fifthavenuenewyork

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Public_Library en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_bond

This was part of the Third Liberty Loan Drive, which began April 6, 1918 and ended May 4th. The caption on the right side of the negative seems to say "Col. Prescott sells bonds." "The Stage Women's War Relief Association maintained a Liberty Theatre in front of the Public Library on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street in New York City where for six hours daily prominent speakers and actors interested the public. For the last two weeks of the Loan this Society sent out a traveling theatre to visit the crowded districts of the city each day. Actors and actresses of importance spoke and gave performances from this theatre as an appeal to buy Liberty Bonds. In various cities this Society was of great aid to the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee." books.google.com/books?id=3Y43AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA66&lp... Report of National woman's liberty loan committee for the first - [fourth and victory] loan campaigns, 1918. Additional photos: books.google.com/books?id=z-BNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA335&l... A photo of Geraldine Farrar singing here has the following caption" "At this corner, Fifth Avenue and Forty second Street, New York, where surging thousands daily pass and repass, war interests found a constant centre. The plaza of the Library became a national market-place. For the Third Liberty Loan campaign a miniature Liberty Theatre was erected at the top of the steps. There famous singers and eloquent speakers assisted in drawing crowds and selling bonds. Mme Farrar is here singing "The Star Spangled Banner."] books.google.com/books?id=zT0QAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1220&...

Richard Norton and Art Siegel: Thanks. We will include some additional details next time we update.

This image beautifully captures a moment.

1)The awning where I've added a note in the photo appears to say Knox's Hats. According to this blog entry, Arnold Hatters aka Knox Hats started out in Times Square. There's a 2005 New York Times story included. So perhaps this photo is from the times Times Square area way back when -- where Broadway and 7th Avenue intersect.. 2)The lettering on the building (see another note in the photo) refers to the Garfield National Bank. According to an historic New York Times article, this bank was favored by Tammany Hall politicians. So again it appears that this photo is from Manhattan.

Looking at the hi-res version of this pic on the LOC site, there's a whole lot of text otherwise invisible on the Flickr photo. The cars have what appear to be signs with the last names of athletes--including Dukes, Donohue, Forhsaw, Erickson, Grumpelt, Gillis, Hellawell, Hebner, Hammond, Breed, Bowman, Rayner, Kiviat, and Kramer. (I've put notes on the photo detailing the barely-visible text.) Also, while it's a little blurry, there's a sign that appears to say "W 24 ST," which would make this NYC's Madison Square Park and environs. Maybe this was taken from the Flatiron Building?

Oh yeah. That building on the left has to be 200 Fifth Avenue a.k.a. the International Toy Center Building. So this is definitely around Madison Square Park.

Those are cable cars on the right. Though, I can't find a map of any NY cable car system

Date scribbled on negative is 5/18/18.

Third from right in front row of parade, with top hat, is President Woodrow Wilson. The plans had been for him to to review the parade, but he decided to join the march. Next to him is Major General George R Dyer of the New York State Guard. See NYT of May 19, 1918 query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F01E5DA103BEE3AB... Thanks to B-59 for correction on the General's initials -- now fixed.

I think the building behind the clock is still there. See streetview at www.google.com/maps/@40.7646991,-73.9727144,3a,75y,22.02h... That building is at the northeast corner of the intersection of Fifth Avenue and East 60th Street. That means the photo is taken from somewhere near the Plaza Hotel. The building with the large Red Cross flag must be where the Sherry-Netherland Building (built in 1927) now is. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sherry-Netherland The Wikipedia article indicates that the site had previously been occupied by the New Netherland Hotel. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_New_Netherland For more about the New Netherlands Hotel, see daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-lost-new-nethe...

According to The sun., May 26, 1918, Section 4 Pictorial Magazine, Image 33 (photo) chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030431/1918-05-26/ed-... the General next to Pres. Wilson is George R. Dyer. The man on the other side is Wilson's private secretary J. P. Tumulty (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Patrick_Tumulty).

Just north of the New Netherlands is a store sign reading Max Schling. Schling had a florist store at 785 Fifth Avenue for a while. See an ad near the top of a guide from the New York Botanical Garden at libguides.nybg.org/content.php?pid=550344&sid=5451458