American Troops in Siberia

These images stretch the term found photograph a bit. As I've noted in the other posts in this series, I think that they are rotogravures and are from a World War 1 press release, though if there is anyone out there who can correct me, please leave a comment. I purchased all of these images with the intention of having copy negs made and then black & white prints. Never got around to it with these pictures of American involvement in Siberia, in support of the anti-Bolshevik forces. The picture of troops marching down a dirt road is labeled, "Thirty-first Infantry on a practice march near Vladivostok, December 3, 1918. This regiment, commanded by Colonel F.H. Sargent, is a regular regiment organization from Manila when it was decided to send United States troops to Siberia to aid in guarding military stores belonging to Russia and to render such aid as might be acceptable to the Russians in the organization of their own self-defense. Prior to this movement the Russian people were assured by the United States that the troops would not interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian people and that there would be no interference with the political sovereignty of Russia." The picture of the man with his hand in his jacket, "Twenty-four hours after this picture was taken these Bolshevist leaders were executed by the Czechs at Ekaterinburg. The girl was an official "Red" stenographer." The uniformed man, "Admiral Kolchak, head of the Russian provisional government opposing the Bolshevki in Siberia during 1918 and 1919." The wagon train on the dirt road, "American troops on march near Vladivostok, Dec. 3, 1918." And, the military parade, "Allied peace parade in Vladivostok, Nov. 15, 1918, to celebrate the Armistice of Nov.14. The leading troops are Americans of the 31st Inf." Note, that World War 1 ended before many of these photos were taken.

From Germany

A very small collection of five photographs from Germany. The photo of the two older people is labeled, "Augusta & Gustav Meyer, Germany 1943." Stamped, "C. Weiss, Bremen, Bruckenstr. 16, Fernrui 53283." Look closely at the woman's face and compare it with the woman in the family portrait with the uniformed soldier and child. Same shape and nose. There is no writting on the back of the print, but it is a photo post card, made for the personal use of the subjects, and the studio is identified, "Photo-Studio, Inh. Jul V. Kwanka, Hamburg, Reeperbahn 122/24 Ecke Talsstr." The picture of the house has, written on the back, "Home of Emma Schonewald, Wedel Germany." Labeled in English, but the lab stamp is in German, "Photo-Grote A1625 Wedel Muhlenstr." The other prints have some writing, but it's in German, either faded or smeared, and I can't really make it out. These photos run from World War 1 to World War 2. Where the people in these photos proud of Germany, the Kaiser and Hitler?

Team Photo

A team on a military base, or some sort of early 20th century ROTC?

World War 1, The Argonne

Again, I think these images are rotogravures. I have a pretty good background in conventional photography and can id anything from a daguerreotype to a modern digital print, but obsolete commercial printing ...a bit beyond me. The caption for the image with the shot up helmet, "How the Argonne was won. Like their Indian fighting ancestors the Americans fought from behind trees and bushes, digging a "fox hole" for cover whenever they paused. This photograph was taken by a Signal Corps operator during the advance of the 18th Inf., 1st Div., up the slopes of Hill 240, near Exermont, Oct. 11, 19198. These soldiers fought their way to the top in the face of heavy machine gun fire and drove the enemy from the position. The bullet-torn helmet in the foreground tells the story of a "buddy" who lies "over yonder." The men in the brush, "Hill 240, scene of desperate fighting." The guys with the machine gun, "Machine gunners, 1st Div., in action near Exermont. Oct. 4, 1918." The one with the tank, "Tank and supply wagon blown up north of Fleville." And the one with the wagons on the town street, "Artillery of the 1st Div. entering Fleville. Oct. 12." Not the signal corps. logos.

Swiss Soldier

A nineteenth century cabinet card of a soldier, from Switzerland. On the back, "Alb. Ramstein FRIBOURG (Suisse) Diplome Geneve 1896. Les Cliches sont conserves. Die platten bleiben zu Nachbestellungen aufbewahrt."

Yale Aviation

Another of the old rotogravures (I think) from World War 1. The caption, "General view of the Yale unit's aviation station at Huntington Beach, L.I. ) I would guess that the L.I. stands for Long Island, New York.

U.S.S. Wyoming, World War 1

As I noted in my post of 9/26/09, I have a number of these images from World War 1 that I think are rotogravures. Normally I wouldn't buy pictures cut out from a magazine or newspaper, but these intrigued me. Whatever printing process was used, the images are not screened. Take a close look at photos in newspapers and magazines, and you'll see tiny dots. Because of that, I knew that I could get some nice copy negs, and eventually make conventional black & white prints. I'm also interested, because in World War 1, Woodrow Wilson practically took over the media and turned America's newspaper and magazine into propaganda organs. Something that wasn't done in World War 2, or Vietnam. The first image shows both images as they appeared on the paper. The other two are separated, and a little bigger. The caption for the image on the left is, "Full steam ahead. View of the U. S. S. Wyoming." The right image is, "Coaling ship."

Getting 75's Ready, World War 1

I know quite a lot about photographic printing, but not a lot about commercial printing. Anyway, I bought a stack of these at one of those antique malls, and after some research, I think, but won't promise, that they are rotogravures. When I was working at the photo lab, I had copy negs made, and then printed black & white photos of some of them. The real question I have is, what was their purpose, and what were they from? With the official U.S. logo in the bottom right corner of the image, two things come to mind. 1.) Photos passed by a military censor. 2.) Images released by the government, and if you know anything about the way Woodrow Wilson practically took over the American press for the war effort, that's the more likely of the two explanations. Too, did they come from a magazine or from some sort of government, propaganda campaign? Over the next couple of months, I'll be publishing a lot more of these images. The caption, "Getting 75's ready to move into position. 313th F. A. supporting 80th Div. Near Nixville."

Post War

I'm 54 and I've lived through too many wars. For people my age, though, when the term "post war" is used, it means the ten to fifteen years right after World War 2. It's when our parents rebuilt their lives, and when we were born. Some would say that the period ended with Korea, others with Vietnam. Written on the back of the photo of the single figure standing on the ship deck, "Yours truly on board ship. Avoiding some detail no doubt. Love Ralph." The two guys sitting on ship, "Gen. McCrae, A fellow from Detroit and myself on board ship. Love Ralph." The closer of the two shots of Ralph standing in front of the tent, "Verdun, Yours truly in the doorway of the tent I lived in when I first got to Verdun. Love Ralph." The barracks building, "Home away from home." The store front with the confederate flag and tires, "Save your Confederate money, boys. The south will rise again." Ralph on the swing, smiling, "Cute boy!" With face covered, "You name it." The lake, "Lake Mitchell June 7, 1954." The only other dated photo is of the children, printed on the front, right border, OCT 62. No locations or dates written on the European shots, but it does remind me that my father once told me that both the great depression and the war were good in one way, it forced Americans to get out of their small towns. Ralph may still be alive, and if he is, I hope he leaves a comment.

Pennsylvania Doughboys

I was going to write the story that I've always heard, that World War 1 American soldiers were called doughboys because of their fondness for fried bread, but when I went online to confirm that information I found so many other explanations that I've decided to pass on this web address that has plenty of alternative explanations. www.worldwari.com/dbc/origindb.htm Note the keystone on the soldiers tunic. These are two of the earliest photos in my collection. I purchased them back when I still lived in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania is the keystone state. They have to be from the state militia.

A Desert Base

I just picked up another small collection of estate photos, and in time I'll publish the lot. Most are family pictures, primarily of interest for the old fashions and cars. This photograph, though, is the reason I bought the collection. One long image pieced together from five individual prints. (My scanner is 12 inches on it's longest dimension, this collage is almost 15 inches long, which is why I've put it up in three different slices.) It has to be some sort of World War 2 era military base or research sight. When I first saw it, I thought it was from the Johnson Valley in California's high, Mojave Desert, but the fact is, there isn't enough there to verify a location. The Johnson Valley, during the war, was used for tank and bomber training. The odds are against it, but what would really be exciting is if this were from one of the A-bomb test sights in Nevada.