Project staff are excited to announce that Missouri Over There will officially launch in the next few days. We want to extend a special thanks to all of our partners and contributors who have made this project possible. In the meantime, enjoy more photos from our artifact gallery and be sure to check back soon for major changes!
Portable organ used by Charles Atkinson Bull of the Young Men’s Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.). Staffed primarily by volunteers, the Y.M.C.A. provided a wide variety of religious and entertainment activities for American troops. Bull, a prominent gospel singer in St. Louis, took this organ to France in March 1918 where he entertained American troops for eight months. The organ was donated to the Immanuel Baptist Church in St. Louis after the war.
American Red Cross Canteen Service uniform worn by Anne Farrar of St. Louis. Farrar served as a Red Cross volunteer during World War I and helped Washington University deploy Base Hospital 21 to France. Farrar remained in St. Louis and volunteered with several organizations that provided entertainment and health services to American troops. Her uniform would have been worn with a white collar, cuffs, and veil.
Set of 17 Elastolin American toy soldiers manufactured by the German Hausser Company. The soldiers wear the standard issue olive drab uniform of the American army and are shown in different poses with a variety of equipment. Similar sets were available for German, French, and British soldiers. Toys like these were common during the war years and became a popular sign of patriotism.
This U.S. Government Food Supervisor badge belonged to Fred W. Drosten of St. Louis. During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson placed Herbert Hoover in charge of America’s Food Administration. Using the slogan, “Food Will Win the War,” Hoover established food saving measures that were voluntarily adopted by thousands of Americans. Through initiatives like “Meatless Mondays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays,” Americans reduced their food consumption by 15% without rationing.
Maxim MG08 (Maschinengewehr 08) machine gun. Sir Hiram S. Maxim developed the original design of this gun in 1884, which the German Army later adopted in 1908. The Maxim machine gun required a four man crew for operation. A cloth belt of 250 rounds was fed into the right side and the weapon fired automatically until the trigger was released. It had an effective range of almost 2,200 yards and could fire 400 to 450 rounds per minute. Rapid firing caused extreme heat in the barrel which was cooled by a gallon of water in a jacket. Machine guns like the Maxim led to a bloody stalemate on the Western Front during World War I.
Model 1911 “Montana Peak” campaign hat. This olive drab hat was a standard issue item for American soldiers during World War I. Although widely associated with the doughboys, it proved to be impractical in a modern army. The hats were difficult to care for and steel helmets were required for soldiers serving in the trenches. In response, the army adopted the overseas or garrison cap which most American troops wore in France.
