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Panoramas in World War I
Panoramas in World War I
Panorama cameras were often used during this period to capture the vast number of soldiers and civilians involved in the war effort. These extensive scenes captured the scale of the war effort but often lack the more personal insight into the experiences of the individual soldiers.
The 370th Infantry Division was one of the only two African-American regiments trained for combat and the only one commanded by African-American officers. The division trained at Camp Logan in Houston beginning in October 1917 before arriving in France in April 1918.
Small scenes of military and civilian interaction are rare in comparison to the formal group portraits or aerial views of camp buildings. Visitors, hospital wards is a surprise image of women visiting the soldiers at camp with provisions to help speed recovery.
Panoramas of military camps throughout Texas and the United States often showed soldiers training and drilling. Prize Fight, Camp Travis is a surprise image of recreation at the camp as opposed to the formal group portraits or aerial views of camp buildings.
Items in this Exhibit
Officers 1st Battalion, 370th Infantry, Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, undated. Don W. Scoggins photograph collection, 2016/003-18.
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Prize Fight, Camp Travis, undated. Frank Tillman collection, 1/142-L653.
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Visitors, hospital wards, Camp Travis, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, 16 August 1918. Frank Tillman collection, 1/142-L1041.
Note that some of the women are wearing badges with “A.R.C.” (American Red Cross) and the iconic red cross logo. Click or tap on thumbnail for larger image.