Mess Hall Collection

Les Soubresauts de la Russie; Au refectoire: les volontaires du bataillon feminin, designe... 1917 Creator: Unknown
Les Soubresauts de la Russie; Au refectoire: les volontaires du bataillon feminin, designe aussi sous le norm de , puisent le gruau a meme la marmite commune; la viande est posee sur la table nue

U.S.S. Newark, junior officers mess, between 1891 and 1901. Creator: Unknown
U.S.S. Newark, junior officers mess, between 1891 and 1901

U.S.S. Massachusetts, marines at mess, between 1896 and 1901. Creator: Unknown
U.S.S. Massachusetts, marines at mess, between 1896 and 1901

U.S.S. Massachusetts, crew at mess, between 1896 and 1901. Creator: Unknown
U.S.S. Massachusetts, crew at mess, between 1896 and 1901

U.S.S. Massachusetts, crew at mess, between 1896 and 1901. Creator: Unknown
U.S.S. Massachusetts, crew at mess, between 1896 and 1901

U.S.S. Massachusetts, petty officers mess, between 1896 and 1901. Creator: Unknown
U.S.S. Massachusetts, petty officers mess, between 1896 and 1901

U.S.S. Massachusetts, junior officers mess, between 1896 and 1901. Creator: Unknown
U.S.S. Massachusetts, junior officers mess, between 1896 and 1901

Mess Hall, M[ichigan] M[ilitary] A[cademy], Orchard Lake, Michigan, The, between 1900 and 1906. Creator: Unknown
Mess Hall, M[ichigan] M[ilitary] A[cademy], Orchard Lake, Michigan, The, between 1900 and 1906

U.S.S. Olympia - crew's mess, 1899. Creator: Frances Benjamin Johnston
U.S.S. Olympia - crew's mess, 1899. Interior view of dining area aboard the USS Olympia, showing sailors eating at a table suspended by ropes

Francesco I d Este Sustains Himself While on His War Campaign, from L Idea di un Principe ed Eroe Cristiano in Francesco I d Este, di Modena e Reggio Duca VIII [...], 1659

Every man for himself, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Every man for himself, 1941. Airmen queue to get their lunch in the canteen. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Serious recreation, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
Serious recreation, 1941. Soldiers relax in the mess. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

WORLD WAR I: U. S. CAMP. American troops washing their own dishes at a camp during World War I
WORLD WAR I: U.S. CAMP. American troops washing their own dishes at a camp during World War I. Stereograph, 1917-1918

WWI: KITCHENS, c1917. Section of the many miles of French field kitchens. Stereograph, c1917

CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS. Noncommissioned officers mess of Co. D, 93rd New York Infantry. Photographed at Bealeton, Virginia, in August 1863, by Timothy O Sullivan

SING SING PRISON, 1853. The mess room in the prison at Sing Sing, New York. Wood engraving from an American newspaper of 1853

DINNER AT SING SING, c1878. Convicts marching into dinner at Sing Sing Prison, New York. Wood engraving, 1878

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"The Mess Hall: A Historical Perspective on Communal Dining" Step into the past and explore the significance of the mess hall, a place where soldiers, prisoners, and individuals from various walks of life gathered to share meals. From Donington Hall to Sing Sing Prison, these illustrations offer glimpses into different eras. In Francesco I d'Este Sustains Himself While on His War Campaign, we witness a scene from centuries ago as soldiers dine together in what appears to be a grand dining hall. The phrase "every man for himself" takes on new meaning as they gather strength for battle. Fast forward to 1941 with Cecil Beaton's Serious Recreation - an artwork that captures camaraderie amidst war. Soldiers find solace in each other's company while enjoying a meal together. In another piece by Beaton titled American troops washing their own dishes at a camp during World War I, we see the practical side of communal dining during wartime - teamwork even extends to dishwashing duties. Travel back further in time with stereographs showcasing French field kitchens during World War I. These images highlight the vast scale of food preparation required to sustain armies in times of conflict. Not limited solely to military settings, mess halls also played roles within prisons like Sing Sing. A wood engraving from 1853 depicts convicts gathering in the mess room at Sing Sing Prison in New York - an institution known for its strict discipline and routine. The concept continues into later years with Dinner at Sing Sing circa 1878; colorful engravings show convicts marching into dinner, emphasizing order even within confinement. Through these historical snapshots, it becomes evident that regardless of circumstance or era, communal dining spaces like mess halls have served as vital meeting points where people come together over shared meals – fostering unity and providing sustenance physically and emotionally alike.