Veteran’s Day-related Program on WWII Soldier Photographers Explores Toll of War
Press Release · Monday, October 28, 2019

Washington, DC

On Thursday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m., the National Archives presents a Veteran’s Day-related tribute program on US Army Signal Corps photographers during World War II.  These GIs used cameras instead of guns, witnessing and capturing the loss and destruction on film. 

U.S. Army Signal Corps photographers are known for their comprehensive documentation of battle during World War II. They covered every activity of the war -- training, combat, support services, battles, and more. Not as well known is their work in 1945 as the war came to an end. The world was in ruins, from the Blitz in London to the aftermath of the atomic bomb blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  For the first time, these images of the war’s impact have been compiled in a book: Aftershock: The Human Toll of War: Haunting World War II Images by America’s Soldier Photographers.  

A panel will discuss these images and the National Archives U.S. Army Signal Corps photo collection. Panelists include:  Aftershock authors Richard Cahan and Mark Jacob; Dr. Erik B. Villard, Historian, U.S. Army Center of Military History; Dr. Rebecca Raines, author, History of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and Kaitlyn Crain Enriquez, Archives Specialist, National Archives Still Picture Branch. A book signing of Aftershock will follow the program. Presented in partnership with the U.S. Army Center of Military History and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

This program is free and open to the public and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, and streamed live on the National Archives YouTube Channel. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW.  Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station. Reservations are recommended and can be made online. 

Related Online Resources:
Finding Aid to Record Group 111, Records of the office of the Chief Signal Officer
Blog post:  Remembering Ernie Pyle
Blog post:  Shooting World War I: The History of the Army Signal Corps Cameramen
Blog posts: Uncle Sam-I-Am: Dr. Seuss’s Private Snafu and Dr. Seuss Beyond Snafu: Your Job in Germany

Related Know Your Records Talk: Photographic Records of the U.S. Coast Guard
William G. McGowan Theater, Thursday, November 14, 2-3 p.m., and streamed live 
Still Picture archivist Kelsey Noel will discuss the National Archives’ collection of Coast Guard photographic records, and how to use these records for research.