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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Drill press operators at the Mill Department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company July 1, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Female employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company use the drill press to manufacture parts for the aircraft. Behind each of the women is a bin full of small wooden parts. Band saw blades hang on the wall in the foreground. Other employees of the Mill Department work in the background. A United States flag hangs from the rafters. The title of the negative is "The Dayton-Wright Airplane Co. Plant -1. Mill Dept. July 1-18."
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Early automobiles parked outside of a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Early automobiles are seen parked in front of a Dayton-Wright Airplane Company factory in this photograph from circa 1918. In the background a person stands outside of the guard station. The negative is labeled as 88-HP.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company attaching cloth to aircraft wing skeletons of airplanes April 1, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic print focuses on a group of female employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company using hammers to attach cloth with tacks to aircraft wing skeletons. In the background, a stack of wing skeletons can be seen and male employees work to help with the assembly process. The title of the negative reads "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Cloth Assembly - Apr. 1-18." and is labeled D53.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company building the fuselage of the Kettering Bug
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company building the fuselage of the Kettering Bug, circa 1918. The men are seen working on the wooden section of the main body of the bug. In the background tools, spare parts, and a rack with coats and hats are visible.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company fabricate metal parts for aircraft at Plant 3
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company fabricating metal parts for aircraft production at Plant 3, circa 1918. The men work at stations along a large table and stack the parts in the middle of the table. Various tools and supplies can be seen in use throughout the image. A sign hangs above the door that reads "No Smoking". The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 3."
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in a classroom setting
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in a classroom setting, circa 1918. An instructor stands at the front of the room near a writing board. Text and a design are visible on the writing board. Employees sit at desks and have pieces of paper with letters on them and tools used for drafting.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company make wire parts for aircraft production at Plant 2
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows a small room with tables and employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company making wire parts for the production of airplanes in Plant 2. At the end of one table a stack of completed wire parts can be seen. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 2." This image was taken circa 1918.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company remove the landing gear from a De Havilland DH-4
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company remove the landing gear of a De Havilland DH-4 in preparation for packing the airplane for shipment. The DH-4 is held up by a block and tackle and is suspended over the pallet that it will be shipped on. In the background other DH-4s are visible and being prepared for shipment. The title of the negative is "Dayton-Wright Airplane" and labeled 43. This image was taken circa 1918.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company welding aircraft parts in Plant 3
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company welding metal parts for aircraft at Plant 3, circa 1918. The men operate a Thomson Spot Welder to weld the metal pieces. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 3."
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working on aircraft wings
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
In the foreground of the photograph a group of women stain the wooden skeletons of the wings for a De Havilland DH-4 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. At each station a group of women stain the wooden wings with an observer watching. In the background other employees are working and a stack of aircraft wing skeletons can be seen. A sign hangs on the wall that reads "100% for this department in the Liberty Loan Program Sun. Sept. 29 at 3 P.M." This image was taken circa 1918.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working on the Kettering Bug
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company work on the Kettering Bug, circa 1918. The Bug is hanging from the rafters on a support brace while one employee works on the engine and two others stabilize the Bug. Tools used to work on the bug are visible throughout the scene.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working on the Kettering Bug
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working on the Kettering Bug, circa 1918. In the background a completed Kettering Bug hangs from the ceiling and parts for the Kettering Bug are stacked and ready for use.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company work on drafting plans
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic image shows employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company working on drafting plans, circa 1918. The men sit at desks with drafting tools and sheets of paper.
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company work on manufacturing wooden parts for aircraft production
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Dayton-Wright Airplane Company employees manufacture wooden parts for various aircraft, circa 1918. The employees use various woodworking tools such as a table saw to shape and create the pieces for the aircraft. A sign in the shop area reads, "Positively No One Allowed To Operate These Machines Except Employees Of This Dept. A. G. Hoerner."
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Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company work with aircraft wing skeletons at Plant 1
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
At Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company employees work with aircraft wing skeletons, circa 1918. Large stacks of aircraft wing skeletons are visible throughout the photograph. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 1."
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Employees of the Motor Test Department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company July 25, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph is a group shot of the employees of the Motor Test Department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company. The photographer titled the negative "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. "Motor Test Dept." July 25-18."
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Employees working in the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Mill in Plant 1, July 10, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
A wide angle photograph of the mill department of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1 shows both male and female employees working to prepare the wood to create parts for the aircraft. The negative is labeled 4 and 700.
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Employees working in the Landing Gear Department, Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2 July 17, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
Employees of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company work in the Landing Gear Department at Plant 2. A sign in the background reads "Caution capacity of floor 90 lbs. per square foot do not over load it." The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Plant 2 - Landing Gear Dept. July 17-18". and is labeled as 703.
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Experimental Station at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Experimental Station at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company is the subject of the photograph taken circa 1918. Men sit at tables with drafting supplies and paper creating drawings in a small room. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Experimental Station."
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Exterior view of a building at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 1
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the exterior of a building at Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918.
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Exterior view of construction at Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows construction at Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company, circa 1918. Construction workers work outside of the building creating sidewalks. Two horse drawn wagons wait outside the building. A water tower stands behind the building with DW Co labeled on it.
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Exterior view of Plant 1 Dry Kiln, Dayton-Wright Airplane Company April 18, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The exterior view of the dry kiln for Plant 1 at the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company is the subject of this photograph. There is construction taking place in the foreground and construction workers are seen throughout the image. Large piles of lumber are in the foreground and in the background a railroad boxcar and another car loaded with lumber are entering one of the buildings. The title on the negative reads "Dayton Wright Airplane Plant-1 Dry Kiln - Apr. - 18-18."
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Exterior view of Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company June 3, 1918
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The exterior view of Plant 1 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company is seen in the photograph. People are walking along the side of the plant while two men mow grass. In the foreground construction work is being done. An early automobile is parked in front of Plant 1 and a horse drawn wagon is viewed on the construction site. Construction materials including shovels, wheelbarrows, planks, barrels, and buckets lay on the ground around the wagon. A sign on the side of the wagon reads "Studebaker, R. A. McCutchron Franklin, Ohio" and the number 24 is painted on the side. The negative is titled "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. June, 3-18 Plant-1."
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Exterior view of Plant 2 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photographic image shows the exterior view of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2, circa 1918. The area around the plant is fenced off. Early automobiles line the street in front of the building. Signs by an entrance way to the building read "Employment Department" and "Receiving Department". Construction workers repair part of the sidewalk in front of the entrance. Residential homes can be seen in the background. The title of the negative is "The Dayton Wright Airplane Co. Dayton, Ohio. Plant No. 2" and labeled 3.
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Exterior view of Plant 2 of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company
The photograph shows the exterior view of the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company Plant 2, circa 1918. Outside of the main door a soldier stands guard and Dayton-Wright employees can be seen in the yard and in the windows of the building. On the street early automobiles are parked next to the building and people sit next to a door that has a sign labeled "Employment Department". The photograph is shot through the railroad crossing of the street. In the yard of the plant two railroad cars are parked. A box car from the Toledo, Peoria, and Western Line that is numbered 9263 is parked near the building. The second railroad car in the background is a Baltimore and Ohio gondola car with two people sitting on the side facing the building. A United States flag flies on top of the building. The negative is labeled D70.
