One hundred years ago, when the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, New York City answered the nation’s patriotic call. Since then, The New York Public Library has collected and preserved a wide array of materials that document this moment in New York City history—from photographs and propaganda posters to books, magazines, song lyrics, and more.
This display explores a variety of ways New Yorkers participated in, and were affected by, the war. Several military units headquartered in New York, including the 369th Infantry Regiment—the famed Harlem Hellfighters—served with distinction abroad. On the home front, residents of all backgrounds worked in war-related industries while also engaging in relief and morale-boosting activities such as parades, war bazaars, and Liberty bond rallies. At the same time, the city’s theater community, along with its motion picture and music industries, rallied around the cause, producing uplifting and patriotic works. The era’s darkest aspects also took root in New York City: the suppression of civil liberties, domestic espionage, and vigilantism directed at immigrants, pacifists, and perceived German sympathizers.
These are just some examples from across the Library’s holdings that demonstrate how New Yorkers responded to the war. Through these materials, we can get a glimpse of this tumultuous time in New York City’s past.