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Catalog Data

Created by:
Alva Studio, American  Search this
Subject of:
Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, Sr., American, 1897 - 1968  Search this
369th Infantry Regiment, American, 1913 - 1945  Search this
Medium:
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper with paper frame
Dimensions:
H x W (Case closed): 8 1/4 x 3 1/8 in. (21 x 7.9 cm)
H x W (Case open): 8 1/4 × 7 3/8 in. (21 × 18.7 cm)
Type:
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Place made:
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Date:
ca. 1920
Caption:
The 369th United States Infantry, nicknamed the “Harlem Hellfighters,” was the first African American regiment of troops to reach the battlefields of World War I. The 369th Regiment was formed from the 15th New York National Guard Regiment and was recognized as part of the U.S. Army on July 15th, 1917. The regiment arrived in Brest, France on January 1st, 1918, being the first African American U.S. soldiers to arrive in France and initially assigned to dam building and stevedores in charge of loading and unloading cargo. The 369th Regiment, due to racial tension within the US Army was assigned to the French Army for the duration of US involvement in WWI. The 369th were the first Allied troops of the war to reach the banks of the Rhine. Upon completion of the 369th’s service in the war, the regiment had spent 191 days in combat, the longest of any American regiment. The entire 369th Regiment, in appreciation for their actions in the Maison-en-Champagne campaign, was given the Croix de Guerre, a medal awarded by the French Government for acts of bravery in conflicts against the enemy. In addition to this honor, 171 individual members of the 369th Regiment were awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor. The 369th Regiment finished their service in Europe and returned to the US in February 1919.From "2011.108 Acquisition Justification," written by John Lutz, 7/13/2011; Approved by Michèle Gates Moresi as public caption 07/05/2016.
Description:
A black-and-white photograph in a brown cardboard holder. The photo inside is of Lawrence McVey posing in a military uniform, wearing the French Croix de Guerre medal. The photo is embossed [Alva Studio / 2249 SEVENTH AVE. N.Y.]. The inscription, [Forget me not] is handwritten in the top left corner.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Military  Search this
Photography  Search this
World War I  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter
Object number:
2011.108.16
Restrictions & Rights:
Public Domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Media Arts-Photography
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5b404689c-6934-4e45-8041-0cb0c0ad6344
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2011.108.16