henrylstimson

Summary: This is Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson walking beside Chief of Staff of the Army Major General Leonard Wood at President Taft's New Year's Day reception, January 1, 1913 in Washington D. C. The written caption on the plate here reads: SEC'Y STIMSON & OFFICERS JAN 1, '13 Now that we know it is January 1, 1913, and knowing that Henry L. Stimson was Secretary of War at that time makes it a good deal easier to find what the hoo ha of military dress uniforms and top hats is about. New York Times advanced search brings us to: [ query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9900EEDA123BE633A... ] For these headlines and quotes - "THOUSAND IN CROWD AT TAFT'S RECEPTION; Thirty-eight Nations Represented at Brilliant New Year Gathering at White House." + "WASHINGTON, Jan. 1. -- Long before 11 o'clock this morning, which was the hour announced for the opening of the President's New Year reception, thousands of persons stood in line from the entrance gate of the White House to the west door of the State Department." For comparison photos of Maj-Gen Wood see here: and here: www.wood.army.mil/MGLeonardwood.htm Here is the Citation for his Congressional Medal of Honor: history.amedd.army.mil/moh/woodl.htm www.wood.army.mil/engrmag/Maneuver Support Magazine/PDFs for Summer 2008/Roberts.pdf

nudecowboy - What building do you think it is then, with the anchor and cannon? Department of War building possibly?

I'm pretty sure it's the Old Executive Office Building (then the State, Was, and Navy building), now also known as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Thanks! We'll add this additional information to the source data and reload the description.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Just walking, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Your Walking-picture is really interesting! Gratulations!

The Lawn Party on Governors Island in New York harbor was an annual fundraising event for the Army Relief Society, which provided succor to widows and orphans of officers and enlisted men of the regular army. Henry L. Stimson, the newly-appointed Secretary of War, attended this affair on May 25, 1911. Here is another photo of Stimson with General Grant: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2163471766/in/p...

Wystan: Thanks for pinning down the event and tying this and related images together. We'll add information when we update the descriptions.

I love this shot! The ones where people don't know they're being photographed are the best. Seeing people acting natural reminds you that people have always been the same.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called skint...getting by creatively and gracefully, and we'd love to have this added to the group! I need that gaint flag cover for my portable garage!

May 25, 1911. Two more photographs from this occasion, the annual lawn party of the Army Relief Society (which raised funds for the care of widows and orphans of officers and enlisted men of the Regular Army): www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2163471986/in/p... www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2163471766/in/p...