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Photo, Print, Drawing Why M.C.A.?: German Prisoners of War, World War One, before Y.M.C.A. Hut. Why M.C.A.?: German prisoners of war, World War I, before Y.M.C.A.

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About this Item

Title

  • Why M.C.A.?: German Prisoners of War, World War One, before Y.M.C.A. Hut.

Other Title

  • Why M.C.A.?: German prisoners of war, World War I, before Y.M.C.A.

Summary

  • This original ink-and-wash cartoon from World War I by Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1959) depicts German prisoners of war lounging before a hut with a YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) sign. The cartoon is on a grey board. The witty holograph caption is on the back. Bairnsfather was a British army officer who was trained as an artist; while serving on the Western front in 1914-15, he made drawings of war scenes that were published in British magazines. He is best known as the creator of "Old Bill," a fictional character who came to symbolize the stoic and practical British private soldier. The cartoon is from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at the Brown University Library, the foremost American collection devoted to the history and iconography of soldiers and soldiering, and one of the world's largest collections devoted to the study of military and naval uniforms.

Names

  • Bairnsfather, Bruce, 1887-1959 Artist.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1918.

Headings

  • -  1914 to 1918
  • -  Caricatures and cartoons
  • -  Prisoners of war
  • -  Soldiers
  • -  World War, 1914-1918
  • -  Young Men's Christian Association

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 drawing ; 27.1 x 39 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: Brown University Library.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021669857

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Bairnsfather, Bruce, Artist. Why M.C.A.?: German Prisoners of War, World War One, before Y.M.C.A. Hut. , 1918. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021669857/.

APA citation style:

Bairnsfather, B. (1918) Why M.C.A.?: German Prisoners of War, World War One, before Y.M.C.A. Hut. , 1918. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021669857/.

MLA citation style:

Bairnsfather, Bruce, Artist. Why M.C.A.?: German Prisoners of War, World War One, before Y.M.C.A. Hut. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021669857/>.