Poster used in A.L.A. Campaign for books, Camp Meade (165-WW-33D-5, NAID 20801784)
When America entered World War I in 1917, the American Library Association decided to take part in the war effort by establishing the Library War Service. Its purpose was to provide library services to American soldiers in training camps and overseas. The Association raised more than seven million dollars from donations, built 36 library camps, and distributed more than 500 million books and magazines to more than 500 locations throughout the United States and Europe. Public libraries in different states participated in the drive as collection stations for books to be prepared for shipment as well as a place of organization for the war effort.
300 boxes of A.L.A. books piled on dock ready to load (165-WW-26C-14, NAID 17342987)
Scene in A.L.A. Dispatch Office, Newport News, Virginia (165-WW-26B-22, NAID 17342944)
Poster used in call for books for men in the United Service (165-WW-33D-3, NAID 20801780)
A.L.A. Book Campaign – 1918 (165-WW-33D-7, NAID 20801788)
In front of Union Station, Washington, D.C (165-WW-33D-10, NAID 20801794)
Poster used in A.L.A. Campaign for books (165-WW-33D-4, NAID 20801782)
Miss Muriel Wright of the American Library Association in charge of the Washington Campaign for magazines, sending copies of the magazine “Marine” by seaplane to the Marines at Quantico, VA., May 6, 1919. Capt. Page, Pilot (165-WW-33C-17, NAID 20801766)
The American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs (165-WW, NAID 533461), in the custody of NARA’s Still Pictures Branch, contains photographic files of the Historic Branch, War Plans Division, War Department General Staff. They were assembled by the Committee for Public Information and were considered the “Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs”. They were obtained from several different sources, such as the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Federal and State government agencies, the American Red Cross, Central News and Photo Service, Western Newspaper Union, etc. Within in the series, the photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject titles. There are 22 file units entitled “American Library Association” with subjects such as “Campaigns”, “Dispatch (Distribution)”, “Camps by State”, “Posters”, etc.
Trompeloup near Pauillac. Reading room at Naval Base (165-WW-33A-23, NAID 20801670)
French – Reading Room, Beaune A.E.F. University Library. France (165-WW-32D-2, NAID 20801514)
A corner in the library, Canadian Soldiers College, Seaford, Sussex, England (165-WW-32C-3, NAID 20801486)
Reading in A.L.A. book while waiting for orders (165-WW-32B-5, NAID 20801450)
Books for men in camp and overseas (165-WW-32B-10, NAID 20801460)
Library, Vancouver Barracks, Washington (165-WW-30A-11, NAID 20801044)
Book room of main library, Camp Lewis, American Lake, Wash (165-WW-30A-2, NAID 20801026)
Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio. Interior of Camp Library. From C.P.I. (165-WW-29A-1, NAID 20800780)
Window exhibit prepared and displayed by the City Gas Company, Detroit, Mich. March, 14 – 15, Book Campaign, 1918 (165-WW-26A-20, NAID 17342863)
Photo shows some of the books collected by the University of Kentucky cadets for soldiers and sailors. The cadets have materially aided the American Library Association which is conducting the campaign for books for our boys. 1918 (165-WW-26A-17, NAID 17342857)
Pile of books contributed by various people for American Soldiers and Sailors (165-WW-26A-14, NAID 17342851)
A.L.A. Book Campaign, New York City, New York (165-WW-26A-11, NAID 17342845)
Their answer to the appeal for books for men in our fighting forces. Girls from Hunter College delivering books at the Public Library, New York, for distribution to soldiers. They contributed 3500 books to the fast growing pile. 1918. International Film Service (165-WW-26A-4, NAID 17342831)
A.L.A. Campaign for Books. Front of Public Library, N.Y. City, N.Y (165-WW-26A-2, NAID 17342827)
Drive for books for fighters. Photo shows a number of girls each with a pile of books wending her way into the Public Library Building, New York, where they left books to be sent to camps. This campaign for books was started by the American Library Association. March 18, 1918 (165-WW-26A-1, NAID 17342825)
Le Mans, American Library, in Y.M.C.A. Hut (165-WW-33A-31, NAID 20801686)
This series has been fully digitized and is made available through our online catalog with no copyright restrictions.
Really very thanks for the resource of those rare pictures. Its a great informative post. Thanks for sharing.