Looking Back 100 Years Through Words and Pictures
Car Hit by Shell, June 1918
While often in the shadow of the war that would follow, World War I saw conflict on a global scale: 17 million people were killed and large swaths of Europe’s landscape still bears visible scars.
The Great War saw the end of empires, and birthed the modern age, and at the end, it marked the entrance of the United States as a major player on the world stage. The crucible of World War I not only forged military leaders who would make their name in the next war, but also a generation of writers now firmly enshrined in the English-language canon.
Events at the Library
- Wednesday, June 21 – “America and the Great War” – Author talk with Margaret Wagner
- Thursday, Sept. 14 – “War Against War” – Author talk with Michael Kazin
Explore the Library Collection
There can be no way to showcase all of this history in a single booklist, so we’ve started with a World War I Overview, mixing fiction and nonfiction, and covering broad topics, trends and regions in order to present the best introduction our collection can offer.
But these titles are just a small selection of the Library’s collection on World War I. You can find more of our lists in the catalog by searching “World War I Collection Spotlight.”
You can also explore World War I in pictures and letters through our featured exhibit in the Center for Local History’s online Community Archive.
We will add more booklist topics throughout the year as we continue to commemorate and remember the war’s 100th anniversary.
Homepage image from the Center for Local History, 230-6659 Car Hit by Shell, June 1918.
My father served in WWI so I take great interest in this collection that Arlington Public Library has created. I have a display of his numerous medals including the Purple Heart and the Battle of the Marne, as well as his personal items and would have gladly shared if I had been aware of this project. THANK YOU for keeping interest in the Great War alive.
eclark –
Thank you for your feedback. The Center for Local History is always interested in new archival donations — please contact staff through the CLH webpage if you would like to speak to us about your collection.