Edward A. Curtiss Papers, 1910, 1916-22 | University of Illinois Archives

Edward Augustus Curtiss was born in Stockton, Illinois, on September 28^th, 1897, one of six children born to William Goss Curtiss (University of Illinois Class of 1882) and Lora Belle Giller Curtiss.

He entered the University in the fall semester of 1916, and quickly became an involved student (much as his father was in the 1870s and 1880s) and a leader in the freshman class.  He chaired the “Freshman Frolic Committee,” and planned a “Freshman Party” in the Women’s Building (now English Building) in the spring of 1917.  This involved corresponding with Dean Thomas Arkle Clark, not an easy feat for a new student.  He also joined the Delta Phi fraternity, and attended numerous dances, sporting events, and social events.

In April 1917, he requested and received permission to leave the University to begin “farm work in the national defense.”  However, he continued his studies in some capacity, informing Dean Clark of this in May, which impressed the dean enough that he wrote a personal letter thanking Curtiss for his correspondence.  At some point, likely in 1917-18, he joined the United States Army, serving as a private in the 344^th Tank Battalion, Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Forces.  He almost certainly served overseas in France, as the 344^th Battalion was the first American tank unit to see combat, under the command of George S. Patton.

After leaving the service, he re-entered the University of Illinois, likely in the fall semester of 1919.  He continued his campus involvement, donating to the construction of Memorial Stadium (and receiving “Stadium Builder” and “Stadium Worker” pins).  At some point, he joined the Scabbard and Blade military honor society and attended numerous events for that organization and his fraternity, Delta Phi.  He also was a fixture at sporting events, and saved programs, ticket stubs, and Athletic Association coupon books.

He continued military activities, serving as an officer in the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, where he received, quite appropriately, credit for his tank training in the Army in lieu of the same class at the University.  This culminated in an offer of appointment as an “Assistant in Military Science,” which might have been a student instructor position of some sort.

Curtiss apparently made quite an impression on the young ladies in his class, receiving personalized love letters from prospective suitors.

After his graduation in 1922, he married Clarice A. Pendarvis in 1929 and died in 1962.  Clarice outlived him and was buried at his side upon her death in 1999.