Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (2024)

  • Alan Taylor
  • July 16, 2020
  • 20 Photos
  • In Focus

As people worldwide adapt to living with the threat of COVID-19, and especially as the rate of new cases continues to grow in the United States, the wearing of face masks remains widely recommended, and in many places, mandatory. A century ago, an outbreak of influenza spread rapidly across the world, killing more than 50 million—and possibly as many as 100 million—people within 15 months. The scale, impact, and nature of the disease back then were all very different from today’s pandemic—but the act of wearing a face covering to prevent further contagion became widely adopted, then as now. While some of the masks were made of improper material or were not used properly, most provided some level of protection against transmission by blocking droplets from the nose and mouth. Below, a collection of images from a century ago of people doing their best to keep others and themselves safe.

Read more

Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email/span>
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (1)

    Nurses in Boston hospitals, equipped to fight influenza #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (2)

    Two men wearing and advocating the use of flu masks in Paris, France. The signs translate roughly as: "The [Germans] are defeated, yes, but the flu is not" and "Mask yourself and mask each other. Try it, you'll like it." #

    Topical Press Agency / Getty

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (3)

    Baseball players wear masks to prevent the spread of infection during the influenza epidemic of 1918. #

    Underwood And Underwood / The LIFE Images Collection via Getty

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (4)
    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (5)

    Volunteers wear masks while feeding children of stricken families. #

    Bettmann Archive / Getty

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (6)

    Left: A letter carrier in New York City, October, 1918. Right: Thousands of these masks were distributed by policemen to all police stations, to be used whenever duty called in New York City. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (7)

    To prevent as much as possible the spread of influenza, Cincinnati barbers wore masks. Barbers all over the country took this precaution. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (8)

    Japanese school girls wear protective masks to guard against the influenza outbreak. #

    Bettmann Archive / Getty

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (9)

    Members of the Student Army Training Corps wear influenza masks in Portland, Oregon, on October 27, 1918. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (10)

    Left: A conductor checks to see if potential passengers are wearing masks in Seattle, Washington. During the influenza epidemic, masks were required for all passengers. Right: A worker wears a mask to prevent the spread of influenza. The New York Health Board admonished citizens to wear masks to check the spread of the influenza epidemic: "Better ridiculous than dead," was the view of one official. #

    Library of Congress via AP, National Archives, Library of Congress / The Crowley Company / AP

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (11)

    OA telephone operator with protective gauze in 1918 #

    Bettmann Archive / Getty

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (12)

    Women at work in Red Cross rooms in Seattle, Washington, with influenza masks on #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (13)

    Policemen in Seattle, Washington, wear masks made by the Seattle Chapter of the Red Cross. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (14)

    Corpsmen in caps and gowns are ready to attend patients in the influenza ward of a U.S. Navy hospital, in Mare Island, California, on December 10, 1918. #

    U.S. Navy

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (15)

    New York City conductorettes wear masks, on October 16, 1918. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (16)

    An open-air barber shop serves customers during the epidemic at the University of California, Berkeley, 1919. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (17)

    In this November 1918 photo, a nurse takes the pulse of a patient in the influenza ward of the Walter Reed hospital in Washington, D.C. #

    Harris & Ewing / Library of Congress via AP

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (18)

    Red Cross Motor Corps on duty in St. Louis, Missouri, October 1918 #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (19)

    Patients at a moving-picture show wear masks in Royat, France. #

    U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Read more
  • Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (20)

    A sailor and a member of the Women's Motor Corps wear masks while treating influenza patients injured by the explosions of a coal loading plant at Morgan, New Jersey, on October 5, 1918. #

    National Archives

    Read more
  • We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.

    Photos: The Influenza Masks of 1918 (2024)
    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Recommended Articles
    Article information

    Author: Fr. Dewey Fisher

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6654

    Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

    Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Fr. Dewey Fisher

    Birthday: 1993-03-26

    Address: 917 Hyun Views, Rogahnmouth, KY 91013-8827

    Phone: +5938540192553

    Job: Administration Developer

    Hobby: Embroidery, Horseback riding, Juggling, Urban exploration, Skiing, Cycling, Handball

    Introduction: My name is Fr. Dewey Fisher, I am a powerful, open, faithful, combative, spotless, faithful, fair person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.