Historical Portrait
Frank Lawrence Walter (World War I, Tulare County), 001
Archive record
Historical portrait of Frank Lawrence Walter from Woodlake precinct, Tulare County, California, circa 1914. Public domain World War I era photograph.
About this photograph
The archive record identifies this as a portrait of Frank Lawrence Walter from the Woodlake precinct in Tulare County, California, dated to the period between 1914 and 1918.
Tulare County is located in California's San Joaquin Valley, a farming region that saw significant settlement in the late nineteenth century and relied on irrigated agriculture. The county library maintains an extensive local history photograph collection focused on ordinary residents, families, schools, and businesses rather than prominent public figures.
The United States entered the First World War in April 1917. During the war years, local photography studios conducted steady business photographing enlistees in uniform before their departure. Many of these portraits were made specifically so a copy could remain at home with family. County historical collections across the country contain numerous examples of such photographs, often the only formal portrait a young man ever sat for.
The photograph has been made publicly available through California Revealed, a statewide digitization programme that works with California libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies to make their holdings accessible online.
The photographer remains unknown.
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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