Photographs: World War I Portraits

Collection

Identifier: RG 32-001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

To establish and report on the service of Oberlin College men and women in World War I, the College published a special tribute in the 1920 issue of its yearbook, the Hi-O-Hi, featuring photographs of those who served. The College sent out a survey to former students with a request for photographs. About twenty-five percent of those who had served responded. Of special concern to the organizers of the tribute was the need in this institutional publication to recognize the thirty-two individuals appearing on “Oberlin’s Roll of Honored Dead” (Hi-O-Hi, page 4).

This collection represents the photographs submitted by the respondents, less those that were returned upon request, and additional photographs of World War I service men and women from the ranks of Oberlin’s former students and graduates. Of these, 322 were digitized and described for online presentation (see Related Materials). A lengthy introduction to this online exhibit provides important historical context.

The photographs are arranged alphabetically by last name in 2 boxes.

Source

Military Service in World War I, “About this Collection,” at http://cdm15963.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/ww1.

Dates

Creation: ca. 1914-1918
Other: Date acquired: 1966

Creator

various (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Those photographs taken for the college as works for hire belong to the college outright. Photographs from the late twentieth century and later with stamps from photographic firms are more likely to have requirements as to credit lines or restrictions; consult the College Archivist.

Extent

0.80 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The bulk of the photographic record of the college was transferred without accession from the Office of the Secretary after the establishment of the Archives in 1966. Since that time, photographs have come from a variety of offices and individuals.

Related Materials

A selection of 322 portraits in this collection are presented online in the Military Service in World War I digital collection at http://cdm15963.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/ww1.

See also the following record groups of photographs:

RG 32/2 Miscellaneous Photographs (see V-12, Veterans, and War Activities)

RG 32/3/1 Photographs: Graduates and Former Students

RG 32/3/2 Photographs: Presidents, Faculty, Staff, Trustees and Others

RG 32/5 Photographs: Subjects (see World War I)

RG 32/10 Photographs: Oversize

RG 32/11 Panorama and Rolled Miscellaneous Photographs

The following personal paper groups correspond to an individual represented in the World War I Portraits collection (as noted on Inventory):

Arts, Frederick B., 30/175

Bosworth, Edward F., 30/299

Cowdery, Kirke L., 30/10

King, Donald S., 30/339