Service Flag

The service flag, or the Blue Star flag, is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for families who have members serving in the United States Armed Forces. Its origins date back...

“Gott mit uns und wir mit ihm!”

During the Great War, “Gott mit uns” (“God is with us”) was the rallying cry of the German military. It reflected deeply-held beliefs by German leadership and the hopes of the German people.

YWCA for United America

Clothed in white robes and arms outstretched, C. Howard Walker’s patriotic, feminine figure stands resolute in her goal to unite immigrant women in the United States of America. Specifically, the...

From the Sidelines to the Front Lines

James Naismith, Bella Reay and Spottswood "Spot" Poles aren't necessarily household names. But they were each influential in their respective sports (basketball, soccer and baseball), and they each...

Algerian Spahis in Artois

Spotlight on an illustration by French artist Charles Huard depicting Algerian colonial soldiers known as Spahis. Find out about their roles in WWI as fighters for France and as prisoners of Germany.

Basketball and WWI

One of the stars of special exhibition "Entertaining the Troops" is a basketball uniform. It dates from the 1910s; the top is made of wool and the shorts are made of cotton; and the tag is for A.G.

African American Women and WWI

When the U.S. joined the war in 1917, Americans from all walks of life wanted to “do their bit.” This included African American women, who found a variety of ways to support the war effort amid...

The Violin

Plaintive music wafts across a French compound where German prisoners of war are held behind the wire. German soldier August Christian Voigt is the musician, playing on a violin that he had crafted...

Knitting the Nation

American women had been knitting socks and sweaters for relief organizations overseas prior to the United States entering WWI, but when these women’s husbands, brothers and sons started enlisting in...

Ruth Law

At age 21, Ruth Law bought her first airplane from Orville Wright, who refused to train her since he believed women did not have the mechanical aptitude for flight. She subsequently made a name for...

Ersatz

By 1915, the great demand for material resources to support the war effort caused supplies that German civilians and soldiers commonly used to dwindle, increasing their costs and value. As deliveries...