications:
Life, Travels and Activities of Col. William D. Rogers: Past Commander-In-Chief United Spanish War Veterans, Georgetown, Ky., 1966
Map and History of Cuba by Lieut. E. Hannaford Published by Mast. Crowell & Kirkpatrick Springfield, Ohio, 1897
Military Telegraph and Telephone Stones Philippine Island
Spanish War Veterans Poems, G.I. (Galvanized Iron) Brown, Poet Laureate Kansas Department United Spanish War Veterans
The 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry in the Philippine Insurrection of 1899 to 1901 by Robert T. Black of Company “D”
File 18- Publication:
Report of the Adjutant General of The Arkansas State Guard 1897-1900: Including the Period of the Spanish-American War by Brig. Gen Arthur Neill Acting Adjutant General, 1900
File 19- Philippine Occupation Newspaper reports:
“The Filipinos Lose an American Friend” (Amzi B. Kelly) by F. S. Marquardt (Special Correspondent The Detroit News)
The Manila Times “Aguinaldo Captured by Funston: Story of the Capture as Related by General Funston, Manila, Philippine Islands, March 29, 1901
File 20- Military Administrative Papers, 1898-1899
File 21- Military Administrative Papers, May-August 1900
File 22- Military Administrative Papers, August-December 1900
File 23- Military Administrative Papers, 1901-1902
File 24- Military Administrative Papers, 1904-1939
File 25- Military Administrative Papers, c.1900
File 26- Military Orders in the Philippines, August 20, 1898 – July 1, 1908
End of Box 1
Series II – Military Materials
Box 2
File 1 – Military Clippings, 1898-1901
File 2 – Military Photographs
Env 1 – Walter Hudson, John? c. 1890
Env 2 – 2nd Lt. E.G. Abbott, 38th U.S. Vol. Inf., c. 1898
Env 3 – Col. Anderson, Co. C 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, c. 1898
Env 4 – Ashley M. Badders, c. 1898
Env 5 – Philip A Bloom Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia, July 10, 1898
Env 6 – R. D. Blunchard, 1st Lieutenant in 38th U.S. Vol. Inf., c. 1898
Env 7 – Lynn Brinkley, Fed Vining, Tom Moss, Otto B. Anderson, c. 1898
Env 8 – William H. Buster Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia, 1898
Env 9 – Col. Elias Chandler, Commander 1st Akransas Volunteer Infantry, c. 1898
Env 10- Two Unidentified Soldiers, c. 1898
Env 11- Quartermaster Sgt Duval Johnson, Co. B, 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Camp George H. Johnson, Georgia, c. 1898
Env 12- Thomas B. Moss and Unidentified men, 1898
Env 13- Johnson S. Powell from Georgia, Captain of W.C. Hudson in Philippines, c. 1898
Env 14- Alois Schwartzban, Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia, July 24 1898
Env 15- William N. Scott, Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia, July 24, 1898
Env 16- William N. Scott c 1898
Env 17- Herbert E. Trulock, Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia 1898
File 3 – Military Photographs
Env 1 – Prospenty Camp (Names are difficult to read): William Hosh, J.E. Rawbond, Jack Waits, C.L. Vance, Lynn Brinkley, Otto B. Anderson, Tom Moss, T(?) Vining, J.T. Seymore
Env 2 – Camp George H. Thomas, Georgia 1989 (Names are difficult to read): H Thomas, Ike Lirtnes, Alois Bosh, Lynn Brinkley, Chas Colhaur, R. Thompson, S Douglas, TJ Pool, Alex Duan, John C. Tioley, Virgil K., Elden Brooks, Grey Chis nutt, Raffarty, Thomas Porker, William Scott, Bino Atth umis, Jack Chris tion, Percy Brooks, William Moogon
Env 3 – Non-Commanders of Company B, 1st Arkansas Vol. Inf. 1898: Lynn A Brinkley, Segis Hatch, Otto B Anderson, R. D. Bell, Charles E. H., Thomas B Moss, George, S. Vall(?), T. E. Vining, William P. Johnson
Env 4 – Field Staff and Line Officers, 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, c.1898
Env 5 – Book of Scenes from Camp Georgia H. Thomas, GA
Env 6 – Military group photograph, Camp George H. Thomas: LA Brinkley, JB Buff, Moora, Has tittin Besh, Eugin J. Allord, S. Williams, Roberson, Graham, Baddies, Kelles, Smithson, Brooks, D. Johnson, C. White, Wright Raining, Brooks, W. B. Morgan, Smalle, Vining, Taylor, Chas Calhoun, Lon Macon McMustry, Jesse Divine, Benard Raffarty, Wood G., Lu Johnson, Thomas C., Thom. Murshurges, B. J. Johnson, Tuckes, Hitcher, Al. Wilson, A. Chris tion, H. Bain, Al. Thompson
Env 7 – E. K. Braly, C.B. Smith, W.C. Hudson, W.P. Johnson, Robinson, James Sen. Lon Macon, Benard Raff enty, William Smith, Thomas Parkes, Chas H., B. Has., Thompson, George Valli., Lee Johnson, B Hony, T.T. Murburg., Seymour, O.S. Kerles, Tucker Hitches, T.B. Moss, Wright Rainey, Badders, Lrov., Grey Chis nut, ?lock, Pace, Ike Lit., William r. Morgan, James Co?, Smithson, Conndius, Cocknill, Jesse Dwine, Mustry, Wilson Al., John Bridges
Env 8 – Small book (Grigsby’s Cowboys)
Env 9 – Thomas B. Moss with 4 unidentified men and 1 unidentified woman, c. 1898
Env 10- Military Unit, c. 1898
Env 11- Military Unit, c. 1900
Env 12- Military Unit, c. 1898
File 4 – Military Photographs
Env 1 – Unidentified Filipino Woman, c. 1901
Env 2 – Two Filipino Women (?) Trinrta y Rosaro, c. 1901
Env 3 – Filipino Woman, Rosaro C Ru(/)
Env 4 – Two Filipino Women
Env 5 – Filipino Woman from Iloilo Filipinas
Env 6 – Unidentified Boy, c. 1898
Env 7 – Camp Scene
Env 8-11- Unidentified Man, c. 1898
Env 12- Unidentified Man Sleeping on a Train, c. 1898
Env 13- Man in front of Train, c. 1898
Env 14- Man with Cannon, c. 1898
Env 15- Man atop Cannonballs, c. 1898
Env 16- Man on Horse, c. 1898
Env 17- Man on Horse, c. 1898
File 5 – Military Photographs
Env 1 – Man on Horse next to Cannon
Env 2 – Unidentified men
Env 3 – Man and Women on Train
Env 4 – Men on Train
Env 5 – Soldiers on Train
Env 6 – Group of Soldiers
Env 7 – Group waiting in field
Env 8 – Group Drinking in front of Buggy
Env 9 – Group of Men and Ladies
Env 10- Men in Front of Tents
Env 11-12- Group of Soldiers in Camp
Env 13- Group of Soldiers Eating
Env 14- Two Camp and One Town Scenes
Env 15- Large Ship, c. 1898
Env 16- Two US Medical Wagons, c. 1898
Env 17- Postcard of a Spanish Naval Gun Captured by Adm. Dewey at the Battle of Manila, May 1, 1898
Env 18- Handmade chair with 1 ARK on it
Env 19- Memorial for 8th Ind. Battery
Env 20- Group of Soldiers around a Memorial
File 6 – Military Photographs
Env 1 – Campground c1898
Env 2 – Canoes
Env 3 – Hut
Env 4 – Landscape of Railroad Tracks in barren area
Env 5 – Canyon scene
Env 6 – Landscape
Env 7 – Photographs of the First Arkansas Volunteers Pine Bluff
Env 8 – Photographs of Company B. First Arkansas Volunteers & White Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, 1898
End of Box 2
Series III – Veteran Organizations Materials
Box 1
File 1 – 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Oct. 17, 1931- Sept. 30, 1941
File 2 – 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Oct. 1, 1941-Nov. 26, 1949
File 3 – 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, June 3, 1950-July 19, 1956
File 4 – 1st and 2nd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Association Materials, 1938-1956
File 5 – 1st and 2nd Volunteer Infantry Association Dues Record, 1946
File 6 – 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Jan. 2, 1932- Dec. 27, 1939
File 7 – 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Feb. 6, 1940- Aug. 12, 1941
File 8 – 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Feb. 12, 1942- July 7, 1946
File 9 – 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, July 20, 1946- March 30, 1947
File 10- 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, June 4, 1947- Jan. 19, 1950
File 11- 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Feb. 19, 1950- July 28, 1954
File 12- 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Correspondence, Jan. 3, 1955- Jan. 7, 1960
File 13- 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association Materials, 1938-1940
File 14- Uncle Sam’s 1-2-3 Boys Association, 1944-1957
File 15- United Spanish War Veterans (U.S.W.V.) Correspondence, Mar. 9, 1927- Nov. 1, 1939
File 16- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Jan. 1, 1940- Dec. 13, 1940
File 17- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Jan. 7, 1941- Dec. 30, 1941
File 18- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Feb. 6, 1942- Oct. 8, 1943
File 19- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Feb. 23, 1944- Oct. 12, 1944
File 20- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Feb. 8, 1945- July 26, 1946
File 21- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Aug. 11, 1946- Sept. 8, 1949
File 22- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Mar. 22, 1950- Dec. 11, 1952
File 23- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Feb. 27, 1953- May 30, 1958
File 24- U.S.W.V. Correspondence, Apr. 16, 1960- Apr. 30, 1968
File 25- U.S.W.V. Materials, 1940-1965
End of Box 1
Series III – Veteran Organizations Materials
Box 2
File 1 – U.S.W.V. Materials, 1941-1951
File 2 – U.S.W.V. Dues Record, 1942-1962
File 3 – Roster of Members of W.C. Hudson Camp No.8, U.S.W.V.
File 4 – Bank Statements, W.C. Hudson Camp No.8, U.S.W.V. October 10, 1927 – April 19, 1968
File 5 – Organizational Clippings, 1938-1963
File 6 – Organizational Photographs
Env 1 – Reunion at Hotel Pines, Pine Bluff
Env 2 – 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry Association 17th Annual Reunion, Lake Village, AR Oct. 1-3, 1953
Env 3 – Governor Orval E. Faubus, Department Commander of Arkansas Marshall Blackard, Blytheville, AR. John R. Campbell, Chairman of all War Organizations of AR for Veteran’s Day November 11, 1958 -1959
Env 4 – Reunion Dinner
Env 5 – Reunion Flag March
Env 6-7- Reunion Dinner
Env 8 – Unidentified people singing in front of flag
Env 9 – Dedication of Spanish-American War Memorial, Ft. Smith, AR November 11, 1938
Env 10- U.S. W.V. Auxiliary Group September 16, 1946
Env 11- “U.S. Soldiers’ Home Souvenir Album” Washington D.C. 1954
Env 12- Nineteenth Annual Reunion “First and Second Arkansas Association Volunteer Infantry” Nelson S Thornton (President) Camden, AR
Env 13- First and Second Arkansas Volunteers, 1938 in Pine Bluff
End of Box 2
End of Series III
Series IV – Oversize, Books, Maps
Box 1
Item 1 – Scrapbook 1898 on Spanish American War (The original book seems to be a diary that was written in 1867 that was later used as a scrapbook. The Introduction is written by a Simon Ramirez for Archbishop of Manila Don Gregorio Meliton Martinez y Santa Cruz. The author of the diary is unknown.)
End of Box 1
Series IV – Oversize, Books, Maps
Box 2
Item 1 – Gubernatorial Commission of J.M. Hudson, 1882
Item 2 – Gubernatorial Commission of W.C. Hudson, April 1898
Item 3 – Gubernatorial Commission of W.C. Hudson, May 1898
Item 4 – U.S. Army Commission of W.C. Hudson, 1899
Item 5 – Gubernatorial Commission of W.C. Hudson, 1903
Item 6 – Gubernatorial Commission of W.C. Hudson, 1904
Item 7 – Newspaper Reprint, 1957
Item 8 – Map of Sariaya, Philippines, 1900
Item 9 – Map of Fort Riley Reservation, Kansas, 1903
Item 10- Map of the Philippines, c.1900
Item 11- Scrapbook, 1916-1923
Item 12- Scrapbook, 1924-1926
Item 13- Scrapbook, 1927-1929
Item 14- Scrapbook, 1927-1931
Item 15- Scrapbook, 1932-1934
Item 16- Scrapbook, 1934-1937
Item 17- Photograph Album, c.1898-1900
Item 18- American Flag
Item 19- Photograph, Field Staff and Line Officers, 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, 1898
Item 20- Photograph, Military Formations, 1898
Item 21- Photograph, Camp of the 38th Infantry, U.S.V., Presidio, San Francisco, CA, 1899
Item 22- Photograph, 1st Reunion of the 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry, Franklin, Indiana, 1938
Item 23- Photograph, Small Group of the 38th U.S. Volunteer Infantry at the 2nd Annual Reunion, Lexington, KY, 1939
End of Box 2
End of Series IV
End of Collection