Call Number:

3945

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

5.5 linear feet (; 11 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Indicate cited item here], Philadelphia Record World War II Serviceman Photographs (Collection 3945), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1943-1944 (inclusive)

Creator:

Philadelphia Record.

Form:

Photographs.

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.

Founded in 1877, the Philadelphia Record long held standing as one the Philadelphia area’s most esteemed newspapers. Initially owned by William Singerly, the paper was purchased by the locally prominent Wanamaker family in 1898 and then by newspaper magnate J. David Stern 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.

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.

The photographs are in individual envelopes arranged alphabetically by last name.