Scope and Contents: The Ashley W. Olmsted Collection consists of correspondence and official papers documenting his application process with the American Field Service (AFS), correspondence from AFS that was sent to Olmsted’s family during the war, a leather portfolio that was likely carried by Olmsted during the war (containing documents formerly stored inside the portfolio, including promotion notices, ribbons, and his Geneva card and license), a scrapbook created by Olmsted in 1950 (which contains papers and items from the war, including a loose movement order and letter of service which were formerly stored in between the front cover and first page), and post-war AFS student exchange program newsletters (1953-1960.) The collection also includes documents and correspondence from AFS to Olmsted’s family during the First World War, including a newsletter from the Buffalo Unit Ambulance Committee, an AFS Bulletin and report, and a letter from Stephen Galatti thanking Mr. and Mrs. George W. Olmsted for donating ambulance No. 612 (1917.)
The collection also contains a significant amount of artifacts, including military uniforms and apparel, a netted tent, visor cap, garrison cap, white canvas belt, leather belt, and insignia, buttons, patches, and other memorabilia related to his service as an ambulance driver. The memorabilia also includes a post-war AFS Stephen Galatti Heritage Society award, which was presented to Olmsted or his family at an unknown date.