Striking original 5 X 7 silver print photograph taken during Liberty Day celebrations in 1918, capturing a group of determined and fashionably dressed women holding a large 48-star American flag along a commercial street in downtown Fresno, California. The women stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity, many wearing broad-brimmed hats and suffragette-era garments, their expressions ranging from solemn to proud. Signage for businesses including “Nudt Johnson Tailor” and a “Rooms to Rent” sign help place the image on Fulton Street, Fresno’s historic main thoroughfare.

Liberty Day was part of a series of national events held during World War I to promote patriotism and support for the U.S. war effort through Liberty Bond drives and civic mobilization. Photographs of all-female Liberty Day groups are uncommon, particularly those featuring such a boldly presented American flag and detailed storefront context. The image communicates both local civic pride and the powerful role of women in home-front mobilization during the Great War.

Images like this not only document the visual culture of American patriotism in 1918 but also reflect broader shifts in women’s civic identity on the eve of national suffrage. An outstanding example of early 20th-century street photography with regional and historical significance.