Flashback Fotos: Constitution photographer Tracy Mathewson

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Flashback Fotos: Constitution photographer Tracy Mathewson's Atlanta

AJC photo archives: World War I era Atlanta, photographed by Tracy Mathewson

Atlanta Constitution photographer Tracy Mathewson documented the World War I effort in and around Atlanta for the newspaper. His photos are few, but compelling. Here's an intimate look at US Army training for the war at Camp Gordon, in Chamblee, in 1918.

"One of the first trainloads of selectmen arriving at Camp Gordon in 1917. 28,000 strong, all-southern unit quickly became the Fighting All-American Division," we told our Constitution readers.

Our original caption for this 1917 photo reads: "Atlanta remembers how the rookies turned out under corporals and sergeants, were whipped into squads to learn 'squads east or west, as the case may be.' It was hayfoot-strawfoot stuff, and some of the boys were slow learning it. That's where that old saying was born: 'Everybody's out of step but Johnny.' But Johnny got his gun all right, and soon he was a soldier of the line."

Mathewson was there to capture an up close and personal moment during the sendoff for the 17th Engineers on a train leaving Atlanta in 1917.

Atlantans turned out in a big way for the 1918 Liberty Loan parade on Peachtree Street.

The 3rd Liberty Loan parade on Peachtree Street in 1918 saw more packed crowds -- and those fairly newfangled automobiles.

The 82nd Rainbow Division, led by General Ebon Swift, their first commander, parades down Peachtree Street circa 1918.

"At Five Points every afternoon -- retreat was sounded. All traffic halted, civilians uncovered, soldiers' saluted and Red Cross workers gathered around the band at the foot of the flag pole where Gene Wood officially raised the flag," our original World War I era caption read.

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Atlanta Constitution photographer Tracy Mathewson documented the World War I effort in and around Atlanta for the newspaper. His photos are few, but compelling. Here's an intimate look at US Army training for the war at Camp Gordon, in Chamblee, in 1918.

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