Arts & Ammo

Human Statue of Liberty

This photograph by Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas was taken in July 1918 at Fort Dodge, Iowa. 18,000 officers and men posed for the photo, spreading over a quarter mile on the parade grounds. Snopes.com has information on this photo and links to similar photos by Mole and Thomas.

The Iowa National Guard site has more:

According to a July 3, 1986, story in the Fort Dodge Messenger, many men fainted-they were dressed in woolen uniforms-as the temperature neared 105 degrees Farenheit. The photo, taken from the top of a specially constructed tower by a Chicago photography studio, Mole & Thomas, was intended to help promote the sale of war bonds but was never used.

June 9th, 2008 Posted by Fitzroy | Visual Arts | no comments