The National Archives houses the largest repository of World War I documents in the United States, and it encompasses not just paper records but also still pictures, microfilm, and motion pictures related to the conflict. Now, miles of seldom-to-never-before-seen film footage is being processed into high definition video and made available on the National Archives’ YouTube channel. Some 1,600 reels of documentary film shot during and after World War I, made at a cost (in today's dollars) of some $55 million, will be free for the public to access online. Read more about this remarkable restoration and distribution project here.

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum opened an online exhibit called The Roses of No Man’s Land, honoring and commemorating these nurses that served during the Great War. Using photos, letters, and personal writing logs, the exhibit features the stories of World War I nurses from Wisconsin, coinciding with the centennial entry of the U.S into the war. The exhibit focuses on the lives of two volunteers who dedicated their lives to help the war effort. Read more about this exhibit to Wisconsin nurses who served during the Great War.

The American Society of Landscape Architects published an extensive article on their web site recently chronicling the evolution of the design concept for the new national World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, DC, after the approval by the National Capital Planning Commission of the conceptual design in July. The article offers a good review of the issues the plan has encountered as it moves forward toward a dedication on November 11, 2018, the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the war. Read the entire article here.

The World War I veterans' Bonus March movement was ended by Federal government intervention on July 28, 1932. The Bonus Marches had sprung up across the country in the early 1930s, pitting the American veterans of World War I against their own government. Some 20,000 homeless and unemployed WWI veterans occupied the nation’s capital in May 1932, building an encampment on the bank of the Anacostia River called "Bonus City."  On July 28, Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur directed the military forces that brought "Bonus City" and the demonstrations to an end.  Read more about what many called a betrayal of the American WWI veterans, and how the fallout from the suppression led to new attitudes toward military service.

One of the remarkable World War I resources and features that can be found on the Centennial Commission website is the daily republication of the Official Bulletin, published daily throughout the war at the behest of President Woodrow Wilson. The Official Bulletin was published to keep Americans informed about the war's progress, and to keep the public emotionally engaged in the overall war effort. Check out this amazing cultural resource of this period in our country.

The WW1 Centennial News Podcast is about WW1 THEN: 100 years ago this week and its about WW1 NOW: News and updates about the centennial and the commemoration. 

Available on our web site, iTunes, Google Play, and TuneIn.

Highlight of Episode #30 include:

• Orville Wright on winning the war with air power 
• james Higgs Balloon Observer 
• Mike Shuster on GAS
• Richard Rubin & Jonathan Bratten on
  building a national army 
• William C. Gorgas and the Great War in Tuscaloosa, AL 
• Dr. Libby O’Connell about the history of food
• Introducing the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials Review Committee
• David Craig on the Maryland WW1 Centennial Commemoration 
• Laura Vogt on the National WWI Museum and Memorial in KC
• Facebook post on the Kodak VPK - vest pocket camera 
• Shout out to the commission’s summer of 2017 interns

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW

Get kits for a $64.99 contribution each.

Raise money for your organization, While helping us build the National WW1 Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington DC.

The WW1 Centennial Commission has created “WW1 Poppy kits”. You receive one kit with each $64.99 contribution. Each kit neatly packages 60 poppy seed packets that you can distribute or use to raise money for your organization. 

The cost of the kits allows you to double your money or more. This is a terrific fund-raiser for veteran service organizations, state WW1 centennial organizations, 100 Cities / 100 Memorials projects, or even scout troops, school and churches.

FREE SHIPPING  with no extra shipping or handling fee.

This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial.