An Amazing Collection of Studio Portrait Photos of North Carolina Soldiers in World War I

Nearly 100 years ago, thousands of North Carolina men shipped out to Europe to serve in the Great War. The photographs in this album are from the collection Warren County Compiled Individual Military Service Records (WWI 92) in the WWI Papers of the Military Collection at the State Archives of North Carolina.

The collection is composed of compiled military service record forms and photographs documenting the World War I service of 108 Warren and Halifax Counties, N.C., military service individuals. The majority of the collection documents men from Warren County. The collection also includes materials for men from Halifax County, N.C., who had been serving in the Warren County unit of the North Carolina National Guard—Company H, 3rd Infantry—which was converted into Company H, 120th Infantry, 30th Division, under federal U.S. Army service during WWI. The collection was compiled by W. Brodie Jones, the volunteer War Records Collector for Warren County, N.C., on behalf of the North Carolina Historical Commission during WWI.

This collection contains the largest set of North Carolina African Americans' WWI portraits in the Military Collection. Many of these images were recently identified and had been unknown as representing black soldiers.

Here is a studio portrait photo collection of North Carolina soldiers from State Archives of North Carolina. They includes sailors, Marines, and aviators who served in U.S. Army during WWI.

Bert R. Blythe of Tarboro, N.C., sitting in a chair in his Army uniform, holding onto the corner of an American flag, served in the 156th Depot Brigade and Company M, 321st Infantry.

Brady N. Burleyson of Albemarle, N.C in his U.S. Army uniform, leaning against a stand, served in 322nd Infantry, 81st Division.

Burnwell C. Jackson from Kinston, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, was killed on July 20, 1918, in Soissons, France, after being shot by a machine gun three times.

Capt. Wallace Whitfield Riddick Sr., of West Raleigh, N.C., served as a U.S. Army engineer with the 105th Engineers and the 115th Field Artillery, 30th Division, in France.

Captain Frank S. Spruill from Rocky Mount, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served as a Captain in Company B, 52nd Infantry, 6th Division.

Captain Thomas Park, served in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Charles E. Hughes from Elizabeth City, N.C., wearing his U.S. Navy uniform, joined the U.S. Navy when he was just 16 years old in April 1917.

Charles J. Bailey, wearing his full U.S. Army uniform and hat, served as Major General of the 81st Division.

Chester Noah from Surry County, N.C. in his U.S. Army uniform., served in Company E, 321st Infantry, 81st Division.

Clarence E. Midgett of Rodanthe, N.C., served as a Surfman as the U.S. Coast Guard at Station 179.

Clifton Pittman, seated and wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in the 81st Division.

Clyde Cockerham from Surry County, N.C, served in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman 2nd Class.

Colonel Holmes B. Springs, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served as an officer in the 30th Division, in command of many North Carolinians.

Colonel Paul C. Hutton from Goldsboro, N.C., served in U.S. Army Medical Department.

Corp. William S. Gardner from Duplin County, N.C. in his U.S. Army uniform, served in Company G, 16th Infantry, 1st Division, died on July 29, 1918, in France.

Corporal Kinchen C. Knight, of Whitakers, N.C., served in Company B of the 321 Infantry of the U.S. Army during World War I.

David K. Merritt of Raleigh, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in Company L, 5th Pioneer Infantry, and in Company F, 56th Pioneer Infantry.

Dewey A. Williams of Stanly County, N.C. in his Army uniform, served in the 38th Infantry, 3rd Division, was killed in action in France on July 18, 1918.

Edgar H. Bain of Goldsboro, N.C., wearing a suit and bow tie, served in the 119th Infantry, 30th Division.

Edward D. Bryan of Tarboro, N.C., served as Second Lieutenant with the 155 Depot Brigade, U.S. Army.

Edward L. Pitt of Wilson County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, with a hand-painted backdrop, served in the 156th Depot Brigade.

Edward Theodore Quigley in the U.S. Navy uniform, served aboard the U.S. Navy battleship USS Mississippi.

Elmus E. Baker of Tarboro, N.C. in his Army uniform with an American flag in the background, served in Co. B, 322nd Infantry, and 317th Ambulance Company, in France.

G. M. O'Neil seated in a chair, wearing his U.S. Navy uniform and hat, served as a Fireman First Class in the U.S. Navy.

Grady C. Stone of Surry County, N.C., served in the U.S. Army in the 156th Depot Brigade, and in Company K, 324th Infantry, 81st Division.

Harvey R. Harris from Vance County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, posing in front of a hand-painted backdrop, served in Company L, 321st Infantry, 81st Division.

Haywood Maurice Taylor of Tarboro, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform and officer's hat, served on the home front as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Henry G. Simpson from Wake Forest, N.C. in front of a hand-painted backdrop, served in the Headquarters Company, 316th Field Artillery, 81st Division.

Howard L. Strohl, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in the 109th Machine Gun Battalion, 28th Division, was killed in action in Fismes, France, on August 8, 1918.

Isaac G. Wilson of Trenton, N.C., wearing his Army uniform, served in Company E, 321st Infantry, 81st Division, and Company K, 119th Infantry, 30th Division.

J. Leslie Stillman from Cherokee County, N.C., dressed in a suit and tie, served in Company G, 119th Infantry,30th Division, was killed from shrapnel in Belgium on July 26, 1918.

James H. Baugham of Washington, N.C., wearing a heavy wool military coat over his military uniform, served as an aviator with the Lafayette Escadrille, and died in combat on July 2, 1918.

James H. Graham, wearing his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, served in Company J, 127th Infantry, 32nd Division, was killed in action in Europe on August 6, 1918.

James Hodges from Tarboro, N.C., seated on a bench, wearing his U.S. Navy uniform, served on the U.S. Navy battleship USS Alabama (BB-8).

Jesse M. Avery from Harnett County, N.C., seated wearing his U.S. Army uniform, with American flags draped in the background, served in Company M, 119th Infantry, 30th Division.

John A. Elmore from Selma, N.C. in his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, served in the 322nd Infantry, 81st Division.

John Burt Exum Jr. from Wayne County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served during much of World War I in a Motor Battalion in Company D, 306th Ammunition Train, 81st Division.

John E. King from Asheboro, N.C., wearing his dress Army uniform, served in two companies within the 18th Infantry,
was killed in France on June 2, 1918.

John E. Ray Jr., of Raleigh, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in the Medical Corps, 119th Infantry, 30th Division, was killed in combat on October 5, 1918.

John N. Harrell of Raleigh, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army infantry uniform, served as captain in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps during World War I.

John T. Ring from Kernersville, N.C., served as a Corporeal in 97th Company, 6th Marine Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in action from shrapnel on July 19, 1918, at Tigny, France. 

Joseph D. Boushall of Raleigh, N.C., wearing his Army Air Service uniform, served in the Army Air Service, primarily stationed at Eberts Field in Arkansas.

Joseph Edward Stephenson of Halifax, N.C, volunteered at age 19 for the U.S. Navy, serving as a pipe fitter on ships.

Joseph H. Johnston of Chapel Hill, N.C., served in the 322nd Infantry, 81st Division, U.S. Army.

Joseph J. Mackey Jr. of Raleigh, N.C., in his U.S. Army uniform.

Joseph L. Orr from Matthews, N.C., wearing his Marine Corps uniform, served in the 5th Marine Regiment, and was killed in action in Europe on June 9, 1918.

Leland Brown from Northampton County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in Company F, 306th Engineers, 81st Division.

Lt. Buxton White from Elizabeth City, N.C., wearing his Army uniform and hat, served in the 2nd Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion.

Lt. Col. Hugh H. Broadhurst from Goldsboro, N.C., wearing his dress Army uniform and medals, served as Provost Marshall for the 2nd Division.

Lt. Frank M. Thompson of Raleigh, N.C., served in the 6th Infantry, 15th Machine Gun Battalion, 5th Division, was killed by machine gun fire at St. Mihiel, France in September 1918.

Lt. Thomas J. Bullock from Henderson, N.C., served in the 367th Infantry, U.S. Army, died in action at the Second Battle of the Marne in France on September 2, 1918.

Lyman A. Cotton of Salisbury, N.C., seated and wearing his U.S. Navy uniform, organized and commanded a flotilla of U.S. subchasers in the English Channel in 1918.

Major General Edward M. Lewis in his decorated U.S. Army uniform, commanded American troops with the 30th Division in World War I.

Morris T. Matkins from McLeansville, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, served in Company E, 38th Infantry, 3rd Division, was killed in action on July 15, 1918.

Peter A. Spruill of Littleton, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in 43 Company, 156 Depot Brigade, and in the Sanitary Detachment, 318th Field Artillery, 81st Division.

Private David Smith of Whiteville, N.C. in Army uniform, standing in front of a painted background, served in Company D of the 321st Infantry.

Pvt. John Darcy Watson of Hyde County, N.C., wearing his Army uniform, served in a number of units, including in the 306th Engineers and Company K, 120th Infantry, 30th Division.

Pvt. Marvin Trexler of Salisbury, N.C., seated on a chair wearing his Army uniform, served in Company B, 7th Infantry, 3rd Division, was killed in action in Europe on July 15, 1918.

Pvt. Robert C. Powell of Raleigh, N.C., served in Company G, 54th Infantry, 6th Division.

Pvt. Robert H. Salsbury of Martin County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in the 41st Company, 156th Depot Brigade, and in Company D, 324th Infantry, 81st Division.

Pvt. Sherley N. White, seated in a wicker chair, holding a magazine with an elaborate hand-painted backdrop, served in U.S. Army with Company C, 6th Machine Gun Battalion.

Reuben E. Davis from Randolph County, N.C. in his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, served in Company L, 120th Infantry, 30th Division, died on August 31, 1918, in France.

Riddick N. Freeman from Bertie County, N.C., posing against a painted canvas backdrop scene of a military camp in his military uniform.

Robert Brake of Whitakers, N.C., seated in a chair, wearing his Army uniform and campaign hat, served in Company H, 321st Infantry, 81st Division.

Robert L. Cummings of Tarboro, N.C., wearing his U.S. Navy uniform, served in the U.S. Navy onboard the USS Anniston.

Robert P. Falls from Kings Mountain, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform and posing holding a rifle, served in Company F, 7th Infantry 3rd Division.

Roy T. Jordan from Wilson, N.C. in his U.S. Army uniform, served at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, as a Private in the U.S. Army's Motor Ambulance Company.

Samuel F. Telfair of Raleigh, N.C., served in the 317th Machine Gun Battalion and the 2nd Anti-aircraft Machine Gun Battalion, U.S. Army.

Samuel Tilden Ansell from Currituck County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served as Acting Judge Advocate,
 later in 1919 Brigadier General.

Seaman Second Class Solomon H. Edwards of Tarboro, N.C., wearing his U.S. Navy uniform and white Dixie cup hat, served in the U.S. Navy at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia.

Sergeant Thomas P. Shinn from Cabarrus County, N.C., served in Company B, 321st Infantry, 81st Division, U.S. Army.

Sgt. George E. Welch from Mount Air, N.C., standing and wearing his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, next to a chair, served in Company F, 105th Ammunition Train, 30th Division.

Sgt. Richard Johnson, wearing his U.S. Army uniform and campaign hat, served in Company E, 127th Infantry, 32nd Division.

Shem Cooke from Franklinton, N.C., served in the U. S. Army during World War I, and died from wounds in France in November, 1918.

Sidney W. Minor from Durham, N.C., seated in a chair with his legs crossed, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served as a Colonel in the 120th Infantry, 30th Division.

Thomas P. Cheshire of Tarboro, N.C. in his U.S. Army uniform.

U.S. Army Major General George W. Read, wearing his Army uniform and bars, commanded the U.S. Army's 30th Division, the 2nd American Corps, and the 42nd Division.

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander John F. Green from Rocky Mount, N.C., wearing his U.S. Navy dress uniform and sword, served in the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Navy Seamen Bennette Pool (left) of Johnston County, N.C., and James Graham Lane (right) of Wake County, N.C.

Wiley P. Killette from Wilson, N.C., seated in a wood chair in uniform, served in Company H, 322nd Infantry, 81st Division, U.S. Army.

William E. Shipp from Winston-Salem, N.C., dressed in his U.S. Army uniform, served as Commander of the U.S. Army's 12th Cavalry.

William J. Hughes from Elizabeth City, N.C., sitting on a wicker chair in his U.S. Navy uniform with his arm in a sling.

William Van Eason of Johnston County, N.C. Eason served in the U.S. Army in the 3rd Infantry Division. The 3rd Division was organized at Camp Green, North Carolina in 1917.

Willian D. Robbins of Raleigh, N.C., in civilian dress, volunteered for service with the 89th Aero Squadron, was killed on June 29, 1918, in France.

Willie N. McKnight of Mount Airy, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in Company F, 105th Ammunition Train.

Willie W. Shankle from Stanly County, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform, served in Company L, 16th Infantry, 1st Division, died from wounds received in battle on July 20, 1918.

1st Lt. Paul C. Venable of Durham, N.C. in his Army uniform, served in the 28th Infantry, 1st Division, was killed in action during the Battle of Soissons, France, on July 20, 1918.

1st Lt. William Dudley Robbins of Raleigh, N.C., volunteered for service with the 89th Aero Squadron, was killed on June 29, 1918, in France.

2nd Lt. James J. Sykes, served as an aviator in the First Corps, Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, was killed during a photographic reconnaissance mission on August 1, 1918.

Alfred L. Bulwinkle of Gastonia, N.C., served as a Major in the 2nd Battalion, 113th Field Artillery, 30th Division.

Andrew J. Higgins from Alleghany County, N.C., standing in front of an American flag, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in action in France on June 24, 1918.

Archibald W. Limer of Warrenton, N.C., served in Company H, 120th Infantry, 30th Division, U.S. Army, was killed in action on September 29, 1918, in France.

Augburn D. Martin from East Bend, N.C., wearing his Marine Corps uniform, served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Marines.

Bernard S. Spragins of Tarboro, N.C., wearing his U.S. Army uniform.