Philadelphia Record World War II servicemen photographs

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 servicemen photographs

ID

3945

Date [inclusive]

1943-1944

Extent

5.5 Linear feet ; 11 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

After the entry of the United States into World War II (1941-1945), the Philadelphia Record newspaper began publishing photographs of and articles about servicemen from Philadelphia and the surrounding regions. The resultant collection is comprised of these photographs and any accompanying information originally used 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. As one of the leading newspapers serving the Philadelphia region, the Philadelphia Record regularly published photographs and articles about local servicemen. In the process, staff for the newspaper compiled a photograph file that they maintained for reference purposes as well as publication.

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Scope and Contents note

The collection consists of approximately 7500 black and white photographs (2.2 linear feet). Each photograph, at minimum, lists the name of each serviceman on verso in pencil. Some photographs also contain the additional information of next of kin. The photographs are either provided by the military or are candid images taken by Record or other photographers such as next of kin. Some photographs have further background on the image and, in some cases, are attached to the article in which the photograph originally appeared.

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Arrangement note

The photographs are in individual envelopes 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 3944, Philadelphia Record World War II Casualty Cards, approximately 20,000 3x5 cards listing the soldier's name, rank, branch of service, his status, and the war arena in which he served, c. 1944-1945.

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.

Collection 3945, the Philadelphia Record World War II Servicemen Photographs, which includes approximately 7500 black and white photographs, c. 1943-1944. Each photograph, at minimum, lists the name of each soldier on verso in pencil.

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

• Photographs.

Subject(s)

• Soldiers--United States--History--20th century.
• Soldiers--United States--Portraits.
• World War, 1939-1945--Journalism.
• World War, 1939-1945--Photography.
• World War, 1939-1945.

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Collection Inventory