State Historical Society of Iowa

Portrait of Army Private Jonas M. Poweshiek, 1917

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Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, Portrait of Army Private Jonas M. Poweshiek, 1917

Description

This portrait is of Army Private Jonas M. Poweshiek, a Meskwaki soldier during World War I. Poweshiek enlisted in the Army in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 6, 1917, three months after the US declared war on Germany.

Transcript from Portrait of Army Private Jonas M. Poweshiek

Source Dependent Questions

  • Describe this photograph. What do you notice in particular about this photo that may be surprising or intriguing to you?
  • Refer to this timeline, particularly events starting from 1900 - 1924. Private Poweshiek enlisted in 1917. Considering the events on the timeline, hypothesize why Private Poweshiek would enlist in the Army when he wasn't considered a citizen of the United States. Write two to three sentences.

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