Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1478

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.2 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Alonia Ford World War II U.S. Navy photograph album, circa 1942-1944, Ms. Coll. 1478, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.

Date:

circa 1942-1944 (inclusive)

Creator:

Ford, Alonia

Form:

Photograph albums, Photographic postcards, and Postcards

Abstract:

This "U.S. Navy Photo-Log" album consists of 116 images and a NAACP membership card, and chronicles Alonia Ford's service in the U.S. Navy between 1942 and 1944.

Alonia Ford was born on December 28, 1924 to Bud and Willie Mae Ford in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Ford enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 1942 after the U.S. Navy opened its ranks to Blacks on June 1, 1942. Ford was immediately sent to the Seventh Regiment, Camp Robert Smalls at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois for basic training. He may have attended the Hampton Institute Naval Training Program. This Class A Naval Service School provided advanced training in various technical trades to Black American sailors. Upon completion of this 16-week program, the sailors obtained the rank of petty officer in the specialty in which they had been trained. In March 1943, Ford was stationed in Bremerton, Washington as part of the Local Defense and District Craft of the 13th Naval District, where he served as a motor machinist's mate. Afterwards, he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands and Shanghai, China, where he met his first wife, Char 'Alice' Lu/Loh (1930-1995), whom he married in 1947. They had two children, Robert Ronald and Diana Ming Lu/Loh. Ford and Alice divorced in April 1976 and he married Francisca Ayala later that same year. He continued to serve in the Navy as of 1963.

Resources: Ancestry and the National Archives and Records Administration

The photographs and postcards chronicle Ford's early service in the United States Navy, and include official Navy photographs, such as personnel portraits and images of military vessels. There are also candid photos of Ford along with fellow service men on naval bases in Bremerton, Washington and the Aleutian Islands. Other photographs are more personal and include friends and family. There are two photographs of a woman that are inscribed, "To Hubby; Love, Ann" and "Your Wife." However, no legal documents were found confirming this marriage.

Postcards affixed in the album depict buildings on the campus of Hampton Institute, many of which are captioned "Girls dormitories," landscape views of Washington State and the Aleutian Islands. Also included in the album is a NAACP membership card for Ford dated November 1944, and 13 handwritten notes from fellow servicemen. These notes include home addresses and short notes of memories or inside jokes.

This brown leather album with "Photo-Log U.S. Navy" embossed on the front cover, features a image of battleships at sea. This album contains 116 images, including original silver gelatin print photographs and postcards. It also includes "autographs" of fellow service members. The photographs were approximately taken between 1942 and 1944 and placed in the album by Alonia Ford. Most of the photographs and postcards are affixed to the album pages with photo corners. Some of the photos and postcards have descriptive captions. There are a number of blank pages, as well as photo corners missing photos.