Social hour at Red Cross House, 1918 - 1920

The collection consists of one box with 14 folders containing 70 photoprints made circa 1918-1920. The photographs were made by the Hughes Company, and some of them were printed in the menu/program for a dinner honoring Sir Arthur Pearson on Jan. 16, 1919. All photos are mounted on cloth, with captions on the verso. However, as the photos were previously bound into a book, the caption for each image is attached to the leaf in front of it.

Photographs include soldiers at the Red Cross Institute for the Blind learning various skills: typewriting, braille reading, and work skills such as dictaphone, book binding, machining, vulcanizing, agriculture, salesmanship, and massage. There are also photographs of recreational activities: music, dancing, basket-making, swimming, bowling.

Many soldiers are depicted, but not identified, including African American soldiers. Administrators of the Institute are depicted, including founder Colonel Bordley and director Lawrence W. Wallace. Photographs of visiting dignitaries include Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, Helen Keller, General Pershing, and Captain Delveaux of the Belgian Institute for Blind Soldiers.