Photo of Company C (Tempe), 1st Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard

Datec. 1908

MediumPaper

Dimensions3 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (9.5 x 6.4 cm)

ClassificationsAdornment

Catalog number1999.28.228

DescriptionUnit photo of the troops of Company C (Tempe), 1st Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard. Posed unit photo taken during a National Guard encampment or a similar event/activity. Probably taken ca. 1908 based on uniforms, equipment, etc. Uniforms are quite clean and the men appear clean-shaven (aside from a few mustaches and a beard), suggesting that the photo was taken near the beginning of this activity. The one identified soldier in the photo is Chris Sigala, who is the man second from the left reclining on the ground. The area is grassy and there are trees behind the men. Many of the guardsmen in the photo - including Mr. Sigala - are or appear to be of Mexican/Hispanic heritage (perhaps even some of Native American ancestry).

The men wear uniforms that indicate that they will be involved in field maneuvers, some sort of practice (like marksmanship), etc. (Also meaning that they are not wearing dress uniforms which would indicate a more formal occation.) All soldiers, including officers, are in their shirt-sleeves - they are not wearing their uniform coats. Most of the men wear what appear to be light blue chambray cloth shirts, which were adopted by the U.S. Army ca. 1900. The three officers in the photo (as indicated by their swords) all wear higher-quality shirts that appear to be khaki cotton. None of the men wear rank insignia on their shirts, as was still common in this time period - until ca. 1900, the U.S. Army did not permit soldiers to wear rank insignia on their shirts (such insignia was only worn on a man's uniform coat). Most of the men wear khaki cotton trousers (a few wear olive drab wool trousers as indicated by color/texture).

Most of the soldiers wear pocketed cartridge belts with heavy duty suspenders to support the weight of the ammunition in the belt - the belts and suspenders are both known as Model 1903 and were adopted by the U.S. Army in the early 1900s. Most of the men are holding Model 1903 Springfield rifles. (The regular U.S. Army began to receive these rifles in large numbers in 1906, and it is likely that it took a year or two after for National Guard troops to recieve these as well.) Two men - one of whom is Mr. Sigala - hold their rifle bayonets (long knives) in their right hands. The man standing at far left is the company bugler. One man wears a very non-regulation tie or cravat around his neck (in checker-board pattern). Another soldier has a photo a young lady - likely his sweetheart - tucked behind a suspender strap. One of Sigala's comrades (just behind him) holds Company C's mascot - a little dog , white with splotches of brown and/or other colors.

Status

Not on view