Throwback Thursday – 1919: Mass, Mammoth Cave, Ky.

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Camp of R.O.T.C., K of C Chaperones on Mammoth Cave Trip, 1919 Jul 26-27.

Sun and shade provide dramatic lighting for this image. It shows the Corps trainees kneeling in prayer, Chaplain Barrett and the servers are also kneeling during this outdoor Mass at Mammoth Cave, Ky., July 27, 1919.

The University of Kentucky established the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) on campus in 1917, a year after the National Defense Act was passed to provide trained, educated officers to the Army. It was apparent that America was being pulled into the European War. Running maneuvers on campus became commonplace. The program continued after the war. The University of Kentucky’s post-war training program included weekend camping and drilling at Mammoth Cave.

Credit: Caufield & Shook. Not to be reproduced without permission of the Knights of Columbus. All rights reserved. Please contact the Knights of Columbus contact the Knights of Columbus to request information about permission to reuse this image and ones like it, and to learn more about the visual and text documentation of Knights’ history.