Sidney Van Wyck Peters Scrapbook

The Sidney Van Wyck Peters Scrapbook contains photographs, military orders and memos, maps, clippings, and ephemera relating to Peters' service with the 24th Aero Squadron in World War I. The scrapbook contains three hundred eighty-four (384) photographs, which comprise the bulk of the album, with some family snapshots mixed in with a majority of wartime images. A significant number of the wartime photos feature portraits and group shots, including officers, squadron groups and aircraft in formation, snapshots of cadets, trainees and servicemen, Red Cross women, and men in military and pilots' uniforms, often posed in front of aircraft. Other images include aerial photos; street scenes and post-bombing ruins in French cities and towns; a number of souvenir copy photographs of war scenes; warcraft, aircraft including balloons, Curtiss, Salmson, and captured German planes. Locations featured include San Francisco, San Diego (California); Fort Worth (Texas); Post Field, Fort Sill (Oklahoma); Brest, Varennes, St. Maixent, Paris, Reims, Château-Thierry, Grandpré, Étain, Brieulles, Metz, Verdun, Vavincourt, Colombey les Belles, Bar le Duc, Issoudun, St. Mihiel, Souilly, Tours, Béthincourt, Braquis, Dunes, Dieppe, Pont-à-Mousson, Saint-Max (France).

In addition to the photographs, the scrapbook includes ephemera from Peters' travels in France and his military service. Of particular note is a German propaganda leaflet, as well as military documents such as an order crediting Peters with downing a German plane. Other materials include newspaper clippings, tickets, leave passes, French and German money, pencil sketches, maps, and menus.

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