Historical Portrait
Roland Kash (World War I, Tulare County)
Archive record
Public domain historical portrait of Roland Kash from Tulare County, California, taken in 1914 during the World War I era. Part of California Revealed archives.
About this photograph
The archive catalogues this photograph as taken in 1914, though the date range extends to 1918, the end of the First World War. Roland Kash came from Tulare County in California's San Joaquin Valley, a farming region built on irrigated agriculture and settled heavily in the late nineteenth century.
The United States entered the war in April 1917. Around 24 million men registered under Selective Service and some 4.7 million served. Local studios photographed enlistees in uniform before they left, and county historical collections hold many of these portraits. For many young men these sittings produced the only formal photograph they ever had. Copies were often made so that one could stay at home.
The photographer is not recorded. The portrait is held by the Internet Archive as part of the Tulare County Library's local history photograph collection, which documents ordinary residents, families, schools and businesses rather than public figures. California Revealed, a statewide programme, digitised the material and made it publicly available. The programme works with libraries, archives, museums and historical societies across California, so items carrying its tag come from many separate local institutions.
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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