BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 7): Mail Call: My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I

DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 7): Mail Call: My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I:

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Description of Pictures: My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I
April 6, 2017 – November 29, 2018
Through personal correspondence written on the frontlines and home front, this centennial exhibition uncovers the history of America’s involvement in World War I. The compelling selection of letters illuminates emotions and thoughts engendered by the war that brought America onto the world stage; raised complex questions about gender, race and ethnic relations; and ushered in the modern era. Included are previously unpublished letters by General John Pershing, the general who led the American Expeditionary Forces and a person who understood the power of the medium. In his postwar letter that begins “My fellow soldiers,” he recognized each individual under his command for bravery and service. My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I was created by the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in collaboration with the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. SIPMMC_170405_03.JPG: My Fellow Soldiers Letters from World War I
2. SIPMMC_170405_07.JPG: Mail Call To many, letter writing may seem a quaint and charming pastime. But for military personnel and their families, mail is essential. Providing prompt, reliable mail service for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen stationed anywhere in the world is a top priority for both the armed forces and the postal system. The ways and means of mail delivery have changed over time, but the essential messages are the same. Our heartfelt letters, official news, and packages from home bind families, resonate with sincerity, and in times of crisis can elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary.
3. SIPMMC_170405_17.JPG: To many, letter writing may seem a quaint and charming pastime. But for military personnel and their families, mail is essential. Providing prompt, reliable mail service for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen stationed anywhere in the world is a top priority for both the armed forces and the postal system. The ways and means of mail delivery have changed over time, but the essential messages are the same. Our heartfelt letters, official news, and packages from home bind families, resonate with sincerity, and in times of crisis can elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary.
4. SIPMMC_170405_20.JPG: My Fellow Soldiers Letters from World War I
5. SIPMMC_170405_23.JPG: My Fellow Soldiers Letters from World War I At the end of the war, General John J. Pershing -- commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) -- wrote a letter that begins "My Fellow Soldiers." Pershing expressed his profound respect and appreciation for the sacrifice, endurance, and will of those who served under him. Each member of the AEF received a copy of the message. Letters were the primary form of communication between the home and military fronts and allowed both writers and recipients to preserve connections and share experiences. The selection of correspondence presented in this exhibition illuminates the relationships, thoughts, and emotions of the authors as they grappled with the effects of World War I.
6. SIPMMC_170405_25.JPG: Over There: America Goes to War On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia in retaliation for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The attack triggered diplomatic alliances, which led countries to go to war. The Central Powers coalition of Austria-Hungary, Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria fought against more than 20 allied countries, including Russia, France, and Great Britain. The United States remained neutral until Germany announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917. After the destruction of American ships and other provocations, President Woodrow Wilson told Congress, "The world must be made safe for democracy," as he successfully requested a declaration of war. By June, the American Expeditionary Forces stared deploying to Europe. The AEF trained with the Allies and then engaged in its first battle in autumn 1917. Brutal combat continued through early November 1918 when the two sides negotiated ceasefire agreements. The Great War, later known as World War I, claimed an estimated 17 million lives of military personnel and civilians. The war profoundly changed society and global politics.
7. SIPMMC_170405_37.JPG: "I shall be tied down with this border patrol indefinitely... and am really fortunate to have something to do." -- Brigadier General John J. Pershing to family friend Anne Boswell, November 3, 1915 (on loan from Andrew Carroll) John Pershing expressed his grief with this black-edged mourning stationery. In late 1915, while Pershing was stationed away from his family, a house fire claimed he lives of his wife Frances and their three daughters. His young son Warren survived, but Pershing's loss was profound. He stayed busy at Fort Bliss, Texas, contending with instability along the border caused by the ongoing revolution in Mexico.
8. SIPMMC_170405_41.JPG: Staying neutral became increasingly difficult for the United States as the war progressed. Between 1914 and early 1917, Americans sent humanitarian aid and volunteered medical services in war-torn countries. The relief work and America's continued commercial trade with combatants raised questions about the nation's neutrality.
9. SIPMMC_170405_43.JPG: Popular culture reflected common behaviors and expectations about letters, postcards, and parcels. The importance of wartime mail and its influence on people's emotions inspired music, art, and literature.
10. SIPMMC_170405_47.JPG: Mobilizing equipping, recruiting, and training the military stretched over the nineteen months of America's engagement in the war. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917, and enacted the draft for men one month later. Eventually over four million men and women served in the military. Social welfare organizations also expanded to provide essential services.
11. SIPMMC_170405_50.JPG: Writing letters was seen as a patriotic duty for sustaining morale. Americans sent 35 million letters from home to deployed service members in the firs year after entering the war. The home front showed support by rationing food and purchasing government-issued Liberty Bonds; women also took on new jobs in the work force.
12. SIPMMC_170405_53.JPG: Postcards were on inexpensive and easy way for busy service members to communicate with friends and loved ones. Charitable organizations distributed postcards for free to encourage military personnel to write. Some postcards even came with pre-printed messages, which helped regulate the content and tone of information sent home. Picture postcards offered glimpses into life at training camps, scenes of the war's destruction, and sentimental or patriotic messages.
13. SIPMMC_170405_57.JPG: "Somewhere in France" was how most service members on the front lines referred to their locations. The military censored outgoing mail to ensure sensitive information like troop movements and numbers did not reach the enemy. These constraints affected how people wrote. Many on the home front hid their worries and sent only words of encouragement and love.
14. SIPMMC_170405_58.JPG: Modern technologies changed warfare and challenged the strategies and fortitude at both sides. The American Expeditionary Forces took lessons from the Allies on the use of airplanes, tanks, and poisonous gas. By the summer of 1918, the AEF embarked on major battle campaigns. In late September, the AEF and the Allies launched their final offensive.
15. SIPMMC_170405_68.JPG: Establishing peace began with a ceasefire on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The resulting celebrations gave way to the long process of recovery. Service members looked forward to returning home and planning for the future, while diplomats began to negotiate treaties that redefined European borders.
16. SIPMMC_170405_69.JPG: My Fellow Soldiers Letters from World War I America's role in the war can be examined through the unique lens of personal correspondence written by soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, aid workers, and their loved ones on the home front. Letters contain the stories of these men and women in their own words. What and how people wrote was influenced by censorship rules and social expectations. With few other forms of communication readily available at the time, letters were a lifeline for maintaining relationships and hope. The centennial of World War I encourages reflection on the war's importance in shaping of the United States and the globe. A reconsideration of the war provides perspective today on similar issues ranging from patriotism to censorship.
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Description of Subject Matter: Mail Call
November 10, 2011 – Permanent
Level 1: Mail in America Galleries
Soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen anxiously awaiting mail delivery is a familiar scene from movies, newsreels, and documentary photographs. Mail call is the moment when the frontline and home front connect. This exhibition tells the history of military mail from the American Revolution to 2010: How does this mail reach its destination? What roles does it play? Why does it influence morale? The exhibition explores the great lengths taken to set up and operate postal services under extraordinary circumstances. It also features letters that reveal the expressions, emotions, and events of the time. On the battlefront and at home, mail provides a vital communication link between military service personnel, their communities, and their loved ones.
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Directly Related Pages: Other pages with content (DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 7): Mail Call) directly related to this one: [Display ALL photos on one page]:
- 2021_DC_SIPM_Mail_Call: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 7): Mail Call (27 photos from 2021)
- 2018_DC_SIPM_Mail_Call_WWI: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 7): Mail Call: My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I (32 photos from 2018)
- 2012_DC_SIPM_Mail_Call: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 7): Mail Call (4 photos from 2012)
Generally-Related Pages: Other pages with content (DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (location): ) somewhat related to this one: [Display ALL photos on one page]:
- 2012_DC_SIPM_Systems: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (MIA Galleries 4): Systems at Work (48 photos from 2012)
- 2015_DC_SIPM_Stamp_Salon: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 5): National Stamp Salon (72 photos from 2015)
- 2013_DC_SIPM_Stamp_Salon: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 5): National Stamp Salon (18 photos from 2013)
- 2014_DC_SIPM_Stamp_Salon: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 5): National Stamp Salon (1 photo from 2014)
- 2013_DC_SIPM_Stamps_World: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 1): World of Stamps (27 photos from 2013)
- 2018_DC_SIPM_Stamps_World: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 1): World of Stamps (33 photos from 2018)
- 2014_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Globe: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 6): Stamps Around the Globe (34 photos from 2014)
- 2015_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Globe: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 6): Stamps Around the Globe (135 photos from 2015)
- 2013_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Globe: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 6): Stamps Around the Globe (23 photos from 2013)
- 2021_DC_SIPM_Stamps_Connect: DC -- Natl Postal Museum -- Exhibit (Gross Gallery 4): Connect with U.S. Stamps (1 photo from 2021)
- ...More (List all 61 pages)...
Same Subject: Click on this link to see coverage of items having the same subject: [(Smithsonian) Postal Museum] [Display ALL (Smithsonian) Postal Museum photos] [Museums (History)] [Museums (Other)]
2017 photos: Equipment this year: I continued to use my Fuji XS-1 cameras but, depending on the event, I also used a Nikon D7000. Trips this year: Civil War Trust conferences in Pensacola, FL, Chattanooga, TN (via sites in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) and Fredericksburg, VA, a family reunion in The Dells, Wisconsin (via sites in Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin), New York City, and my 12th consecutive San Diego Comic Con trip (including sites in Arizona). For some reason, several of my photos have been published in physical books this year which is pretty cool. Ones that I know about: "Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture" (David Lemmo), "The Great Crusade: A Guide to World War I American Expeditionary Forces Battlefields and Sites" (Stephen T. Powers and Kevin Dennehy), "The American Spirit" (David McCullough), "Civil War Battlefields: Walking the Trails of History" (David T. Gilbert), "The Year I Was Peter the Great: 1956 — Khrushchev, Stalin's Ghost, and a Young American in Russia" (Marvin Kalb), and "The Judge: 26 Machiavellian Lessons" (Ron Collins and David Skover). Number of photos taken this year: just below 560,000.
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