April 6th marks the centennial of American entrance into World War I. On that date, 100 years ago, the United States officially joined Allied efforts and declared war against Germany; over 4.5 million American men and women came to serve in the war effort, more than 200,000 people were wounded and over 116,000 soldiers—or “doughboys—died overseas.
1. World War I New York: Book Talk with Kevin Fitzpatrick
Join Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, author of World War I New York: A Guide to the City’s Enduring Ties to the Great War, as he discusses New York’s role during the war effort in an evening event hosted by the New York Transit Museum; you’ll learn about war monuments, hear transit-related stories and see items from the museum’s collection, which reveal the role of the city’s transit system during the war. Tickets are $10 or free for Museum Members and Untapped readers with the code “WORLDWAR1.” See more details here, and read our WWI article by Kevin Fitzpatrick.
Also check out World War I New York: A Guide to the City’s Enduring Ties to the Great War below:
2. Posters and Patriotism: Selling World War I in New York
Posters from Museum of the City of New York, gift of Mr. John W. Campbell
The Museum of the City of New York is launching Posters and Patriotism: Selling World War I in New Yorkon April 5th. The new exhibition will delve into the work of New York City’s artists and illustrators who were recruited into the war effort in the U.S. government’s Division of Pictorial Publicity. During the war, they created mass-produced images now that were distributed on posters, flyers, in magazines, and other forms of media; many, including the “I Want You for U.S. Army” poster by James Montgomery Flagg—are now ingrained in America’s iconography.
The exhibition will be open daily from 10am–6pm. Read more here.
3. Propaganda by Design at the Museum of the City of New York
In addition to performances, conferences, screenings, the Cultural Services of The French Embassy is presenting Propaganda by Design, a conversation hosted by The Museum of the City of New York, which will highlight a selection of rarely exhibited propaganda posters and the parallels in the world of graphic design and illustration today. Moderated by Donald Albrecht, the co-curator of Posters and Patriotism: Selling World War I in New York, the event will feature leading graphic designers Seymour Chwast, Laurie Rosenwald, and Paula Scher; it takes place this Wednesday, April 5th at 6:30pm.
4. NYC Remembers WWI Centennial
New York City will commemorate the centennial anniversary of WWI with a public ceremony, sponsored by the Fr. Duffy Coalition (FDC). Taking place in Manhattan’s historic Fr. Duffy Square, the 90-minute program will include speeches, music, a color guard posting and a wreath laying. Reenactors in WWI uniforms will also be present in honor of the Americans who served in World War I.
On the evening of the centennial (6pm–9pm), author Kevin C. Fitzpatrick is celebrating the debut of his book with classic cocktails, champagne and period music. World War I New York: A Guide to the City’s Enduring Ties to the Great War is the first guidebook to trace the remnants of the Great War in the region, and in Long Island and New Jersey. It includes more than 150 locations spread out across the five boroughs.
6. Find Traces of WWI in NYC
Captured German submarine placed in Central Park for war bond fundraising 1917. Image via: U.S. Library of Congress
Head to the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) for a a free screening of romantic, silent action-movie, Wings, the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture (then called “Best Picture, Production”), as well as a 1929 Oscar. Taking place on April 6th at 7:30pm, the event will also include a live U.S. premiere performance of the musical score by Baudime Jam, featuring France’s Prima Vista Quartet.
8. An Exploration of WWI with Veterans
American soldiers returning to the U.S. after WWI. Image via Wikimedia Commons from U.S. Naval Historical Center
The Library of America is organizing a meet-and-greet with veterans and their families at New York University’s Silver Center in Hemmerdinger Hall. As part of the event, taking place Thursday, April 6 from 6:30pm-8:00pm, guests will examine letters from American soldiers who fought in the war. American biographer and Pulitzer Prize winner A. Scott Berg, and bestselling author Sebastian Junger will also lead a discussion.
9. Preview Screening of ‘The Great War’
On Saturday, April 8th (7pm), the New York Historical Society will host a preview screening of the upcoming PBS miniseries The Great War from PBS’s American Experience. Following the screening, producer and director Amanda Pollak, author Richard Rubin, and historian Dr. Chad Williams will come together for a discussion, moderated by National WWI Centennial Commissioner Dr. Libby O’Connell. Reserve tickets here.
10. Musical Homage to Paul Wittgenstein
Also taking place on April 5th (7pm), is a musical homage to Paul Wittgenstein—a concert pianist who lost an arm in World War I (and consequently commissioned piano concerti for the left hand alone). The event, which will feature compositions like Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) by Ravel and Suite pour 2 violons, violoncelle et piano op.23 commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, will take place at Le Poisson Rouge.
Posters from Museum of the City of New York, gift of Mr. John W. Campbell
Image via the Museum of the City of New York
