The records of Base Hospital 22 are divided into two series: Records and Photographs.
Records (1918-1976) consists of commendation notes, a roster of men in the unit, and a list of BH-22 soldiers who returned to the United States aboard the U.S.S. Henderson. Reunion materials include a souvenir program of the 1st reunion and a list of members addresses. A typeset list of photo captions is included with the papers providing brief descriptions of the more then 500 photographs in this collection. There is a photocopy of the dissembled photo scrapbook (see Photographs series) which shows the original order of the photographs and the captions.
Photographs (1918-1919) are divided in to three subseries: Overseas Service, Stateside Service, and Homecoming. The photographs were originally contained in two scrapbooks. One, “Pictorial History of Base Hospital 22” is found intact. The second was disassembled for preservation purposes with the scrapbook captions noted on the photographs. A photocopy of this scrapbook is located in the Records series.
The intact scrapbook, Pictorial History of Base Hospital 22, includes photos of soldiers mess halls, medical care, barracks, BH-22 football and baseball teams, hospital tents, and a funeral ceremony. There are also images of patients, Army nurses, and pictures of facial wounds and amputated legs.
The photographs were taken by Milwaukee, Wisconsin native Roy Dowd. A professional photographer, images have excellent composition, are centered and focused, and provide a rare look at the activities of World War I soldiers.
The photos of overseas service document the camp at Beau Desert, various hospital wards, a Thanksgiving and Christmas celebration at camp, soldiers on leave in various French cities, and Chinese laborers. There are also scenes of military life, loading and unloading troop trains, and soldiers exploring French mountains.
Stateside service shows BH-22 preparing to leave Milwaukee, Wisconsin, loading supplies for France, marching in a Liberty Bond parade, and drilling at Marquette University.
Homecoming photos show soldiers aboard the U.S.S. Henderson, views from the ship as they approach New York City, and soldiers attempting to sink a stray buoy.
