- Title: West Point Cadet Class, June 14-20, 1926
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Author: White Studio
- Date: June 14-20, 1926
- Condition: Slight warping and minimal creasing, consistent with the charcteristics of early photographic materials.
- Inches: 20 x 11 5/8 [Image]
- Centimeters: 50.80 x 29.52 [Image]
- Product ID: 308673
This sepia-toned original panoramic photograph shows a large group of West Point cadets posed in front of, beside, and atop a twin‑engine biplane on an open airfield, taken in June 1926. The image combines a formal military group portrait with a striking display of early aviation technology.
In 1926, West Point cadets lived under a very strict barracks and disciplinary system while completing a four‑year, engineering‑focused program that combined demanding academics with daily drill, riding, tactics, and summer field training to prepare them for commissions in the Army’s ground branches and the rapidly growing Air Service; the 152‑man Class of 1926 was drawn from across the United States and included prior‑service soldiers, World War I veterans, and many sons of officers, and cadet life was further shaped by a strong athletic culture, highlighted by successful teams such as the football, fencing, and soccer squads.
Background on Creator
White Studio was a New York City photographic agency active from the early 1900s through the 1930s, best known for its highly polished images of Broadway productions and performers. Founded by Luther S. White, the studio pioneered improved flash and electric lighting techniques that allowed faster, cleaner indoor photography, making it a leading source of publicity and portrait work for the American stage, and it was also under contract to the U.S. Military Academy beginning in 1912.