[Scrapbook related to Edward I. Sproull's military career]

Scrapbook containing approximately 320 photographs and various documents and ephemera related to Edward I. Sproull's military career during and after World War I, circa 1916-1919. The album was assembled by Edward I. Sproull while in training at Ohio State University and subsequently while serving as a pilot with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.

The album contains three hundred twenty (320) photographs, some with handwritten captions. The majority of the photos are candid snapshots of pilots and servicemen at ground school in Ohio and overseas in France, often posed with aircraft. Some men are identified, and include Edward and his brother Howard, as well as fellow American, French, and British (Royal Air Force) pilots. Also included is a studio portrait of the cadet class of the U.S. School of Military Aeronautics at Ohio State University, with each cadet identified. Additional snapshots include family and friends in New York and elsewhere, a few women military nurses, French people and children.

Other photos show both scenic and wartime views of France, with some shots of bombed ruins, but also villages with farmhouses, schools, cathedrals, chateaus and castles. A series of photos appear to document a trip to Nice (France) and Monte Carlo (Monaco), with views of the coastline, gardens, and notable sights such as the palace and casino in Monte Carlo.

The album also includes a few souvenir copy photos and photo postcards, such as captured German planes on display in French cities, crashed aircraft, aerial photographs, and other wartime scenes; crowds at armistice celebrations; and one shot of President Woodrow Wilson.

Locations featured include Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio); Mineola (New York); Washington, D.C.; Camp Nichols (New Orleans, Louisiana); Bedford (Indiana); Hoboken (New Jersey); Winchester (England); St. Maixent, Niort, Nice, St. Jean de Monts, Paris, Angers, Issoudun, Nantes, Villars, Clermont-Ferrand, Rancourt, Tours, Ménigoute, Menton, Saint-Max, Avord, Lyon, Nancy (France); Monte Carlo (Monaco).

Aircraft pictured include A.E.G. C.IV; Breguet Bre.14; Caproni Ca.3; Curtiss JN-4 Jenny; De Havilland D.H.4; De Havilland D.H.9A; Fokker D.VII (V.18); Gotha G.III; Letord LET.4; Letord LET.5 A.3; Nieuport 27; Nieuport 17; Pfalz D.III; Salmson 2 A2; Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter; SPAD XIII (S.13); Voisin 8 Ca.2; and Voisin 3, Type LA.

In addition to photographs, the album contains a few military documents and paper ephemera.

Materials were digitized as part of a Digitizing Hidden Collections grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). Digital files are made available under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND. For commercial use, please inquire via our image/research request form.