Among the collections chosen for digitization this year is a series of photographs donated to
The State Historical Society of Missouri by Ruby Dwight Garrett.
Garrett, a Kansas City, Missouri lawyer, served as Chief Signal Officer of the 117th Field Signal Battalion, 42nd Division, during World War I. His valor was awarded with a Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre. After the war, Garrett was an outspoken advocate for reintegrating WWI veterans into society, and for commemorating the deeds of the 42nd Division. For more information about Garrett's service during World War I, check out our blog post :
Communication Training and the 117th Field Signal Battalion.
The photographs in this collection are vivid and invaluable, depicting rarely seen images of trenches, bombarded European towns, artillery, soldier life, communications equipment, and much more.
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| Ruby Garrett (far left), SHS C2558 |
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| 117th Field Signal Battalion soldiers, SHS C2558 |
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| Downed aircraft, SHS C2558 |
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| Kansas City soldiers on a train, SHS C2558 |
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| Actress Elsie Janis, visiting the Western Front in 1918, SHS C2558 |
Sources:
Garrett, Ruby Dwight (1882-1968), Papers, c. 1910-1968, (C2558).
The State Historical Society of Missouri.
