SHSND Home > North Dakota History > Unit 5: Modernizing North Dakota 1914-1929 > The Great War, A Photo Essay > Essay Introduction

Unit 5: Set 1. The Great War, A Photo Essay - Essay Introduction

Unit Introduction | Essay Introduction | Activity 1 | Activity 2

Many soldiers who fought in Europe in 1917 and 1918 were amazed by the beauty of European villages and cities, but stunned by the awful destruction of the war which was one of the deadliest of the twentieth century. They took photographs and brought home souvenirs that helped their families understand their experience and would help them remember that time and place for the rest of their lives.

The photos in this collection were taken by Howard Huston (1892 – 1955) who served with the Fourth Division in France. Born in North Dakota, Huston grew up in Saline Township, McHenry County and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a liberal arts degree just before his enlistment in 1917. Huston saw combat, was wounded, and received three citations. He later served as an aide to General W. D. Conner. Following the war, he worked for the secretariat of the League of Nations. In 1930, he went to work for American Cyanamid Corporation.

The captions accompanying the photos are Huston’s own words which he typed onto the back of each photograph. The three postcards were sent to his sister Mildred Huston Miller of McHenry County, North Dakota.

SHSND Mss 10895

Launch Photo Essay

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