African American Military History Buffalo Soldiers Stereoview Archive World War I Keystone View Company Images of Black Troops in Europe

Buffalo Soldier

Photograph

Keystone View Company. Buffalo Soldiers stereoview photographs, World War I era, document African American military service in the American Expeditionary Forces and place segregated Black troops within the broader Allied war effort in Europe. The images identify units of “Colored Troops,” including engineers of the Signal Corps, and depict formations, logistical organization, and moments of assembly such as soldiers “lined up for democracy.” These photographs situate African American soldiers—many of whom descended from the Buffalo Soldier regiments established after the Civil War—within a transnational military environment that included French, British, and colonial forces. Scenes showing interaction with Moroccan and Indian troops on French roads reflect the multinational composition of Allied armies during the final phases of the war, while the presence of Black American troops underscores their continued participation in major military operations despite segregation within the U.S. Army.

France and possibly other European locations, circa 1917–1919. Archive of seven stereoview photographs published by the Keystone View Company. Images depict African American soldiers in formation, including lines for mess and organized ranks, as well as mixed Allied groupings on roadways and near encampments. Stereographic format intended for three-dimensional viewing, with printed captions identifying subjects and units. Photographs emphasize both structured military order and the varied roles occupied by Black troops, particularly in engineering and support divisions.

Produced during the final years of World War I, these stereographs align with the expanded deployment of African American soldiers overseas and the broader visibility of Black troops within global conflict. While their service contributed to Allied operations, these soldiers returned to a United States that maintained racial segregation and limited civil rights, situating the archive within the larger history of African American military participation and postwar inequality. As visual records, the images support research into race, military organization, and the international dimensions of the war. Light handling wear; overall very good condition.

Item #20503

Price: $880.00