[Panoramic Photograph of an African-American Military Company at Camp Pike, Arkansas]

Camp Pike, Ar: Ewing Incorporated, Official Photographers, Sept. 30, 1918. Fair.. Regularly-spaced heavy creasing, center crease almost split through, some small chips and tears, minor soiling. A wonderful image but will require preservation. A captivating panoramic photograph featuring the African American members of the 74th and 94th "casual" companies of the United States Army during their time training for service in World War I at Camp Pike, Arkansas. The caption in the negative reads, "Casual Cos. 74 & 94." Casual companies are nontraditional units of the Army meant as holding units for combat replacements, groups awaiting transport or discharge, (truncated) a specialized unit assembled for specific duty, or one comprised of soldiers on convalescent duty. These units are not usually pictured in military photographs, much less in panoramic images during wartime. The present panoramic photograph features about 150 African American servicemen in uniform and a few white officers arranged in roughly four rows at Camp Pike, located just north of Little Rock. Camp Pike opened in late 1917 and served as a training center for troops in World War I; towards the end of the war, Camp Pike was used as a replacement training facility and as a demobilization station, either of which could explain the presence of casual companies at the base. Since 1937, Camp Pike has been known as Camp Joseph T. Robinson. Images of African American units serving during the First World War are rare, especially from casual companies and especially from training sites in Arkansas. A fantastic image in less-than-ideal condition, but priced accordingly. (Inventory #: 3418)