Archival Research Catalog (ARC)
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Historical Documents Online: Search Hints for Selected Topics

Military: World War I

For information on other WWI sources at the National Archives, please see:

Selected World War I Records in ARC

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  • Records of the World War I Branch (Thomas Files), 1918 - 1946
    1 22-page document, "The Operation of the So-Called Lost Battalion ", has been digitized from this series of retained copies of reports compiled by the World War I Branch of the Historical Section, Army War College. The reports were usually prepared in response to official and public inquires regarding all facets of American Military History and Policy. The bulk of the reports pertain to World War I. The series title derives its name from that of the principle compiler, Robert Shannon Thomas. These materials are held by the Old Military and Civil Records (Washington DC).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the one multi page digitized document:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Lost Battalion in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    The Operation of the So-Called 'Lost Battalion'
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    ARC Identifier: 301662, Title: "The Operation of the So-Called 'Lost Battalion', October 2 to 8, 1918., 08/1928"

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  • American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 - 1918
    326 photographs have been digitized from the photographic files of the Historical Branch, War Plans Division, War Department General Staff. These were assembled by the Committee for Public Information and considered to be the "Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs". They were obtained from private sources, the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and other Federal and State Government agencies. Some private sources may still hold copyrights. Some of the photographs depict the unity of the nation and how overwhelming the war effort was. Others document Women's Suffrage, African Americans who served in the military, and the effects of the Flu Epidemic. These materials are held by NARA's Still Picture Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 326 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 1000.
    5. Press the Go button.
    6. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link for American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs.
    7. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 326 items. Click on that link to view the hit list for all items.

    From the Collection:

    Officers of the 'Buffalos'
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    ARC Identifier: 533606, Title: "Officers of the 'Buffalos', 367th Infantry, 77th Division in France., 1917 - ca. 1919", Local Identifier: NWDNS-165-WW-127(114)

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  • Selected document from the Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I)
    1 document has been digitized from this collection. This material is held by NARA's Old Military and Civil Records (Washington DC).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 1 digitized document:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Letter from the Commanding Officer of the 142nd Infantry in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    Letter from the Commanding Officer of the 142nd Infantry to the Commanding General of the 36th Division
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    ARC Identifier: 301642, Title: "Letter from the Commanding Officer of the 142nd Infantry to the Commanding General of the 36th Division, stating how messages would be transmitted during World War I in Choctaw as the enemy 'could not decipher the messages', 01/23/1919"

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  • World War I Posters, 1917 - 1919
    315 World War I posters from the U.S. Food Administration have been digitized. These materials are held by NARA's Still Picture Records (College Park, MD).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 315 digitized posters:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter U.S. Food Administration in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 1000.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

    U.S. Navy poster
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    ARC Identifier: 512440, Title: "Wonderful Opportunity For You. Ashore, On Leave. United States Navy, ca. 1917", Local Identifier: NWDNS-4-P-1

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  • Liberty Loan posters, 1917 - 1946
    4 posters have been digitized from this series depict patriotic and anti-German themes used by the Treasury Department to stimulate the sale of Government bonds and war savings stamps promoted during World War I. These materials are held by Still Picture Records(College Park, MD ).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 4 digitized posters:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter Liberty Loan in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    5. Press the Go button.
    6. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link for Liberty Loan, 1917 - 1946.
    7. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 4 items. Click on that link to view the hit list for all items.

    From the Collection:

    Treasury Dept. poster
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    ARC Identifier: 516492, Title: "U*S*A Bonds. Third Liberty Loan Campaign. Boy Scouts of America. Weapons for Liberty. Color poster by Joseph Christian Leyendecker., 1918", Local Identifier: NWDNS-53-WP-14

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