albertwolff

See www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/35919426325/

Interesting photo. The two pennants above the piano are indicative of someone's service in the National Guard. The upper one says "Tobyhanna, Pa. 1914". Tobyhanna reservation was an installation where National Guard units conducted artillery live fire practice. The second pennant says "In remembrance of my life on the Mexican border, 1916" - where National Guard units deployed to guard against incursions by Pancho Villa, et. al. Since Wolff was a Frenchman who did not come to the U.S. until after World War I, the pennants are probably not his. Anyone know where the photo might have been taken?

Thanks B-59, We'll include his full name in the catalog record. jdshephe46, I saw those pennants also. You are correct. Wolff came over after the war and actually served in the French Army. I searched through some of the New York newspaper society pages in hopes they would mention where he was staying but I had no luck.

Albert Wolff was an operatic conductor and composer. He composed the music for the opera version of L'oiseau Bleu (the Blue Bird) which debuted in December, 1919. Boris Anisfeld was a Russian artist and designer, who designed both the scenery and the costumes for L'Oiseau Bleu.

Thanks Seuss., we'll update the catalog record and fix Anisfeld's name.