Thursday Photo Caption Contest

"The regiment guarding Fort Tucson did not see much action during the Civil War, but the picnicking was excellent."

I am excited to introduce this week’s guest judge, Dominic McDevitt-Parks, who is working on several projects as our Wikipedian-in-Residence this summer. Surprised that we support Wikipedia? Well, it turns out that the Archivist is a big fan of the web site and its work!

Congratulations to Andrew P! Check your e-mail for 15% off in our eStore. Our guest judge chose your caption with the same confidence that he uses when wading into the thorny thicket of editing Wikipedia entries. And although he could only choose one winner among the cacti, Dominic noted that Robert and Pam deserve an honorable mention!

The folks bravely picnicking in the heat while wearing jackets, long pants, and high-necked dresses deserve an honorable mention as well. The original caption reads: “Officers and guests lunch under giant cactus near Fort Thomas, Arizona,” February 18, 1886. The photograph can be found in our holdings at National Archives at College Park as part of the records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, or on ARC with the ARC Identifier 530881.

This week’s photo is less prickly and more (possibly) kicky! Give us your best caption in the comments below.

Your caption here!

20 thoughts on “Thursday Photo Caption Contest

  1. ARCHIBALD! You get out of that ridculous Donkey costume this instant! The Democrats already have a mascot!

  2. The confident children always let Grandma Ardis play “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” even though she refused to wear a blindfold.

  3. Donkey: “I don’t even care if I am the official Democratic Party mascot – seriously, I LIKE IKE!”

  4. Ms. Bectel never admitted telling the donkey, “Smile! I’m sending this photo to the biggest ass in the country.”

  5. President Truman wondered which was Ms. Bectel’s most enduring peculiarity: her pet donkey, or the the bowling ball in her purse.

  6. Unfortunately, history skims over the importance of Marge the “Donkey Whisperer”, known as a savior to pioneers everywhere.

  7. “Um, either you’ve got the wrong studio, or I think you’ve been miscast. We’re filming *Driving* Miss Daisy.”

  8. After a few last-second stitches, Irene knew that Edward’s Halloween costume this year was a sure winner!

  9. Bectel’s burro, coincidentally named “Bess”, won a special place in the President’s heart after bravely stopping the buck in the 1946 Annual Hot Springs Rodeo.

  10. Known for her failing eyesight, Ms. Bectel did not immediately realize during President Truman’s campaign stop that he had stepped away, and now she was talking to an entirely different Democrat.

  11. Aunt Marge knew that there was nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned burro ride to lighten the mood in Congress, so that they all could get past that stalemate and finally compromise.

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