Visual Materials

Photograph album of U.S. Army Air Service aerial photographs of the Philippines, South China Sea and California

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Description: An album of mostly aerial photographs taken during the 1920s by the U.S. Army Air Service, 15th Photographic Section above the Philippines and South China Sea, as well as Northern California, and some in New York. In addition to aerial views, there are images of planes flying in formation, airfields, dirigibles, and ships. Some Philippines locations photographed include Cagayan Valley, Magat River, Nueva Vizcaya, and Jolo, as well as images of U.S. Navy ships and aircraft stationed at the islands. Northern California aerial images include Yosemite, San Francisco, and Lake Tahoe. The 15th Photographic Section soldiers and personnel are seen in three group photographs listing their names, 1929 and 1930.
Type: Visual Materials(Opens in new tab)
Production date: approximately 1920-1930.
Call number: photCL 737
Provenance: Purchased from Zephyr Used & Rare Books, October 2024.
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

James R. Vial photograph album of U.S. military police service in Manila, Philippines

Visual Materials

A photograph and scrapbook album compiled by serviceman James R. Vial, documenting his time with the U.S. 1123rd Military Police Company in Manila, Philippines, in 1946. The photographs include soldiers at the base, the mess hall and bunks, and images of Filipino residents posed for portraits or in everyday activities. Several images document the Philippines Independence Day parade and ceremony on July 4, 1946, including close-up views of the speakers: Philippines President Manuel Roxas, Vice President Elpidio Quirino, and General Douglas MacArthur. Soldiers are seen returning to the U.S. via the U.S.S. Comet, entering the San Francisco Bay on October 8, 1946. The album also includes some of Vial's military documents, ration cards, newspaper clippings, and Japanese/Philippines currency.

photCL 669

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Dorothy O'Dell Philippines photograph album

Visual Materials

This album contains photographs compiled by Dorothy O'Dell, who resided in the Cavite province of the Philippines during her husband's service in the U.S. Navy. The images depict the couple's travel in England, India, Jerusalem, Panama, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, capturing specific sites such as Mount Ebal, the "Gateway to Ancient Shechem," Sebastia (Palestine), the "Ancient Castle Thunton" (Taunton Castle, England), Windsor Castle (England), Edinburgh Castle (Scotland), Heidelberg Castle (Germany), the "Hindu Temple" (Meenakshi Amman Temple) and the "Lake Temple" (Vandiyur Mariamman Temple) in Madurai, India. The photographs also document their residence in O'ahu, Hawai'i and Dorothy's evacuation from the Philippines and return to the United States via the S.S. Washington to San Francisco, California. However, many of the images capture Philippine landmarks in Manila, some of which were later damaged or destroyed by the Japanese in World War II. These landmarks include the Jai Alai Building, Puerta de Parián, and Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje cathedral in Antipolo. There are also photographs of the Chinese Yu Tan and Paco cemeteries in Manila, the Taal Volcano, images of Igorot dancers in ceremonial dress performing for Navy personnel, an Igorot person in traditional clothing in Northern Luzon, Filipino funeral processions, street scenes capturing Filipino citizens in their daily activities, livestock, and the O'Dell home on "Radio Road" or Salamanca Drive.The depictions of daily life in pre-war Philippines in and around the naval base are described through written notes by Dorothy on the album pages. Two cabinet card portraits produced by the B.D. Garduno Studio are also included in the album along with photographs of American naval ships and military personnel. The leather album cover is embossed with two Chinese dragons with an emblazoned sphere between them and a Chinese Junk ship below. A few of the album pages appear to have missing photographs.

photCL 746

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Photograph album of U.S. Asiatic Fleet serviceman stationed in the Philippines

Visual Materials

A photograph album chronicling the travels of an unidentified U.S. Navy Reserve officer while serving with the Asiatic Fleet and the Pacific Reserve Fleet, from 1912 to 1920, while stationed in the Philippines. The photographs also incude Shanghai, China and San Diego, San Pedro, and San Francisco, California, with a visit to the Panama Pacific International Exposition. There are also images of the USS Maumee launching in California, the USS South Dakota, and several other Navy vessels and facilities in and around Manila, Subic Bay, and the naval base at Olangapo, Philippines. The mostly snapshot images also depict Philippine residents in everyday activities, a 1920 Fourth of July parade, indigenous Philippine inhabitants in an archery contest, street scenes, and a funeral. Handwritten captions appear throughout the album, and some images have captions in the negative.

photCL 656

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Japanese occupation of Philippines photograph album

Visual Materials

A photographic regimental history of the Japanese Imperial Army, Watari Philippine Occupation Expeditionary Force, 14th Army unit assigned to the Philippines during World War II. The halftone photographs with captions in Japanese are printed on the album pages, along with a few maps. Written in Japanese inside the front cover: "Suzuki Unit / Matsushima Group / Matsumoto Division." Images include: Military posts throughout the Philippines; broken American and Filipino tanks in Tarlac; destroyed bridges and buildings; Nitsuba house near Antimonan; the Suzuki Division headquarters in San Miguel; Amato jin'ya, or "Confection Barracks/Fort Sweet-Tooth" hung with Japanese flags; group photographs of Japanese Army forces, and others. Also featured is a unit memorial service with a eulogy given by Army Commander Honma Masaharu, who led the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

photCL 735

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Philippine American War photograph albums

Visual Materials

Four photograph albums containing a total of 218 images (chiefly 4.5 x 6.5 inches) of the Philippine American War, taken by an unidentified photographer most likely associated with the 19th U.S. infantry stationed in Cebu, Philippines. Primarily in Cebu with some in San Nicolas and elsewhere, the images document Filipino life and culture as well as U.S. soldiers in military activities and recreation. Three photographs depict the refueling of a hospital ship in Hong Kong, and there are also images of the recruitment of Indigenous soldiers in Puerto Rico, and rare views of the surrenders of Filipino generals Mateo Noriel Luga and Aguedo del Rosario. The photographs are captioned and numbered continuously throughout the four albums. The first album, images 1 to 54, contains mostly detailed panoramas (3.5 x 12 inches) of Cebu and its port, plaza, and bay. The second album, images 55 to 109, contains a range of subjects including the 19th Infantry band baseball team, Filipino homes and families, elaborate Holy Day celebrations in San Nicolas, and several photographs of insurgents and their surrenders. The third album, images 111 to 165, includes church interiors, street and market scenes, and a family identified as "Spaniard and Filipino Mixed Family." The fourth album, images 166 to 218, includes several scenes from the 19th Infantry's training in Michigan, prior to their arrival in the Philippines; interior shots of Colonel Edward J. McClernand's home; a church procession in the streets of Cebu; and the deportation of prisoners to Guam. Some writing in the album reflects racist views toward Filipino and Chinese people.

photCL 712

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Photograph album of individuals and groups in the Philippines

Visual Materials

A photograph album containing 12 photographs. The last page of the album has a handwritten index with descriptions of each photograph. The photographs depict "the artist" (possibly the photographer) and his home in Inga, Enrile, Cagayan, Philippines; scenes of life on Luzon Island in the Philippines including a market, students and their teacher, and women bathing; a prison yard labeled as "Fort Santiago, Manlia"; and the Pasig River in Manila. Content warning: one image depicts skeletal remains.

photCL 753

Photograph album of U.S. Army Air Service aerial photographs of the Philippines, South China Sea and California

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James R. Vial photograph album of U.S. military police service in Manila, Philippines

Dorothy O'Dell Philippines photograph album

Photograph album of U.S. Asiatic Fleet serviceman stationed in the Philippines

Japanese occupation of Philippines photograph album

Philippine American War photograph albums

Photograph album of individuals and groups in the Philippines