Historical Portrait
Emery Sanders (World War I, Tulare County)
Archive record
Historical portrait of Emery Sanders from Tulare County during World War I era, circa 1914. Public domain photograph from California archives.
About this photograph
The archive records this portrait as showing Emery Sanders of Tulare County, photographed during the First World War period.
Tulare County lies in California's San Joaquin Valley, a farming region that developed through irrigated agriculture in the late nineteenth century. The county library maintains a substantial local history photograph collection documenting ordinary residents rather than prominent figures.
The date range 1914 to 1918 spans the war years, though the United States did not enter until April 1917. After entry, Selective Service registered millions of men for potential military duty. Local photographic studios found consistent work making portraits of enlistees in uniform before their departure. Many of these photographs were created specifically so families could keep a copy at home while the man was away.
County historical collections across the country hold large numbers of such portraits. For many young men, the enlistment photograph was the only formal studio portrait ever taken. The photographer here is not identified.
This record reached the Internet Archive through California Revealed, a statewide digitisation effort that makes material from California libraries, archives, museums and historical societies publicly available online.
Compiled from the catalogue record and reference notes on the formats and events involved. The archive record above is the primary source.
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