The First World War: A Documentary Record

Series One: European War 1914-1919, the War Reserve Collection (WRA -WRE)
from Cambridge University Library

Part 2: Trench Journals, Personal Narratives and Reminiscences

EXPLANATION OF THE CODES USED IN THE COLLECTION

The Cambridge War Reserve Collection (WRA-WRE) is a large collection of ephemeral, manuscript and printed sources relating to the First World War.

The main body of the material is organised in two ways.
Firstly by size, categorised as:

WRA - 31-47 cm or larger in height
WRB - 24-31 cm in height
WRC - 21-24 cm in height
WRD - 17-21 cm in height
WRE - 10-16 cm in height

Secondly, by subject code number:

1. Parliamentary papers, Diplomatic Correspondence & official Documents (we propose to omit all widely available sections - such as official papers - where appropriate)

2. Political and historical literature (including general histories, causes, origins) (we propose to omit all widely available sections where appropriate)

11. Military Operations

12. Naval Operations

13. Aerial Operations

14. RAMC, Red Cross work. YMCA. Auxiliary services

15. German Occupation. Deportations. Vandalism

16. Prisoners. Atrocities

17. Personal narratives & reminiscences

18. Regimental records

19. Pictures, illustrations

30. Economics. Finance. Socialism

33. Russian Affairs. Bolshevism

34. Pacifist literature

35a. Propaganda (Allies)

35b. Propaganda (Germany)

36. Sermons. Charities. Religion. Benevolent Societies

40. Social life. Sports & Amusements

41. Peace. League of Nations

42. Literature

44. Rolls of Honour. Memorial Volumes

45. Reconstruction

46. Miscellaneous

50. Bibliography

Books, periodicals and pamphlets are given three-figure item numbers as follows:

Books and Pamphlets

Bound books with printed slips in the General Catalogue: 1-
Unbound books with printed slips in the General Catalogue: 101-
Bound books listed only in the Card Catalogue: 201-
Unbound books listed only in the Card Catalogue: 301-
Continuation of bound books with printed slips
in the General Catalogue where 1- fills up: 401-
Continuation of Bound books with printed slips in
the General Catalogue where 1- and 401- fills up: 1001-

eg: WRC 17.301
This is an unbound item listed only in the Card Catalogue.

Periodicals

Bound periodicals with printed slips in the General Catalogue: 101-
Unbound periodicals with printed slips in the General Catalogue: 201-
Bound periodicals listed only in the Card Catalogue: 301-
Unbound periodicals listed only in the Card Catalogue: 401-

Posters are given the coding WRP. "P" for Posters.
Newspapers are given the coding WRN. "N" for Newspapers.