Kenneth R. Giles

 

          Kenneth Giles was born in Monmouth, Illinois. After his father died, he and his mother moved to Roseville, Illinois, to live with his grandmother.  Giles went away to attend Mooseheart Academy.  While at school he learned how to play the French horn and became part of the Mooseheart band.  He later used his musical talents during World War II and played an Army issue double horn in the 96^th Division Band in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. Giles served in the Army from 1943-1946. After his return to the United States, Giles attended Monmouth College, where he wrote the manuscript, Come on Giles---The War’s Over!  After graduating from Monmouth College, he went to Western Illinois University for the graduate program.  He graduated from Western and entered the teaching profession.  He became a science teacher at Bismark Township High School in Vermillion County, Illinois.  He taught at several other schools, and finished his career as principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Monmouth. He retired in 1989 and remained in Monmouth until his death on 10 August 1998.  He married “the little girl across the street,” Susan Allsup, who preceded him in death.

            Currently the Papers of Kenneth R. Giles include some of his original writings, miscellaneous writings, letters to his family during the war, and his manuscript Come on Giles---The War’s Over!

 

Folder List

Box 1

• Obituary

• “Adventures of a Seven Year Old Boy…” 1931

• Poem: Amphibious Assault

• “Background of a Civilian Turned Soldier” 1942

• “A Chance to Make Music”

• Excerpts from 1869 C,B & Q Handbook

• “Incident in Okinawa”

• Giles interview with William Swizter (1916-       )

• “Just a Backyard” Monmouth

• Letters to the editor of the Monmouth Daily Review Atlas, 1994

• Letters: Will Giles to John Giles, 1840 (from Warren County)

• “Living in Roseville, Illinois 1931-32”

• “Mooseheart Memories: Vocational Training”

• “96^th Infantry Division Band- Anecdotes, Incidents, Recollections”

• “North Hope, 1932-33”

• Calendar: “Notes and Quotes from the Wartime Letters, 1943-45”

• Poetry by Mary A. Livermore, 1886

• Selected letters from WWII   Folder 1

• Selected letters from WWII   Folder 2

• Selected letters from WWII   Folder 3

• Selected letters from WWII   Folder 4

• “That Little Girl Across the Street”

• “The Train Ride That Changed my Life” 1930

• “Working in the Forest Service, Summer 1947”

• Grace Birdsall- Florida Trip-1916

• Grace Birdsall- Scetches of Country Life-1909

•  Come on Giles---The War’s Over!

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