The Therese Marias Letters were written during the First World War by three soldiers: Peter Redman, Robert James, and Earl Pagenkopf. The letters detail the three different men's experiences in the war. The men were stationed at different posts in the United States and France and wrote their letters to Therese G. Marias, known as Tess, who was from Portland, Oregon. Included with the letters are a few postcards from the men as well as two photographs, one of which is labeled Bernard Houghton.

Therese G Marias was born in 1892 in Portland, Oregon. She was the daughter of Charles and Mary Marias. Both of Therese's parents were immigrants; her father was from France and her mother was from Ireland. She was one of seven children. Therese was a primary school teacher in the Portland school district for 45 years. She was a member of St. Francis Parish, the Alter Society, and the Retired Teacher’s Association. Therese died in December 1985 at the age of 93. She was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

Peter Redman, or Peter Redmonovich was born on March 12, 1889.  He was born in Hungary and immigrated to the United States. In World War 1, he served as a cook with the Battery B. 147th Field Artillery Battalion. He received the rank of Mess Sergeant.  Peter died on May 14, 1969. He was buried in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. 

Grady David Epps Sr. was born on November 24, 1896 on Kansas City, Kansas. Grady was the youngest child of David Abner Epps (1854 – 1898) and Sarah Rachel Ellis Epps (1864 – 1949).  After the end of WWl, Grady continued his career in the U.S. Army. On August 3, 1920 Grady married Mary Susie Williamson Epps (1896 – 1972) in Corvallis, Oregon. The couple had three children; Grady David Epps Jr. (1921 -2016), Mary Barbara Epps (1922 -?), and William Burris Epps (1928 – 1992). It seems that after Mary’s death, Grady was married at least two more times; to Clara Graham Epps (b. around 1904) and Violet E Long Epps (1899 – 1973).  Grady died on January 26, 1996 at the age of 99. He is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Huntington Beach, California. 

Earl Pagenkopf was born on February 23, 1896 in Saint Clair, Minnesota. He was the sixth child of Charles Johann Pagenkopf (1856 – 1935) and Mary Kruger Pagenkopf (1855 – 1938). Earl entered the military in February 1918 and was discharged on January 25, 1919 as a Private. After the war, Earl worked as a clerk in a general store. On June 9, 1923, Earl married Abbie Irene Thielman Pagenkopf. The couple had two children, Donna May Pagenkopf Kunkel and Lowell Earl Pagenkopf (1930 – 2005). Earl died on November 14, 1956 at the age of 60.

Most of the Therese Marias Letters were written during the First World War by three soldiers: Peter Redman, Robert James, and Earl Pagenkopf. The letters detail the three different men's experiences in the war. The men were stationed at different posts in the United States and France and wrote their letters to Therese G. Marias, known as Tess, who was from Portland, Oregon. Included with the letters are a few postcards from the men as well as two photographs, one of which is labeled Bernard Houghton.

A majority of the letters were written by Peter Redman, a chief cook on the front lines in France. Peter regularly discusses his duties, the movements of his regiment, and his frustrations in camp. Peter’s letters begin while he is in training camp on the and end in his years following the war.  

The Therese Marias letters are sorted into three folders

Folder 1

• Correspondence from Janet Gilson
• Correspondence from Unidentified Woman known only as Hannah
• Correspondence from Louise Benerman
• Correspondence from Frederick A. Hurst
• Correspondence from Madeleine Marias
• Correspondences from Grady Epps
• Correspondences from Robert James
• Correspondences from Earl Pagenkopf

Folder 2

• Correspondence from Peter Redmonovich

Folder 3

• Aloha Club Card
• Newspaper articles
• Card of Peter Redman
• Photo of Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas
• Photo of an unidentified soldier
• Photo of a soldier, labelled Bernard Houghton