Books for Returning World War I Troops on Board the USS Mercury, ca. 1918-1919

A photo of libraries or books for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

"Transport Mercury. Red Cross. From American Library Association for all men on board. Not to be opened until return voyage."

This real photo postcard shows a photograph taken on board the USS Mercury, a United States Navy ship, as it transported troops home following the end of World War I. The sign on the left indicates that the American Library Association provided books for the troops.

I located another photograph of this same scene that was taken from a different angle. This second photo was cataloged as NH 45345 by the Navy's Naval History and Heritage Command, and its description also applies to my real photo postcard:

"Scene in troop spaces in a hold below the waterline, showing a card game in progress [why aren't they reading their books?], with banjo accompaniment [the banjo player's hands are partially visible at far right in my photo], circa 1918-1919. Note books at left, placed on board by the Red Cross and the American Library Association. Sign with the books indicates that the photo was taken as Mercury was transporting troops back to the U.S. from Europe after the World War I Armistice [November 11, 1918]."