Alvin C. York Photograph, post World War I

KC Manuscript Collection 165

ABSTRACT:
The Alvin York photograph collection consists of one photograph of World War I Sgt. Alvin C. York and other veterans of the first world war. The men were guests at a celebration held in Kingsport, Tennessee.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:
Alvin Cullum York was born in 1887 in Pall Mall,Tennessee.  He was drafted into the army in 1917 and fought in the First World War despite initially applying for conscientious objector status.  On 8 October 1918, York, then a Corporal, and sixteen other men misread their map and ended up behind German lines.  After an initial firefight in which several Germans surrendered, German machine guns situated on a nearby hill fired on the small group killing nine of the Americans.  York was ordered to silence the machine guns, resulting in the capture of 132 prisoners by nine men. For these actions York was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  When he returned to Tennessee, York crusaded for the improvement of education in Fentress County, which resulted in the foundation of York Institute.  Alvin C. York died in 1964.

RESTRICTIONS:
There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

COLLECTION CITATION:
This collection should be cited as:

Alvin C. York Photograph, post World War I.  KC Manuscript Collection 165, Archives of the City of Kingsport, Tennessee.

ACQUISITION:
Brenda Nottingham donated this collection in 2004.

PROCESSED BY:
E. Marshall Galloway processed the collection and developed the finding aid in October 2006.

SUBJECT HEADINGS:
York, Alvin Cullom, 1887-1964.