Resources at Smithsonian American Art Museum

Collage of photos and objects related to women's service during World War One

The objects highlighted below are held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and represent only a preliminary survey of the museum's holdings that are related to women in World War I.  Please also keep in mind that we have a very broad definition of what constitutes women's involvement in the war.

The pieces of art in this section show women in a variety of roles during the war. Also included are medals that feature allegorical female figures, typically representing a country such as France.

Search term: *:* Topic: World War, 1914-1918 Clear All

Souvenez-Vous, obverse

Date
1922
Artist
Armand Bonnetain, Belgian, born Brussels, Belgium 1883-died Uccle, Belgium 1973
Object number
1972.167.66A

L' Armee Belge Participe a la Garde du Rhin, reverse

Date
1919
Artist
Paul Dubois, Belgian, born Aywaille, Belgium 1858 or 1859-died Uccle, Belgium 1938
Object number
1972.167.78B

Defense of Verdun Medal

Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs.
Luce Center Label
Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs. On the obverse, a female figure holds a shield inscribed with the initials of the Republic of France; on the reverse, a French and an American soldier cross bayonets before the city’s walls. Below, the motto reads “They Shall Not Pass.”
Date
1920
Artist
Paul Manship, born St. Paul, MN 1885-died New York City 1966
Object number
1965.16.88

Great War Victory Illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, 1918

Date
1918
Artist
J. C. Leyendecker, born Montabour, Germany 1874-died New Rochelle, NY 1951
Object number
1980.114

Her Bit (War Time)

Date
1918
Artist
Helen Hyde, born Lima, NY 1868-died Pasadena, CA 1919
Object number
1935.13.164

Boudoir of Madame la Comtesse H--. Black Death Lay Heavy in the Heart of this Exquisite Flower

Date
ca. 1919
Artist
Claggett Wilson, born Washington, DC 1887-died New York City 1952
Object number
1981.163.14

Murder of Edith Cavell (from series, War)

Date
1918
Artist
George Bellows, born Columbus, OH 1882-died New York City 1925
Object number
1978.102

Pour la Civilisation, reverse

Date
1914-1918
Artist
Josuë Dupon, Belgian, born Ichteghem, Belgium 1864-died Antwerp, Belgium 1935
Object number
1972.167.68B

Refugees

Date
ca. 1935
Artist
Kerr Eby, born Tokyo, Japan 1889-died Norwalk, CT 1946
Object number
1976.17.1

Her Bit

Date
1918
Artist
Helen Hyde, born Lima, NY 1868-died Pasadena, CA 1919
Object number
1992.13.112

Defense of Verdun Medal

Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs.
Luce Center Label
Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs. On the obverse, a female figure holds a shield inscribed with the initials of the Republic of France; on the reverse, a French and an American soldier cross bayonets before the city’s walls. Below, the motto reads “They Shall Not Pass.”
Date
1920
Artist
Paul Manship, born St. Paul, MN 1885-died New York City 1966
Object number
1965.16.89

Defense of Verdun Medal (alternative unused design)

Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs.
Luce Center Label
Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Commission of Fine Arts held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920, and this medal is one of Paul Manship’s proposed designs. Imagery on the obverse associates the city’s medieval history with the modern bombardment of World War I, symbolized by the airplanes circling overhead. On the reverse, an angel hovers over the city bearing the sword of righteousness and a sheaf of wheat symbolizing God’s judgment of the righteous and the wicked.
Date
1920
Artist
Paul Manship, born St. Paul, MN 1885-died New York City 1966
Object number
1965.16.90

A Homeless Victim of War

Date
1914
Artist
Hubert Denis Etcheverry, French, born Bayonne, France 1867-died Bayonne, France 1952
Object number
1915.11.28

The Billet at Bouy

Date
ca. 1919
Artist
Claggett Wilson, born Washington, DC 1887-died New York City 1952
Object number
1981.163.9

Nurse and Patient

Date
1915
Artist
Jules Cayron, French, born Paris, France 1868-died 1940
Object number
1915.11.15

L' Armee Belge Rejoint les Armees Alliees, reverse

Date
1921
Artist
Paul Wissaert, Belgian, born Brussels, Belgium 1885-died ?
Object number
1972.167.65B

Verdun Medal #A (obverse)

In 1920, Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Battle of Verdun was one of the most devastating of the war and led to approximately 800,000 casualties.
Luce Center Label
In 1920, Congress authorized a special gold medal honoring the sacrifice of the citizens of the French city of Verdun during World War I. The Battle of Verdun was one of the most devastating of the war and led to approximately 800,000 casualties. The United States Commission of Fine Arts, established by Congress in 1910, held a limited competition for medal designs in early 1920. Anthony de Francisci submitted two designs for the obverse of the coin. In this artist’s strike, or sample, Athena, goddess of war, appears with an American eagle bearing the olive branch of peace. With her left hand, she grasps the shield of Verdun, symbol of the city’s brave defense.
Date
1920
Artist
Anthony de Francisci, born Palermo, Italy 1887-died New York City 1964
Object number
1966.51.58

Hospital--On the Stretcher Where I Lay I Opened My Eyes and Great Shadows Quivered on the Wall... The Feet of the Row in Front of Me Stuck Up Like Footlights at the Play

Date
ca. 1919
Artist
Claggett Wilson, born Washington, DC 1887-died New York City 1952
Object number
1981.163.16

L' Armee Belge Rejoint les Armees Alliees, obverse

Date
1921
Artist
Paul Wissaert, Belgian, born Brussels, Belgium 1885-died ?
Object number
1972.167.65A

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.