The Incredible Living Photographs of Arthur Mole and John Thomas

Photographer Arthur Mole and his assistant John Thomas created wonderful patriotic images in the years between 1915 and 1921, using thousands of servicemen from various branches of the military. Mole called them "Living Photographs". The US Military commissioned these works to build morale and spark renewed patriotism during World War 1.

21,000 servicemen took part in creating Mole's "Living Portrait of President Woodrow Wilson" at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1918. It's his best known work.

Mole and Thomas photographed "The Human Liberty Bell" at Camp Dix, New Jersey, using 25,000 troops. The photo includes the bell's iconic crack.

18,000 soldiers were needed to complete Mole's Human Statue of Liberty at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa., in 1918.

It took 30,000 officers and men to create The Human U.S. Shield at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, MI.

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