1950s-1960s Photo Archive of African American Soldiers Stationed in Japan
Photo Archive
Archive of 91 silver gelatin photos from an African American soldier based in Japan. C. 1950s to 1960s. Photo sizes 4 x 5 to 3 x 2". Archive shows military and civilian life of the African American G.I.s on base in Japan with their fellow white soldiers, less than a decade after President Truman signed the executive order banning segregation in the Armed Forces. Photos show the men altogether in baseball uniforms loading bats onto a vehicle waiting to take them to the game, a separate vehicle with soldiers in military dress, presumably spectators, waits for departure, individual photos of the players on base. A photo of one of the soldiers shows him standing upright in uniform and the back is dated to 1957. Other photos of him has hand written inscriptions en verso addressed to his wife. Several photos of African American children are shown in a classroom which we assume include the one of the soldier's children. Images of the soldiers family and friends stateside are also included. In one, three African American men dressed for golf stand outside a sports utility vehicle parked on grass, examining a paper, while the main subject, the soldier, hangs out of the side window. Most of the photos seem to be on the U.S. base in Japan, about a third of the photos show African Americans, most of them are of the same two black soldiers in uniform around the base with tanks, trucks, jets in the background. One image dates "APR 1959" and depicts a missile being launched. The rest of the images are either showing life in Japan with Japanese civilians, or of Japanese and white soldiers together on base. Photos slightly bowed. Images crisp with clear details and striking compositions. Overall very good condition.Item #18465
Price: $1,500.00
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