Date Original
1918-1930
Description
This collection contains material related to Ragsdale’s military service and a typed account of his personal struggle with influenza while on duty in Virginia.
Biographical/Historical Note
Robert Arthur Ragsdale was born in Polk County, Arkansas, on May 28, 1884, to Lewis and Alleen Ragsdale. He served as a Seaman Second Class in the United States Navy during World War I until his discharge on December 2, 1918. Robert was stationed in Newport News, Virginia, with the Intelligence section of the Fifth Naval District. He traveled between Newport News and Norfolk during the influenza epidemic of 1918. The state of Virginia estimated 200,000 cases of influenza by October 15, 1918, and a number of those cases were sailors traveling the coast line. Robert was one of those sailors that contracted the flu in Newport News.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas; Virginia
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.0170.0002
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Robert Ragsdale papers, SMC.0170.0002
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Robert Ragsdale papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
