Ernest Butler photograph album

Content Description

This collection contains the photograph album of Ernest Butler, a U.S. Army soldier who served in Germany during the Second World War. Butler was among the one million African American men and women who served during the Second World War. The album documents his time in Germany, return to the United States, and post-war life. The album contains over 250 black and white silver gelatin photographs over its thirty pages. The images depict Butler’s service in Germany, where he photographed the men he served alongside, as well as the destroyed Nazi weapons and vehicles, German prisoners of war, and sites seen on his journey back home to the United States. The photographs most heavily depict the downtime of American soldiers, with subjects commonly posing in their uniforms with each other and civilians. The pictures, primarily of African American soldiers, show the U.S. military’s policy of segregation during World War II. Also included are post-war life, including a large format family portrait, photographs of friends, family, and children, and an image of a man, likely Ernest, holding a captured German K95 Mauser Rifle. Also included are three Army insignia indicating the U.S. 1st and 7th Army, and one with four Overseas Bars that indicate two years of military service overseas.

Acquisition Type

Purchase

Provenance

Purchased from Max Rambod Books on 21 August 2024. The bookseller noted that the consignor relates that the album was acquired from a Cleveland, Ohio estate.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

Yes

Access Restrictions

The photograph album is fragile and must be handled with gloves and great care.