Facial Reconstruction
10/28/1918
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The originial caption for this photograph reads: Facial reconstruction. Forehead and chin are his own but the rest of his face is the creation of Mrs. Ladd.
American sculptor Anna Coleman Ladd created "portrait masks" for soldiers injured during World War I. Weapons such as machine guns and heavy artillery had a devastating effect on the human body. With new medical breakthroughs, soldiers survived horrifying injuries, but their facial features might be torn away, leaving them without noses, eyes, or part of their jaws. Surgery could not fix every injury, and so soldiers turned to portrait masks.
In 1917, Ladd moved from the United States to France with her husband. She persuaded the American Red Cross to help her open her "Studio for Portrait-Masks" in Paris in 1918. Her work changed the lives of many injured veterans. The masks were made of copper and silver and painted while the patient was wearing it to match the color of his face precisely. They even had mustaches on them. A mask was held in place by glasses; but if a soldier didn't want glasses, Ladd used thin wire or ribbon to keep it in place.
The Red Cross described Ladd's achievements as "miracles." She worked with many soldiers, donating her time, to ensure that they could adjust back to civilian life.
American sculptor Anna Coleman Ladd created "portrait masks" for soldiers injured during World War I. Weapons such as machine guns and heavy artillery had a devastating effect on the human body. With new medical breakthroughs, soldiers survived horrifying injuries, but their facial features might be torn away, leaving them without noses, eyes, or part of their jaws. Surgery could not fix every injury, and so soldiers turned to portrait masks.
In 1917, Ladd moved from the United States to France with her husband. She persuaded the American Red Cross to help her open her "Studio for Portrait-Masks" in Paris in 1918. Her work changed the lives of many injured veterans. The masks were made of copper and silver and painted while the patient was wearing it to match the color of his face precisely. They even had mustaches on them. A mask was held in place by glasses; but if a soldier didn't want glasses, Ladd used thin wire or ribbon to keep it in place.
The Red Cross described Ladd's achievements as "miracles." She worked with many soldiers, donating her time, to ensure that they could adjust back to civilian life.
This primary source comes from the Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs.
National Archives Identifier: 45498727
Full Citation: Photograph 165-WW-266B-33; Facial reconstruction. Forehead and chin are his own but the rest of his face is the creation of Mrs. Ladd.; 10/28/1918; Medical Department - Restoration Work - Reconstruction; American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 - 1918; Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs, Record Group 165; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/facial-reconstruction, June 19, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
