[WORLD WAR II]. Photo album and insignia belonging to an African American soldier.

Folio (16 x 11 in.) World War II-period and family photo album of US Army Soldier Ernest Butler, who served during World War II. Contains more than 250 photographs taken at home and abroad, most approx. 2 1/2 x 3 1/ in. (Album pages are flaking and torn at the ties. Leather cover cracking and flaking along the edges with torn corners, back cover fully separated from album, front cover nearly fully separated.) Album features handwritten notes recording the names of subjects including family members and brothers in arms. Included are images taken in Germany; destroyed enemy equipment; a group of German POWs aboard a truck unceremoniously entitled "a pack of krauts;" a series of images collectively titled "going home" depicting Butler's long journey back to the United States; post-war family portraits including a large format family photo; a collection of post-war photos of friends, family, and children; an image of a man, likely Ernest, back in the US holding a captured K98 Mauser Rifle; and three WWII-era uniform patches including US 1st Army, 7th Army, and a patch featuring 4 Overseas Service bars indicating 2 years of service overseas.

A touching collage of photographs depicting the life of one of the 125,000 African Americans who served overseas during World War II.

Consignor relates the album was acquired from a Cleveland, OH estate.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Freeman's I Hindman strives to describe historic materials in a manner that is respectful to all communities, providing descriptive contexts for objects where possible. The nature of historical ephemera is such that some material may represent positions, language, values, and stereotypes that are not consistent with the current values and practices at Freeman's I Hindman.

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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

[WORLD WAR II]. Photo album and insignia belonging to an African American soldier.

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