Collections Item Detail

DescriptionBlack-and-white photos, four, of World War I troop transport ships and a French naval warship, New York harbor or Hudson River (one attributed to Hoboken), 1918. Circa 2-3/4" x 3-5/8" wide prints. Photographer not indicated, but probably Elmer C. Waugh. Reverse of all have holographic ink inscriptions appearing contemporary and dated 1918. Per donor, photos from relatives of Elmer C. Waugh (an owner of Alder Slope Ranch in Oregon). Waugh may have been a draftee who was a concientious objector; see photos 2010.007.0237. (Concientious objectors were sometimes assigned to non-combat military roles.) Photo 1. 'Going Over 1918.' View of camouflaged [camouflage style was known as " dazzle "] vessel probably in New York harbor with a tugboat; ship is not named; direction of view has not been determined. Photo 2. 'More camouflage. N.Y. Harbor, 1918.' A closer view of the ship in photo 1 from a different direction. Photo 3. 'Hoboken.' View of three large camouflaged troop ships at the Cunard Line piers, New York City, no date, presumed to be 1918. It is not actually Hoboken, but the photo may have been taken from Hoboken or a ship very near Hoboken. (While the U.S. Army Transport Service for the Port of Embarkation was based in Hoboken, it did use piers in New York for troop embarkation. Also, civilians such as Red Cross volunteers and other groups (non-combat military?) sailed to France for service as ambulance drivers and nurses among several types of workers needed to support the military. They usually embarked at New York, not Hoboken.) The Cunard Line piers, 54 to 59, ran from 13th to 18th Streets. The pier at center is probably Pier 56. Photo 4. 'Another view of a French Warship, 1918.' The ship is mid-river and location cannot be placed other than it appears to be from upper Manhattan with the Palisades across the river on the New Jersey side.