Mayhart Studio

American, active c. 1920s

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This is a photograph of a Living Flag formation created by numerous individuals. The scene is set on a grassy field, with a historic building in the background. The individuals are aligned in rows to form the American flag with stars and stripes. The contrast between the dark and light sections accentuates the flag imagery. The sepia tone and formal captioning give it a historical feel, relating to a specific event involving a Rear Admiral and a location associated with the U.S. Naval Training Station.
Mayhart Studio, A Living Flag, c. 1943, gelatin silver print (real photo postcard), Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon, 2006.170.7

A Living Flag

Mayhart Studio · c. 1943 · gelatin silver print (real photo postcard) ·  Accession ID  2006.170.7

Hundreds of people wearing white or dark-colored uniforms stand in formation to make an American flag on a long, rectangular, grassy area in this black and white photograph. We can tell from the people closest to us that they stand at attention and salute. The flagpole is to our left, and the stars and stripes ripple downward as if the flag was lifted in a slight breeze. About a dozen people stand along the edge of the far side park, which is lined with four and five-story buildings. White clouds are out of focus in the sky above, which takes up about the top sixth of the photograph. Text printed in white against the dark photograph in the lower right corner begins with a copyright symbol and then reads, “Great Lakes Recruit 1917, Navy Relief Society Distributors, Photo Mayhart Studio Chicago U.S.A.” Text written in a calligraphic style on the gray mat under the photograph reads, “A Living Flag.”
Mayhart Studio, A Living Flag, 1917, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon, 2006.170.6

A Living Flag

Mayhart Studio · 1917 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2006.170.6