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...

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.

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...

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...

Coffee and WWI

While there were no coffee shops on every corner in Europe during WWI, American soldiers and sailors could still get that hot cup of coffee.

Religious Icons in Art and War

Calling upon classical Christian imagery, Saint Javelin became an online phenomenon in March 2022, mostly thanks to social media. Use of Christian saint and Virgin Mary imagery to inspire action and...

Memorial Day 1918

A recently processed Y.M.C.A. newsletter, The Daily Rumor, highlights how one group of soldiers observed Memorial Day 1918 “Somewhere in France.”...

A Little Birdie Told Me

Arthur Standing was a conscientious objector and did not fight during World War I. Instead, he participated in alternate service with the American Friends Service Committee. In this role, he rebuilt...

WWI GIFs

From the funny to the tragic, these short videos were created using archival film footage of the war, primarily from the U.S. Signal Corps.