Introduction

The manuscript collection of Nels A. Tornquist begins with Tornquist's service in the Spanish-American War of 1898 where he served with a field artillery unit in the Philippines. The papers denote the progression of this soldier's career from a private in various cavalry units, to a captain in the Quartermaster Corps in World War I.

The collection was donated to Kansas State University in June, 1982 by the subject's nephew, Carl Rehfeld, because his uncle had served at Fort Riley with the 20th Cavalry.

The Tornquist papers, consisting of approximately 450 pieces, are contained in one box. The papers are organized in the following series: Military Papers, Personal Correspondence, Legal Papers, Certificates, Printed Material and Maps.

Other items received with the collection included photographs, maps, books and artifacts. They were transferred to appropriate locations within the University Archives and Farrell Library.

The collection was processed by Cynthia L. Hayden, a graduate student in the history department, who served as an intern in the University Archives during the fall of 1984.

The collection's accession number is PC 26, (revised number, PC 1984.18).

Biographical Sketch

1873       Born in Torscker, Sweden

1881       Entered the United States

1884       Father, Nels F. Tornquist, naturalized

1888       Homestead filed in Salina, Kansas

1889       Graduated from 8th grade in Marquette, Kansas

1895       Father married Carrie Olsen from Lindsborg, Kansas

1896-1899  Served with Troop 6, 4th Cavalry

1899-1902  Served with 22nd Battery, Field Artillery

           Saw action in the Spanish-American War in Philippines with rank of corporal

1902-1908  Served with Troop H, 13th Cav.

           Promoted from Corporal to sergeant

1908-1916  Served with Troop F, 15th Cav. as a Corporal

1916-1917  Saw action in Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa as a Sgt. in 1st Squadron 13th Cavalry

1917       Troop 8, 20th Cav. at Camp Funston, Ft. Riley, Kansas

1917-1918  Sgt. in Quartermaster Corps Camp J.E. Johnston, Florida

July 1918  Promoted to 1st Lt. QMC, Camp Greene, North Carolina

1918-1919  Promoted Cpt. QMC to command black 344th Labor Bn. Co. B in France during WWI

1920       Retired from active service with rank of sergeant

1921       Ordered to active duty with rank of Sgt. for ROTC assignment at 
              University of Washington, Seattle

1922       Once again placed on retired list

1925       Married Erna Rehfeld at age of 52, in Vancouver, Washington

1934       By an act of Congress dated May 1932 advanced to the retired rank of captain

1950       Died of coronary thrombosis at age 77 in Pasadena, California

Scope and Content Note

This manuscript collection, consisting of approximately 450 items housed in one box. The material spans the years 1888-1950.

The collection is arranged in six series: 1) Military Papers, 1898-1950; 2) Personal Correspondence, 1891-1938; 3) Legal Papers, 1888-1924; 4) Certificates, 1901-ca. 1964; 5) Printed Material, 1914-1950; and 6) Maps, WWI and WWII.

Series 1, Military Papers (1898-1950), is the largest series and it is divided into the following sub-series: Spanish-American War, 1898; Cavalry Units, 1906-1915; Punitive Expedition Diary, ca. 1916; Letters of Recommendation, 1914-1919; Stateside Mobilization Camps, 1917-1918; Embarkation to France, 1918; Company Command in France, 1918-1919; 344th Labor Battalion Company Funds and Payroll; General A.E.F. Orders and Memoranda, 1919; Demobilization in France, 1919; Demobilization Camp in U.S., 1919; and, Retirement, ROTC and IRS, 1919-1950.

A Spanish-American War Roster and a roster of the 344th Labor Battalion (WWI) are interesting for their notations of names and addresses of the men who participated in these wars. The papers reveal the rapid promotion Nels A. Tornquist received after he was selected to command a black service company The certificates show that he was promoted from sergeant to first lieutenant in July of 1918 and then to captain the following month, just in time to take his new command to France during WWI. Among the activities documented in the papers during the time Capt. Tornquist commanded the black service company is a serious incident concerning large quantities of unexpended ammunition that the men in his company were expected to work around at their own risk. There are two folders in the collection that deal with the 344th Labor Battalion. One rare find in the collection is a war diary of the Punitive Expedition into Mexico after Pancho Villa, ca. 1916-1917. The comments on forage problems, climate and travel are noteworthy.

Series 2, Personal Correspondence, is divided between that of Nels A. and Nels F. Tornquist. The father, Nels F., received all of his letters from his native Sweden so they are written in that language. The son's letters, fortunately for the Army censors during WWI, are written in English and are addressed to his step-mother Carrie. There are also many envelopes without the enclosures but they are useful for showing Tornquist's change of address as he moved from one unit to another throughout his career.

Series 3, Legal Papers, contains an original Kansas homestead deed for Salina, Kansas in 1888 and deeds for property in Washington state.

Series 4, Certificates, indicate the official notification of each rank that Nels A. Tornquist achieved. A so included are notifications of retirement after 24 years of honorable service with the pre-WWI rank of sergeant; the notification in 1934 that he advanced to the retired rank of captain; and an undated memorial on behalf of the United States, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Series 5, Printed Material, includes many souvenirs, train passes and army pamphlets from WWI. Of particular interest are War Information series pamphlets entitled, The War Message and the Facts Behind It, printed in June, 1917 and Treaty of Peace with Germany, printed in June, 1919. The remainder of the printed material is a mixture of wedding announcements, veterans organization membership cards, and incidental items.

Series 6, is comprised of maps showing the progress of WWI and WWII. There is an excellent period map of Verdun, France which Capt. Tornquist personally annotated to show where he spent time prior to and after the armistice of November 11, 1918.

Approximately 61 photographs from the Spanish-American War, the Mexican border during 1916-1917 and WWI were filed in the KSU photograph collection, and several three-dimensional items were stored with the artifacts collection. A number of WWI and WWII maps were transferred to the Documents Department in the library.

Of related interest is an oral history interview between Carl Rehfeld, the uncle of Nels Tornquist, and Evan Williams of Farrell Library. The tape and transcript are in the University Archives Oral History Collection.

Container List

Box Folder
 1    01     Diary, Punitive Expedition [ca. 1916]
             Military Papers
      02       Spanish-American War Roster, 1898
      03       Cavalry Units, 1906-1915
      04       Letters of Recommendation, 1914-1919
      05       Stateside Mobilization Camps, 1917-1918
      06       Embarkation to France, 1918
      07       Company Command France, 1918-1919
      08       344th Labor Bn. Company Funds and Payroll, 1918-1919
      09       General Orders and Memoranda, 1919
      10       Demobilization in France, 1919
      11       Demobilization Camp in U.S., 1919
      12       Retirement, ROTC, IRS, 1919-1950
             Personal Correspondence
      13       Nels A. Tornquist, 1913-1938
      14       Nels F. Tornquist, 1891-1903
      15     Legal Papers, 1888-1924
      16     Certificates, 1901-ca. 1960
             Printed Material
      17       1914-1918
      18       1919
      19       1920-1950
      20     Maps, WWI and WWII