Cantigny remembers 'Russians on the Front'

During World War I, Col. Robert R. McCormick served as a front-line reporter for his family's newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, and supervised the Tribune's making of the first newsreels of the war.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of McCormick's trip to Russia, historian David H. Mould speaks on "With the Russians on the Front" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, in Le Jardin restaurant inside the Cantigny Park Visitors Center, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Admission and parking are free.

From serving as a front-line reporter, the future publisher of the Chicago Tribune went on to participate in the Great War as a soldier, commanding an artillery unit for the U.S. Army's 1st Division at the Battle of Cantigny in 1918.

The program on June 25 will include rare clips from "The Great Russian Army in Battle," one of the Tribune's official newsreels from the war, shot in 1915 by McCormick and his camera crew. During the screening, an actor portraying McCormick will read The Colonel's own descriptions of the events.

Mould is professor emeritus of media arts and studies at Ohio University and the author of "American Newsfilm, 1914-1919: The Underexposed War" and many articles and conference papers on news and documentary film in World War I.

Born in the United Kingdom, Mould began his career as a newspaper and television journalist before moving to the United States for graduate study in mass media.

Mould's doctorate is in American studies and he teaches courses in media history and historiography, international media, communication for human development, and media and politics. Since the mid-1990s, he has worked as a media trainer and consultant, mostly in Central and Southeast Asia, and currently directs a global training course for UNICEF staff.

His recent research is on post-Soviet media and his latest book, "Postcards from Stanland: Why We Should Care About Central Asia," will be published this fall.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A cash bar will be available along with a limited food menu. For information, visit firstdivisionmuseum.org.