Handwritten and Illustrated Notebook entitled, "Horace Pippin's Autobiography, First World War", (illustrated), circa 1920s Select: Handwritten and Illustrated Notebook entitled, "Horace Pippin's Autobiography, First World War", (illustrated), circa 1920s(62 numbered pages, pages 37-40 have been cut out)Scope and Contents notePippin recounts his World War I experiences in detail from the time he left the United States on November 17th, 1917 with the 15th N.Y. Infantry for France. Pippin writes of life in the trenches and dug-outs, night forays and traveling through enemy territory, details of days and nights of battles and getting shelled, gassed, and machine gun fire by the Germans, and his perceptions of fighting alongside French and Algerian soldiers. He also recounts the details of getting shot in the shoulder and right arm, lying in the trench too weak to get up, having a French soldier get shot and fall upon him dead and not being able to move out from under the dead man, getting some bread and water from the dead body, and finally being rescued and moved around in the field until being loaded onto an ambulance and taken to one hospital and being transferred to another one. Illustrated with six pencil and crayon drawings of marching and battle scenes. Handwritten Notebook, October 4, 1920 Select: Handwritten Notebook, October 4, 1920(50 numbered pages)Scope and Contents noteA second handwritten account of Pippin's World War I experiences in France. In this notebook, Pippin recounts arriving in France, the cold and the snow, and his perception of the feelings of the French civilians. He also recounts an intense battle with the Germans, apparently the same battle as in the first notebook, but ending before he is shot. Handwritten Notebook entitled, "[t. Mihiel, Heaviest Champagne Argonne, Hear]", circa 1920 Select: Handwritten Notebook entitled, "[t. Mihiel, Heaviest Champagne Argonne, Hear]", circa 1920(18 numbered pages)Scope and Contents noteA third handwritten account of Pippin's World War I experiences in France. In this notebook, Pippin again recounts a battle with the Germans in France, most probably the same battle as in the other two notebooks. Note, however, that he spells Argonne as Oregon in this notebook, which differs from the writing on the cover. In this account, he recalls more conversations with fellow soldiers and orders from his officers. Again, this notebook ends before his injury occurs. Notebook Fragments, circa 1920 Select: Notebook Fragments, circa 1920(3 loose pages)Scope and Contents noteHandwritten fragments, possibly from another notebook, recalling the same intense World War I battle in France but prefaced with some of his thoughts on war and soldiering. Letters, circa 1943, 1943 Select: Letters, circa 1943, 1943Scope and Contents noteOne letter, circa 1943, is addressed to "My Dear Friends" and begins with "my life story of art. that is my art, and no one el[c]...." wherein Pippin recounts a childhood memory of creating artwork for a Sunday school sale and how the "war of 1917... brought out all of the art in me" and how he paints from it today.A second letter dated February 1, 1943 is to Robert Carlen, his dealer. Pippin apologizes for Mr. Carlen thinking that he does not treat his friends or Mr. Carlen's friends "right, in my home, if anyone comes in to [see me] art." Pippin will see to it that Mrs. John D. Hamilton is treated as nice as possible. He goes on to say that he wants Carlen to send his Domino game painting to a show so Dr. Albert C. Barnes can see it. 
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