Underwood & Underwood World War I press photographs

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Underwood & Underwood World War I press photographs, C0502, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet 1 box, 101 photographs
Creator:
Underwood & Underwood
Abstract:
Over one hundred photographs from the Underwood & Underwood photography agency of scenes from World War I in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States, taken from 1917 - 1918. The majority of the photographs depict soldiers of various nationalities during and training for combat, as well as the war effort and civilian life in the United States.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Underwood & Underwood World War I press photographs, C0502, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Content Warning: Some of the photographic descriptions include racist language.

Over one hundred photographs from the Underwood & Underwood photography agency of scenes from World War I in Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. All photographs were taken between 1917 - 1918. The majority of the photographs depict soldiers of various nationalities during and training for combat. Other photographs depict the war effort and recruitment of soldiers. Notably, there are a few photographs of soldiers of color, including Seminole soldiers training under the United States army and Indian soldiers training under Great Britain. A handful of photographs depict civilian life in the United States during the time period.

Biographical / historical:

Underwood and Underwood (also written as Underwood & Underwood) was a large American photography agency founded by brothers Elmer and Bert Underwood in 1882. Originally based in Ottawa, Kansas, they relocated the business first to Baltimore, Maryland, and eventually to New York City, New York in 1891. Known for their massively popular stereograph photography, the company eventually took up photojournalism and entertainment photography to great success.

World War I, or the Great War as it was known at the time, was an international conflict that lasted from 1914 - 1918. The war affected nearly all European countries, as well as the United States and many others across the globe. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, "[t]he war was virtually unprecedented in the slaughter, carnage, and destruction it caused." At its essence a conflict between the "Allies" (France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States) and the "Central Powers" (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey), World War I ended on November 11, 1918 when the armistice between Germany and the Allies took place. Over 40 million people died as casualties of the war.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Caroliniana Rare Books by Lynn Eaton in June 2019.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in June 2022. Finding aid completed by Amanda Brent in June 2022.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical / technical requirements:

The photographs in this collection are attached to small paper descriptions with adhesive. These paper descriptions are brittle and acidic, and are folded from the verso of the photograph to the recto.

Physical location:
R 72, C 3, S 5
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Photography
World War, 1914-1918