1902 Identified Massachusetts Guard General’s Tunic

First World War period blue uniform jacket of E. Leroy Sweetser as a Brigadier General of the Massachusetts National Guard. The group also includes a signed period portrait photograph of Sweetser in World War I National Army uniform. Sweetser had a long and distinguished military career which included service in the U.S. Army’s 5th Infantry Regiment during the Spanish American War; Federal service on the Mexican Border in 1916; and service during World War I, when Sweetser entered Federal service from the Massachusetts guard and ultimately was assigned to command the U.S. Army’s 20th Infantry Division.
The uniform jacket is an extremely high quality dark blue melton wool with 16 gilt rimless buttons set in two’s in a double breasted fashion, and gilt Massachusetts Guard collar insignia. The shoulders have bullion embroidered Brigadier General shoulder straps. The tunic has a tailor’s interior neck label and an interior pocket label that is named to Sweetser. The portrait photograph shows Sweetser in the brown wool uniform of the World War I Army, with Brigadier General stars on the shoulders and officer “National Army” collar insignia.The border of the photograph has a clear and bold signature of “E, Leroy Sweester Brig. Gen. U.S.A.” The photograph itself is 7 by 10 inches, and has been well matted and framed, with overall dimensions of 12 by 15 1/2 inches.
Both the uniform jacket and the photograph are in exceptional condition.