Warrick County World War I photograph album
Collection — Folder: SP154
Identifier: SP154
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises loose pages from a photograph album from Warrick County, Indiana on July 4, 1918 and during World War I, concerning subjects related to the war in the county circa 1917-1918. There are 14 group photographs of unidentified men often wearing armbands or ribbons--who were most likely registered for the draft, enlisted in the armed forces, or members of the Liberty Guard--sitting on the Warrick County Courthouse steps. Two of the photographs depict African Americans.
Other photographs document the July 4, 1918 celebration in Boonville attended by Governor Goodrich, as well as portrait photographs of 6 members of the Warrick County Council of Defense: W. H. Chapman, Esther Hoover Lewis, Joseph D. Pike, Henry Whittinghill (treasurer), Roscoe Kiper (chairman), and John B. Reed (secretary; director of Boys' Working Reserve).
Other photographs document the July 4, 1918 celebration in Boonville attended by Governor Goodrich, as well as portrait photographs of 6 members of the Warrick County Council of Defense: W. H. Chapman, Esther Hoover Lewis, Joseph D. Pike, Henry Whittinghill (treasurer), Roscoe Kiper (chairman), and John B. Reed (secretary; director of Boys' Working Reserve).
Dates
- 1918
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Historical Note
On July 4, 1918, men registered for the draft and members of the Indiana Liberty Guard from Warrick County held a celebration in Boonville, Indiana celebrating Independence Day. Governor James Goodrich and his staff attended the event, along with about 10-15,000 others. The governor dedicated an American flag won by the county during the 3rd liberty loan campaign. The day included a parade representing all war activities in the morning and the review of the county's regiment of 1,200 guards, made by Gov. and First Lady Goodrich, Adjutant General Harry A. Smith, and state politicians. The guards paraded around the race track at the Warrick County Fairgrounds before a reviewing stand in front of the main amphitheater. The governor commended Colonel Thomas E. Downs, commanding officer of the county's Liberty Guard, on his work and on the guard's exceeding all his expectations.
The Liberty Guards of Warrick County were the only complete county regiment in the state, with 12 companies, each of about 100 men. Each township offered one company, save for Boon and Ohio townships, which provided two. Colonel Thomas E. Downs, who also held the position of editor of the Boonville Standard, worked for several months to improve the regiment. Most of the men in the regiment were supplied with uniforms but no rifles, using wooden dummies to drill.
In Indiana, Governor Goodrich formed the Liberty Guard in late 1917, to function as local, domestic protection similarly to the National Guard. The Liberty Guard was formed throughout the United States at the county and town level to protect industries and transportaiton from German spies or sympathizers. Men between the ages of 18 and 45 were eligible to join the guard. The guard were an adjunct to the state militia, primarily serving as protection for their home county, and could only be called outside their respective counties when other sources had been exhausted.
Sources:
"5,000 in Indianapolis 4th of July Parade." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), July 5, 1918, 13. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
"A Perfect Day." Boonville Standard (IN), July 12, 1918, 1. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
"Gov. Goodrich Praises Guard." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), July 5, 1918, 13. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
"Liberty Guard Created to Protect Life on Home Front." Daily Reporter (Greenfield, IN), July 22, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.greenfieldreporter.com/2016/07/22/liberty_guard_created_to_protect_life_on_home_front_.
"Warrick's Liberty Guards to Be Reviewed by Gov. Goodrich." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), June 28, 1918, 13. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
The Liberty Guards of Warrick County were the only complete county regiment in the state, with 12 companies, each of about 100 men. Each township offered one company, save for Boon and Ohio townships, which provided two. Colonel Thomas E. Downs, who also held the position of editor of the Boonville Standard, worked for several months to improve the regiment. Most of the men in the regiment were supplied with uniforms but no rifles, using wooden dummies to drill.
In Indiana, Governor Goodrich formed the Liberty Guard in late 1917, to function as local, domestic protection similarly to the National Guard. The Liberty Guard was formed throughout the United States at the county and town level to protect industries and transportaiton from German spies or sympathizers. Men between the ages of 18 and 45 were eligible to join the guard. The guard were an adjunct to the state militia, primarily serving as protection for their home county, and could only be called outside their respective counties when other sources had been exhausted.
Sources:
"5,000 in Indianapolis 4th of July Parade." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), July 5, 1918, 13. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
"A Perfect Day." Boonville Standard (IN), July 12, 1918, 1. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
"Gov. Goodrich Praises Guard." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), July 5, 1918, 13. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
"Liberty Guard Created to Protect Life on Home Front." Daily Reporter (Greenfield, IN), July 22, 2016. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.greenfieldreporter.com/2016/07/22/liberty_guard_created_to_protect_life_on_home_front_.
"Warrick's Liberty Guards to Be Reviewed by Gov. Goodrich." Evansville Courier and Press (IN), June 28, 1918, 13. Accessed February 22, 2022. Newspapers.com.
Extent
0.02 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection consists of one item.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2022/02/22 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid created 2022/02/22 by Brittany Kropf.
- Title
- Warrick County World War I photograph album
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
