Object Record
Images

Metadata
Title |
Our Big Talent, 1918 |
Object Name |
Sketch |
Description |
Our Big Talent, 1918. Pencil on lined off-white paper sketch depicts a man from the waist up with an exaggeratedly large head. He wears a uniform jacket and glasses and holds sheet music open in front of him. His mouth is wide open as he sings, indicated by a jumble of music notes in a dialogue bubble. The caption at the bottom left reads "Our Big Talent / Sgt Perry." |
Date |
1918 |
Catalog Number |
2017.052.029 |
Collection |
Archival Collection |
Creator |
Colby, Alvin Page |
Role |
Artist |
Inscription Text |
"Our Big Talent / Sgt Perry" (bottom left, "Sgt Perry" is underlined); "Colby 18" (far right, looks like a face) |
Provenance |
Original sketch created by Alvin Page Colby during training and active duty during World War I and mailed home to his family. Donated to the San Mateo County Historical Association courtesy of the Daughters & Grandchildren of Alvin Page Colby. |
Notes |
"Burlingame resident Alvin Page Colby documented his experience serving in WWI with comic sketches... Alvin Page Colby, a resident of Burlingame, made dozens of drawings while training at Fort Lewis in Washington and later serving in France as a cook in the 91st "Wild West" Division." [http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/26/peninsula-museum-offers-personal-new-look-into-old-war/ 10/17/2017] In his history of the Masonic Ambulance Corps ["History of the Masonic Ambulance Corps," Northern California Research Lodge, September 1970], Clayton Elliott noted, "Our company had much musical and other talent - some semi-professional, or better ... We bought a piano for our large recreation room and put in a "PX" which made a lot of money for the company to use to augment our 'mess' fund. We put on entertainments and many men came to our PX from other companies." |
Dimensions |
H-7.25 W-5.5 inches |
Medium |
Pencil/Paper |
Search Terms |
Army Burlingame Colby, Alvin Page Drawing Music War War History War Service World War 1 World War I WWI |
Subjects |
Cartoonists Cartoons (Commentary) Military life Music Singing Sketches Soldiers War World War I |
People |
Colby, Alvin Page |
Credit line |
Courtesy of the Daughters & Grandchildren of Alvin Page Colby |