Surely you’ve seen some of these photos; if you’re a photographer, you’ve marveled over the ability of the photographer to get all those people to their proper positions, and you’ve wondered at the sheer creative genius required to set the photos up.
Like this one, a depiction of the Liberty Bell — composed of 25,000 officers and men at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The photo was taken in 1918.
The Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago featured an exhibit of these monumental photos in April and May, 2007:
The outbreak of World War I and its inherent violence engendered a new commitment by the world’s photographers to document every aspect of the fighting, ending an era of In A Patriotic Mole, A Living Photograph, Louis Kaplan, of Southern Illinois University, writes, “The so-called living photographs and living insignia of Arthur Mole [and John Thomas] are photo-literal attempts to recover the old image of national identity at the very moment when the United States entered the Great War in 1917.
Mole’s [and Thomas’s] photos assert, bolster, and recover the image of American national identity via photographic imaging. Moreover, these military formations serve as rallying points to support U.S. involvement in the war and to ward off any isolationist tendencies. In life during wartime, [their] patriotic images function as “nationalist propaganda” and instantiate photo cultural formations of citizenship for both the participants and the consumers of these group photographs.”
The monumentality of this project somewhat overshadows the philanthropic magnanimity of the artists themselves.Instead of prospering from the sale of the images produced, the artists donated the entire income derived to the families of the returning soldiers and to this country’s efforts to re-build their lives as a part of the re-entry process.
Eventually, other photographers, appeared on the scene, a bit later in time than the activity conducted by Mole and Thomas, but all were very clearly inspired by the creativity and monumentality of the duo’s production of the “Living” photograph.
One of the most notable of those artists was Eugene Omar Goldbeck. He specialized in the large scale group portrait and photographed important people (Albert Einstein), events, and scenes (Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees in his home town, San Antonio) both locally and around the world (Mt. McKinley). Among his military photographs, the Living Insignia projects are of particular significance as to how he is remembered.
Using a camera as an artist’s tool, using a literal army as a palette, using a parade ground as a sort of canvas, these photographers made some very interesting pictures. The Human Statue of Liberty, with 18,000 men at Camp Dodge, Iowa?
Most of these pictures were taken prior to 1930. Veterans who posed as part of these photos would be between 80 and 100 years old now. Are there veterans in your town who posed for one of these photos?
Good photographic copies of some of these pictures are available from galleries. They are discussion starters, that’s for sure.
Some questions for discussion:
- Considering the years of the photos, do you think many of these men saw duty overseas in World War I.
- Look at the camps, and do an internet search for influenza outbreaks in that era. Were any of these camps focal points for influenza?
- Considering the toll influenza took on these men, about how many out of each photo would have survived the influenza, on average?
- Considering the time, assume these men were between the ages of 18 and 25. What was their fate after the Stock Market Crash of 1929? Where were they during World War II?
- Do a search: Do these camps still exist? Can you find their locations on a map, whether they exist or not?
- Why do the critics say these photos might have been used to build national unity, and to cement national identity and will in time of war?
- What is it about making these photos that would build patriotism? Are these photos patriotic now?
These quirky photos are true snapshots in time. They can be used for warm-ups/bell ringers, or to construct lesson plans around.
Tip of the old scrub brush to Gil Brassard, a native, patriotic and corporate historian hiding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
Still fascinating.
http://twitter.com/HistoryInPix/status/474532876990816256
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I just purchased ten of these photographs at an estate auction. They are the larger size and some are a little beat up. I’m wondering what they’re worth. I think I’ll put them on ebay.
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Evelyne, do I understand you’re trying to sell your photo? You might do well to contact Fort Dix, and if there is a museum there, offer it to them.
Or, you may want to contact Hammer Galleries:
http://www.hammergallery.com/images/peoplepictures/people%20pictures.htm
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i have the original foto of “the human liberty bell”25000 officers and men,camp DIX,GEN.HUGH L.SCOTT,COMMANDER in 1918…. the holl story writed down of the picture,these image have 45 cm*35cm….it was taken from 1918,it has 92 years old,i’m lebanese,i’m trying to purchase it,so to contact me,just send me an email to eva_r3h@hotmail.com.PS:DON’T MISS THIS APPORTUNITIES….
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i have the real foto of the Liberty Bell in 1918,and i have the holl story of it,how can i purchase it?
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I would also like to find a book of these photos. I have been looking but so far does not seem like one exists. Am I mistaken?
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Robert, did CBS say there is a book?
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I have one of the original Mole & Thomas photographs I’d like to sell. It is “A Living Flag” photographed in 1917. It has a sticker on back saying “This is a genuine photograph” formed with 10,000 “bluejackets” (Navy personnel) at Great Lakes Naval Station. It appears to be one of the first ones they did. All others I’ve found were taken 1918-1920’s. Christy’s Auction House sold the same image in 2005 for $440, but it was only 4 1/4 X 3 1/4 inch post card. What I have is the original 10 1/2 X 13 1/2 inch camera size.
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I was out town yesterday and I intended to watch the CBS “Sunday Reports” for only a short period. The topic was the the Mole & Thomas Living Pictures. I was so impressed their photos that I stayed in the room to view the entire program. When I arrived home, I went to on the internet, Borders,Barnes & Noble & Million Books and could not find her help. I did not give up and was very happy to find this tribute. I appreciate it very much if you direct me to Mole & Thomas Living Pictures Book,so that I can purchase it.
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[…] Like this one, a depiction of the Liberty Bell – composed of 25,000 officers and men at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The photo was taken in 1918. Human Liberty Bell: Tribute to photos of Mole & Thomas […]
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