The Bureau of Pictures

In 1918, William Waddell was working as the Director of the American Red Cross Bureau of Pictures, part of the Red Cross' public relations effort. He assembled teams of photographers and cameramen and sent them to war torn and recovering regions where the American Red Cross had relief efforts. The footage was then shown in theaters for the American public to understand the work of the Red Cross.

Moving Picture World, 1918, via Google Books.

NY Tribune, 19 Jan 1919.

Source: IMDB. 

For one of the films released in 1918, Of No Use to Germany, William was quoted in The Moving Picture World. He said, "Of No Use to Germany, a single reel film about to be released by the Red Cross Bureau of Pictures, tells in striking scenes the story of Evian, refuge of homeless France and Belgium. It portrays the wonderful redemption work of the American Red Cross doctors and nurses. It will fire the patriotism and harden the will of Americans to right the terrible wrongs inflicted upon innocent and defenceless people by a barbarism without parallel in the world's history."

In 1919, the Bureau distributed a series of single reel films featuring various locations in Europe.

Brooklyn Times-Union, 18 June 1919.

 

Source: IMBD. 1919.

With this background on William's role with the American Red Cross, I'll next turn to his passport applications, and travels in Europe with Luella.