Featured Articles
When Did “Armistice Day” Become “Veterans Day” in the USA?
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed 11 November as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in [...]
On July 8, 1918, American Red Cross driver Ernest Hemingway is wounded in World War
Author's wartime experiences helped shape his famous early novel 'A Farewell to Arms' On this date in history, July 8, 1918, the iconic novelist Ernest Hemingway, then an 18-year-old ambulance driver for the American Red [...]
Women of World War I: Ellen Babbitt
Women in 1917-1919 were heavily involved in the war effort. They served on the home front sewing clothes, gathering supplies, and more, and some went overseas to help in Europe. Ellen Babbitt was one of [...]
Was the U.S. Army Really the “Decisive” Force in World War I?
In his 2001 book The Myth of the Great War: A New Military History of World War I, the American Professor John Mosier, who teaches English at Loyola University in New Orleans, makes the claim that [...]
National WWI Memorial: A Place to Honor Diversity on Juneteenth
Bugler Christopher Watkins sounded Taps on Juneteenth to remember the "Harlem Hellfighters" at the World War I Memorial in downtown D.C. The tribute not only honored the highly decorated 369th Infantry Regiment, but it also [...]
How WWI Soldiers Enjoyed Their Time Off Compared to Soldiers Today
Soldiers need breaks to relieve the stress they experience on the battlefield. This article explores the similarities and differences between how World War I soldiers spent their time off and the activities available to the [...]
Combat-Related Mental Health Issues from World War I to Today
Trauma has always been an inseparable part of war. Throughout history, countless soldiers have developed mental health disorders directly linked to their wartime experiences. However, until the 20th century, few documented and categorized this mental [...]
William Arthur Dietz – Tanker of the Argonne & First Commander of the First American Legion Post in the United States
Tanks are, and have been for over 100 years, an integral tool of warfare. The British, French, and German armies spent a great deal during the final years of the war developing this technology. When [...]
The Pioneer Infantry in the Great War
The World War I Illinois State Normal University Service Records collection is filled with stories of heroism from ISNU students and staff, collected by our first librarian, Ange Milner. Milner also collected files from Black [...]
