mustaches

Elliott Cowdin, Norman Prince, William Thaw were among the American aviators who were part of the Lafayette Escadrille, an all-American squadron for the French air service: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_Escadrille Thaw: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thaw_%28aviator%29 Prince (died 1916): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Prince

This is probably taken on their arrival on 12/23/15 in New York aboard the Holland-America liner Rotterdam for a short holiday leave. An account here: select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B14FE3B5B1773...

Elliott C. Cowdin: ralph.smith.angelfire.com/Flying_Corps/Pilots/ElliottCowd... Art Siegel True, this photo is certainly taken at this occasion, see New-York tribune., December 24, 1915, Page 2 or Omaha daily bee., December 28, 1915, Image 1, with similar photos.

Apparently, the publicity generated by the visit of these 3 American fliers was a major catalyst in forming the Lafayette Escadrille (Escadrille Américaine) and the Lafayette Flying Corps in 1916. Here's an account of Cowdin's life with more information about the importance of the event pictured here:

"In December of 1915 Cowdin and fellow countrymen Norman Prince and William Thaw were granted a month's permission to America. They arrived in New York on 23 December aboard the SS Rotterdam. Their furlough, though intended as "a short rest", furthered the cause for an American squadron when the Government of France realized the interest the three American volunteers had created during their visit to the United States. The pilots became the focus of the eastern press who doggedly pursued them in spite of their reluctance to speak of their duties. Both sides of the European War seized upon the press coverage: the Allied supporters citing the flyers' example in a plea for America's intervention, while German sympathizers condemned their participation as a violation of U.S. neutrality and demanded their internment. Upon their return to France, the three Americans' desire to form an all-American squadron was enhanced as the French Government realized that just such an organization would be useful in galvanizing America's sympathy for their cause."
rdisa.pagesperso-orange.fr/html/Pages/Elliot%20Cowdin%20E...


See also:

Thanks to all of you for your excellent research. We'll straighten out the names in the caption and add some of this information to both records the next time we update.

John Cardinal Murphy Farley (April 20, 1842 - September 17, 1918) was an Irish-American prelate, the seventh bishop (fourth archbishop) of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cardinal_Farley

Top of plate says (St. Pat Day '13) so I assume this was 1913.

John D. Crimmins - Contractor, Catholic layman and philanthropist. ( ref. obit query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F06EFD6123FE433A... ref. photograph digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1218718 ) Governor William Sulzer (soon to be impeached) (ref. cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/william-sulzer/ ) Here's the New York Times report dated March 18, 1913: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0CE2DE173FE633A... Which contains this quote: " Cardinal Farley occupied the place of honor in the middle of the second row in the reviewing stand. Seated at his left were Gov. Sulzer and Mayor Gaynor On his right were Adjt Gen Hamilton and Mgr Lavelle. Seated in the front row were Mgr. McGean, Commissioner Edwards of the Department of Street Cleaning, Police Commissioner Waldo and Mgr. James Mooney." Although this particular photograph does not precisely reflect the seating order in that reporter's account.

Deerbourne: Thanks. We'll fix the date in the source data and reload the description.

lifeasdaddy: Thanks. We'll look into adding these additional names to our source catalog!

English polo players.

pennylrichardsca: Thanks for the additional information! Wystan: Thanks for the more accurate date. We will add both these details to the record when we update.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Archdale_Tomkinson en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Arthur_Edward_Traill