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When Watchmen were Klansmen
Note: While history shouldn’t require a spoiler alert, this blog does contain some minor ones regarding the HBO series Watchmen.“You know...
How picturing the Boston Massacre matters
Maybe this painting looks familiar. A long row of red-coated soldiers. A cloud of gun smoke engulfing the street. Falling bodies.Detail of...
The most radical thing about Stonewall wasn’t the uprising
The Stonewall uprising began June 28, 1969, in response to a police raid at The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, and has since...

Blog Posts in "World War I"

An etching of a man with a musket.
Kerr Eby and the First World War
“About the prints … I make no comment, save that they were made from the indelible impressions of war. They are not imaginary. I saw them...
America's Kaiser: How a pigeon served in two World Wars
Souvenirs from battlefields the world over can be found in our Division of Political and Military History. Unique among them is a mounted...
An illustration of an African American soldier
How black Philadelphians fought for soldiers during World War I
Suffering from "shell shock and a general breakdown," Charles Mackall and James Randall arrived in Philadelphia in September 1918 from...
Uncle Sam, playing a pipe, leads a group of children armed with farming tools. Text reads: “Follow the Pied Piper. Join the United States School Garden Army”
Who are the Dewdrop Fairies?
While most of us have heard of the victory gardens of World War II, many of us may not realize that those gardens are seeded in a history...
A scientific device sits against a black background. A thick shield of glass obscures the details of the device. It sits on a silver pedestal.
The dueling designs for the modern x-ray tube in World War I
Twenty years before the start of World War I, a new "light" that could pass through a human body revealing its underlying structures caused...
Small slip of paper with a number on it. In a gloved hand. The glove is black.
Tiny capsules, national service: The draft during World War I
After maintaining neutrality for three years, the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917. Expecting around a million enlistees...
Poster with "You can help" and "American Red Cross." Imagine in pencil line drawing of a woman knitting. She sits in a chair, looking at her work.
Showing support for the Great War with knitting needles
Today, I spend spare time between classes working at my college's library or hanging out with friends. Had I been an American college...
An illustration of a head of a man. He has a floppy cap on with a green ribbon and a large mustache and appears to be smiling.
Illustrating Prisoners in the Great War
When the United States entered the Great War in 1917, the U.S. Army commissioned eight professional artists to record the activities of the...
A dark-colored cape laid out on a white surface. It has a red lining. One can see what may be a cloche hat next to it.
Where is the missing piece of lining in this U.S. Navy nurse's cape?
"The early morning whistles blew, the water craft sounded their signals in passing, an auto truck went thumping by, and the sun shot into...
A white china teacup and saucer sit against a black background. The saucer and the cup have different European flags and the US flag on them, and all of the edges are lined with gold
A tea set for war relief: Liberty China and Queen’s Ware in World War I
"When our country entered the Great War I decided to have this chapter in our history commemorated by a patriotic china, to be made by a...
(Detail image) Black and white photo of an African American man in military uniform. His arms are gently crossed, a watch o his wrist. His head is slightly tilted to the right, with a serious but gentle look on his face. The uniform has pockets, buttons, and a fairly high collar.
Over There: A Buffalo Soldier in World War I
Offered in celebration of Black History Month and in recognition of the 100th anniversary of America's participation in World War I, the...
Black and white posed photo of women, each with their hair piled on top of their head and high-collared blouses.
This Galentine's Day blog post is for you. You poetic, noble land-mermaid.
On February 13, women everywhere (we hope!) will be gathering together to celebrate Galentine's Day. First introduced in 2010 by character...
a black and white photograph of a woman in a cream colored dress with a draped skirt, laid on top of pieces of fabric of varied textures and colors
Post-World War I tales: A silk surplus, armistice fashion, and a philanthropic innovator
Even before the United States entered the First World War in 1917, procurement officers for the armed forces began to look for sources for...
Likeness of Ferdinand Foch in black, white and gray against a gray background surrounded by celebratory and commemorative details
Incredible silk portrait depicts French hero Marshal Ferdinand Foch
Continuing our World War I series, discover an incredible portrait of a war hero.During World War I, several French textile manufacturers...
(Detail) Poster with striking orange background. Color illustration of a young man with hand in pocket and mother with arm raised. Text: "Go! It's your duty lad. Join to-day."
Mothers in World War I
When people think of World War I, they often think of soldiers fighting in trenches. But soldiers weren't the only ones doing the work of...
Illustration in black, grey, and brown of mother cradling one child in her skirt, among rubble, while the other holds his belly, probably hungry. (Detail)
Americans who joined the World War before their country did
April 6, 2016, marks the 99th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. Although the country would not be drawn into combat until...
Dozens of soldiers on horseback stand in a line, shoulder to shoulder. Mountains visible in background. Desert sand.
General Pershing's Mexican Expedition to capture Pancho Villa predates his World War I career
The small American town of Columbus, New Mexico, was the site of a major event 100 years ago today. On March 9, 1916, spurred by events in...
Khaki uniform with skirt and collared jacket. Large brown buttons and two breast pockets. Brown lace-up boots with small heel. Brown hate with ribbon around it.
Picturing women's participation during the Great War
I came back from my eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C., with a Rosie the Riveter poster from the museum store here (not...
Black and white ad with photo of woman in dress with polka dots and umbrella with polka dots. Text: "Silks that express the spirit of sport."
Keeping Khaki-Kool during World War I
Next in our World War I series this month, a look at what we now consider a go-to, neutral fabric for almost any season.In 1915 American...
Photo of panels of quilt, one with American flag in center
Textiles from samplers to baby bonnets reveal participation—and exclusion—in American democracy and culture
This week, we're exploring how participation—people joining together to accomplish shared goals—shapes American life by exploring our...
Photo of fabric. Dark blue background. Images of small children wearing pink, brown, white, and blue outfits. Attached together with string.
The World War I story of Nénette and Rintintin
Some dolls, some dogs, and a charming Parisian story from our textile collections, part of our World War I series this month.In July 1918,...
Black and white photo of women in uniforms (pants, ties, hats, boots) lined up looking at a woman who appears to be in charge.
From satin to khaki: Women join the Military Preparedness Movement of 1916
6:00 a.m. June 16, 1916. Nestled in the Ramapo Mountains of Passaic County, New Jersey, lay an orderly row of cream-colored tents. At the...
Photo of white lace in the shape of a circle with lion and crown in center
At home and "Over There": Women in World War I object group
The Women in World War I object group was a long labor of love for my internship. Essentially an online exhibition, the object...
Patter with wide white strips, thin black stripes, and stylized bird and anti illustrations
The "new vogue for black and white" during World War I dye shortages
On December 18, 1915, Edith Bolling Galt married President Woodrow Wilson in a ceremony at her home in Washington, D.C. This very private...
Square shaped lace example, white on black background
The delicate "war laces" of World War I
"War" and "lace" are not often part of the same sentence. However, laces made in Belgium during World War I are an exception. About 50 of...
Painting in vivid colors depicting Lusitania half-sunk, smoke billowing
Remember the Lusitania: 3 pieces of World War I propaganda
One hundred years ago on May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,195...
Soldier sits posed in grass with fellow soldiers, wearing uniform and looking at camera
A mother's solace: A letter from a World War I enemy
In 1922, four years after her American son was killed in action in World War I, Sallie Maxwell Bennett received a letter from Emil...
Illustration of an ambulance-style van with a red cross and text: "U.S.A. X-Ray Car No. 4"
The abstract artist and his World War I "X-Ray Car"
In 1897, at the age of 22, Henry Lyman Saÿen's career in scientific instruments seemed to be set. Little did he know that his talents would...
Two women wearing hats in WWI photo
Embroidery under fire
The scream of incoming shells would send French peasant women dashing to their cellars for safety, but then they would pick their...
Stubby the dog
How did animals (even slugs) serve in World War I?
Veterans Day is a time to commemorate the brave men and women who are serving or have served in the armed forces. However, the service of...
Titanic survivors in black and white photo
An American take on the world of Downton Abbey
Are you one of Downton Abbey's many American fans? With the new fourth season airing here in the U.S. on PBS ...
Color photograph of graveyard with white crosses, four trees, sun shining
A parallel journey: A grandson's tribute to a World War I hero
Thinking about researching a relative's wartime experiences? Jeff Lowdermilk's story of researching his grandfather's military service may...
The bugle that sounded the end of the First World War
Update in November 2018: This blog post will updated with new research in the coming months. Kelly Whitson, who works with our...
"Uncle Sam" poster with pointing figure in a hat and beard
Uncle Sam: The man and the meme
In honor of Uncle Sam Day, we tracked down the story of the familiar bearded figure.Drawing by James Montgomery Flagg of Uncle Sam....
Edward Wadsworth. "Dazzle-ships in Drydock at Liverpool," 1919.
Dazzle camouflage: The art of war
Last week, Intern Joseph Brichacek explained how one World War I artist found inspiration from colorful camouflage. Today, he examines how...
Sketch or artwork of plane crashing to the ground. Soldiers lay on the ground. Toppled fence posts. Dark browns, blacks, grays.
Sketching World War I: A picture in camo
Joseph Brichacek, an intern with the Military History Collections Project, explores how camouflage blurs the lines between...
Khaki uniform, shoes, and hat
Women in uniform, World War I edition
In the spring of 1998, I joined the National Museum of American History as a curator of Armed Forces History. Shortly after I arrived, my...
Black and white photo of four people (three men in military uniforms) standing with a dog that wears a harness.
Stubby: Dog, Hoya mascot, and war hero
Stubby the dog, known to many as “Sgt. Stubby”, is one of my favorite artifacts in the Armed Forces History collections. He was the mascot...
Doughboy uniform in khaki and green with helmet and gas mask
Learning about sacrifice on Veterans Day
As Veterans Day approaches, I have found myself reflecting on the common practice of having grade school students interview veterans for...