Fonds consists primarily of letters that Maude Gates, of Middleton, NS, received from her two sons, Lewis and Starratt, while they were serving in the Canadian Army in Europe during the First World War. There are also letters from other family members writing from New England and Halifax during the same time period as well as a few letters addressed to her husband, Willet. Some letters were written from Halifax in the days following the Halifax Explosion. The fonds contains over 100 handwritten letters, photographs as well as newspaper clippings related to the Gates brothers and the 85th Highlanders battalion. Photographs include formal portraits of Starratt, Lewis, and other family members. Some photographs depict other servicemen and friends of Lewis and Starratt. 2018-003