2014-2019 marks the centennial Anniversary of World War I. To commemorate this event the Special Collections and Archives of Wright State University has gathered materials related to World War I from its collections. This series contains many letters, diaries, photographs, and other ephemera from Ohio natives. The creators of these materials give the user a glimpse at the impact of World War I from a unique and individual perspective. Though these materials often record factual data, a closer inspection will often reveal content of a more personal nature.
The World War I Collections include materials from the following series:
Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Photographs (MS-152)
The 91st Observation Squadron Photographs (MS-293)
Palmer Coombs WWI Materials: Diaries and Papers (MS-293)
Fred F. Marshall Papers (MS-53)
World War I Glass Plate Stereoviews (MS-457)
War Camp Community Service Song Sheet (SC-174)
For more information on these collections, please visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives. For more information about the Centennial Anniversary of World War I please visit The United States World War One Centennial Commission.
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Aerial view of the victory celebration at the Place de la Concorde
Fred F. Marshall
View of the victory celebration on Bastille Day in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. The image was taken from the roof of the Hotel Crillon.
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Aerial view of the victory celebration at the Place de la Concorde
Fred F. Marshall
View of the victory celebration on Bastille Day in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. The image was taken from the roof of the Hotel Crillon.
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Aerial view of the victory celebration at the Place de la Concorde
Fred F. Marshall
View of the victory celebration on Bastille Day in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France.
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Arc de Triomphe
Fred F. Marshall
View of the Arc de Triomphe during a victory celebration on July 14, 1918.
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Closeup of the Arc de Triomphe
Fred F. Marshall
Closeup view of the Arc de Triomphe during a victory celebration on July 14, 1918.
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Crowded beach in Paris on Bastille Day
Fred F. Marshall
View of a crowded beach on Bastille Day in Paris, France.
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A crowd of people gather at a train yard to watch the packaged De Havilland DH-4s being loaded onto railroad cars for shipment from the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
A crowd of people gather in a train yard to watch as the packaged De Havilland DH-4s built at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company get loaded into railroad gondola cars, circa 1918. A crane is used to lower the large crates carrying the parts of the airplanes into the gondola cars. Among the people in the crowd are police officers in full uniform. A railroad steam engine is seen in the background attached to the cars with white steam pouring out of the smoke stack. Residential buildings, early automobiles, horse and carts, railroad cars, and other buildings are all visible in the background of the photograph. On the side of one of the loaded cars is printed New York Central and St. Louis.
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A De Havilland DH-4 at the South Field of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic image shows a De Havilland DH-4 with military weapons at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company South Field, circa 1918. The DH-4 has twin Marlin guns attached by the front cockpit. The aircraft has a Scarff ring attached and is painted in a military paint scheme. In the background other buildings are visible and another DH-4 is being worked on by Dayton-Wright employees near a hangar marked D-0.
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A De Havilland DH-4 being prepared for shipment at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The De Havilland DH-4 is parked over a pallet just prior to having the landing gear removed at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. The DH-4 has the wings removed and blocks of wood placed along the fuselage for packing in the crate. The aircraft is stripped down to just the fuselage and landing gear. Beside the airplane another DH-4 is seen already lowered onto a shipping pallet. In the background other DH-4s are prepared for shipment by Dayton-Wright employees. The title of the negative is "Dayton-Wright Airplane" and labeled 41. This image was taken circa 1918.
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A De Havilland DH-4 in parts before being packaged at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
A De Havilland DH-4 at a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory is laid out in pieces on wooden platforms as if the airplane is waiting to be packaged for shipment. At the far right of the circa 1918 photograph is the tail section with the tail skid still attached. On the next skid to the left are various parts; the hood to cover the engine, and loops of wire. The fuselage is on the next skid to the left with the Liberty Engine exposed and the propeller set in front. A set of boards formed in an X are attached to the propeller shaft and used to stabilize the fuselage. On the far left are all of the wings, ailerons, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizer, rudder, elevator, and parts connected to the wings and tail. Written on the tail section is "A 29069 D.W.A. CO." In the background shipping crates and materials are visible.
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A De Havilland DH-4 inside of a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
A De Havilland DH-4 airplane inside of a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory is the main subject of this photograph taken circa 1918. The aircraft only has the left side wings attached. The radiator and shutters for the radiator are visible and the aircraft has a modified exhaust system. The Aldis sights for the guns is attached to the pilots cockpit. The airplane is painted and has the stars on the wings and tail. In the background building materials and parts are visible and Dayton-Wright employees are working around other DH-4s. The negative is titled "Dayton-Wright Airplane" and labeled 36.
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Aerial photograph of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The aerial photograph shows the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1. An early automobile is parked near the side of the main building. Similar image to MS152_043. This image was taken circa 1918.
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Aircraft parts being prepared for shipment at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
In the photograph the tail section of a De Havilland DH-4 is seen packaged on a crate in a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory, circa 1918. A DH-4 fuselage is seen in the background with other parts of the aircraft being prepared to be packaged and shipped out.
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Aircraft parts production at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company for the Kettering Bug
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company making parts for the production of the Kettering Bug, circa 1918.
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Army Signal Corps personnel at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
A group photograph of the Army Signal Corps personnel at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918.
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Assembly of the Standard J-1 landing gear at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic image shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working on the landing gear for the Standard J-1 training airplane at Plant 2, circa 1918. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 2."
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Balancing Department at Plant 2 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company July 18, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the Balancing Department at Plant 2 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. Employees of Dayton-Wright work to balance the aircraft propellers. The propellers are held off the ground by the small shaft that attaches them to the engine so that the balance can be tested. Other employees work on propellers in the background and various tools and supplies are seen in the room. Other buildings are visible through the windows of the room. The negative is titled "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Balancing Dept. - Plant 2 - July 18-18." and labeled 23.
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Cloth Assembly Department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic print shows the Cloth Assembly Department of Plant 1 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. Dayton-Wright employees are seen attaching cloth to the skeleton frames of aircraft wings by using tacks and tack hammers. In the background signs are visible that read "Danger No Smoking". Stacks of wings are in the background and various supplies can be seen throughout the room. The title of the negative is "Dayton-Wright Airplane - Plant - 1. Cloth Asse" and labeled 32.
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Completed De Havilland DH-4 fuselage at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1 June 28, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the completed fuselage of a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1. The airplane is parked near a window and has no wings but is otherwise complete. The Scarff ring is installed and the aircraft does not have a hood so the Liberty Engine is exposed. Other DH-4 fuselages are visible in the same building. In the background outside the building other DH-4s can be seen with Dayton-Wright Employees. The title of the negative is "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Plant 1. - June 28-18." and labeled 25.
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Completed De Havilland DH-4s at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
In the photograph the fuselages of the De Havilland DH-4 are lined up outside the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company plant, circa 1918. One aircraft in the foreground is complete. The other aircrafts are lacking wings and most are lacking the propellers. In the background residential buildings are visible including barns, a church, and a cemetery. The side of one barn has a sign painted on it that reads "For best results use Lowe Bros Paints." The shadow of the photographer is visible in the foreground. Similar image to MS152_212 and MS152_053.
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Completed De Havilland DH-4s at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company August 24, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
In the photograph the fuselages of the De Havilland DH-4 are lined up outside the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company plant. One aircraft in the foreground is complete. The other aircrafts are lacking wings and most do not have propellers installed. In the background residential buildings are visible including barns, a church, and a cemetery. The side of one barn has a sign painted on it that reads "For best results use Lowe Bros Paints." The shadow of the photographer is visible in the foreground. The negative is titled "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Aug. 24-18." and is labeled 53. Similar image to MS152_050 and MS152_212.
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Completed wings and tail sections for aircraft produced at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Wings and tail sections for airplanes are stored in racks at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1, circa 1918. The photograph shows the wings and tail sections painted in military colors and stored upright in racks in a large room. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 1."
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Construction at a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory builds around the fuselages of De Havilland DH-4s
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Construction workers build a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory while employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company work on De Havilland DH-4s. As the building is being erected, employees of Dayton-Wright work on producing the aircraft. The building is in skeleton form only and building materials are seen on the ground surrounding the fuselages of the DH-4s. The fuselages are complete with some having the hood off so that the Liberty Engine is exposed. One of the aircraft has the fixed twin Marlin guns attached in front of the pilot's cockpit. All of the planes have a white tarp over part of the fuselage to protect them. This image was taken circa 1918.
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Construction of a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Construction workers build a Dayton-Wright Airplane factory while employees of the Dayton-Wright company work on De Havilland DH-4s. As the building is being erected employees of Dayton-Wright work on building the aircraft. The building is partially built and through the gaps in the walls where windows will be in the future and where bricks need to be filled in, employees of Dayton-Wright are seen in the skeleton of the building working. On the outside of the building construction and building materials are visible. On the side of the building near the entrance a sign reads "No Admittance to other than Employees of this department." This image was taken circa 1918.
