Philadelphia Record World War II casualty cards

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Biographical/Historical note

Scope and Contents note

Arrangement note

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

Philadelphia Record.

Title

Philadelphia Record World War II casualty cards

ID

3944

Date [inclusive]

1944-1945

Extent

10.5 Linear feet ; 21 boxes

Author

Finding aid prepared by Kristina Wilson.

Sponsor

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Award # MA-31-14-0178-14.

Language

English

Abstract

Between 1944 and 1945 the Philadelphia Record newspaper routinely published lists of those servicemen who were killed, wounded, missing or imprisoned during World War II, primarily from Philadelphia and the surrounding regions. The resultant collection is comprised of the index cards generated by the newspaper for publication, and later, reference purposes.

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Biographical/Historical note

Founded in 1870, the Philadelphia Record long held standing as one the Philadelphia area’s most esteemed newspapers. Initially owned first by William Swain, and then William W. Singerly, the paper was purchased by the locally prominent Wanamaker family in 1898. Newspaper magnate J. David Stern acquired it in 1928.

In the 1930s, competition stiffened between the Record and its primary morning competitor, the  Philadelphia Inquirer, and in 1947 the  Record went out of business, ultimately selling its assets to the  Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.

Almost 1.25 million Pennsylvanians served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II with over 33,000 of them killed, wounded, imprisoned or missing during the war. As one of the leading newspapers serving the Philadelphia region, the Philadelphia Record regularly published information about these local casualties of the war. In the process, staff for the newspaper compiled an index card file that they maintained for reference purposes as well as publication.

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Scope and Contents note

This collection consists of approximately 20,000 3x5 index cards that document servicemen, primarily from Philadelphia and surrounding regions, who were killed, wounded, missing or imprisoned during World War II. Each card, at minimum, lists the servicemember's name, rank and branch of service, his status, and the war arena in which he was serving at the time. Some cards contain the additional information of the serviceman’s age, next of kin and their address. In some instances two cards are provided giving updated information on a serviceman’s status.

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Arrangement note

The cards are arranged alphabetically by last name.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2015.

Conditions Governing Access note

The collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, 1951.

Processing Information note

Processing made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this finding aid do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania also houses:

Collection V07, the Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue, tens of thousands of photographs pertaining to significant local, national and global events and personages, c. 1900-1947.

Collection 3344, the Philadelphia Record News Clippings Morgue (unprocessed), vast amount of clippings of numerous people, events and subjects used by the  Philadelphia Record, c. 1900-1947.

Collection 3945, the Philadelphia Record WWII Servicemen Photographs, approximately 7500 black and white photographs, c. 1943-1944.

Collection 3946, the Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue Reference Library, additional reference material pertaining to select topics within the Subject series of the  Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue, c. 1900-1947.

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

• World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--Statistics.
• World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--United States--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
• World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--United States--Pennsylvania.
• World War, 1939-1945--Casualties--United States.
• World War, 1939-1945--Home front.
• World War, 1939-1945--Journalism.
• World War, 1939-1945.

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Collection Inventory