Professor Archibald Cary Coolidge of Harvard University, special assistant to the Department of State, assigned to the American Commission to negotiate peace after World War 1. He is seen in this sequence, with members of his staff, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, from where they assessed postwar political conditions in Austria-Hungary and neighborhood countries, and made recommendations for the U.S. participants at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919. The sequence begins with staff members walking from the Hofburg (Hofburg, Michaelerkuppel 1010 Wien). It is January, and snow is on the ground. Professor Coolidge holds gloves in his left hand and warms his right hand inside his coat in Napoleonic manner, as he chats with others. Staff members are predominantly military officers and include both U.S. Army and Navy personnel.
Military officers meet and pose in Vienna, Austria. General Harris, General Harries, British General Ewart and French General Dupont stand in uniform. They talk and pose. An African American soldier stands and talks to another soldier. An officer stands with other officers and soldiers at the garden in the premises of a building. They talk and pose. Among them is Colonel William Hayward, commander of the African American 369th Infantry, 93rd Division (15th New York National Guard; Old Fifteenth; or "Harlem Hellfighters").
Various scenes of Vienna Austria, following World War 1. Military officers (or cadets) in uniform, complete with swords, walk in single file across a square in the city. Behind them is a tiny park containing a tall memorial structure, and behind that two seven-story buildings that frame the corner of the square. A large crowd quietly assembled in a square with the large tree-filled city park (Stadtpark) in the background. Another view near Ringstrasse (possibly from near the University area) with line of buildings leading to the Votive Church (Votivkirche) and its twin steeples in the background. Next scene shows people gathering near some statues in a small park. A cluster of large official-looking buildings seen prominently in the background. In final scenes, people are gathered in front ot the Austrian Parliament building (on the Ringstrasse boulevard in the first district, aka, Innere Stadt). The The Athena Fountain (Pallas-Athene-Brunnen) is seen in front of the building.
The ceremony during the formation of republic of the Austria in Vienna, Austria. People gathered at the ceremony during the formation of the Austrian republic. People in front of the Athena fountain at the Austrian Parliament House. Soldiers stand in line holding flags. An Austrian politician Karl Seitz stands with other officials. Officials with troops stand near the Bronze horse tamer statue. Soldiers stand in formation. The Athena Fountain (Pallas-Athene-Brunnen) in front of the Parliament in the background. People walk in lines to cast their vote. People come out of the voting room.
Following World War 1, U.S. Army African American soldiers posing in front of a fountain at an official building. At about 10 feet above the ground, there are many small carved elephants encircling the fountain. Group of American Army officers poses in the same place, including Colonel William Hayward, commander of the African American 369th Infantry, 93rd Division (also known as the 15th New York National Guard or Old Fifteenth or "Harlem Hellfighters." A bigger group of American officers poses in front of what looks like a memorial with bas relief carvings. They hold a long banner reading "The Stars and Stripes forever."