The United States entered the Great War in 1917. By then the war had already lasted for years and it would end in November 1918 with the signing of the Armistice. In that short time, the war left its mark on the country.
The National Archives has uploaded some really interesting pictures from World War I. Here are three beautiful pictures to enjoy:
Albert Sterner painting war posters for the Government. Sterner was an interesting choice to make the posters. He was born and raised in London, studied in Germany and France, and eventually came to the United States. He was in each place long enough to know the culture in each country.
NARA – International Film Service.
If you’re familiar with World War I history, the doughboy helmets are easily recognizable. In this picture, you see the giant gears and large power press for shaping helmets in the Hale & Kilburn Corporation plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I love the gears. Industrial design from this era is beautiful!
NARA
Scene at American Red Cross Canteen at the station of Bordeaux, France, where soldiers of the Allied Armies get lunches and tobacco from the American Red Cross. It looks like they had people from different branches of the military together which seems unusual. I’ve read a few pamphlets and columns written by people who visited the United States in the early 20th century that note the American propensity for laughing a lot. It’s not a terrible thing to be known for. Pictures like this would certainly have reinforced that idea!
NARA
Lastly, I’m excited to find another historical doppelgänger! I love finding these and I’m a big fan of the Behavior Panel on YouTube. This fellow looks a lot like Chase Hughes, doesn’t he?
Check out past doppelgängers:
old spirituals 