Folio (ca. 36.5 x 30 cm or 14 ¼ x 11 ¾ in). 42 stiff paper leaves (10 blank). Over 300 mounted gelatin silver photographs from ca. 25 x 20 cm (9 ¾ x 8 in) to 3.5 x 3 cm (1 ¼ x 1 in). At least 30 images are captioned in negative, on recto or verso of images, or on mounts. Period brown pictorial gilt cloth album fastened with string; stamped and gilt-tooled illustration of a pirate and generic title “Scrapbook” on front board. Rear and front boards partially detached from stub, boards slightly rubbed on extremities; several mounts with minor tears not affecting photos; a few photos mildly faded, over 30 images previously removed from album, but overall a very good album of interesting photos.

A collection of over 300 gelatin silver photographs showing Trinidad and Puerto Rico in 1944. The album was likely compiled by Mississippi-born Estelle Boren, who married New Jersey resident Anthony James Mastroeni (1915-1958) shortly before he was stationed in the Caribbean during World War II. Mastroeni was likely a sailor with the US Navy and possibly served at Naval Base Trinidad and Roosevelt Roads Naval Base (Puerto Rico).

Over 170 photographs show Trinidad and Puerto Rico. Views of Trinidad include Memorial Park, Jama Masjid and Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-au-Spain; North Manzanilla; Mayaro; Toco; the Salybia and Maracas Rivers; and a ferry crossing the Nariva Swamp. Views of Puerto Rico include San Juan (Roosevelt Tower at the University of Puerto Rico, the Normandie Hotel (opened in 1942), and the headquarters of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico) and the Carioca Rum factory. There are also aerial views of Castillo San Felipe del Morro (Puerto Rico), at the time part of the US Army post Fort Brooke; a naval dispensary in Trinidad, likely Naval Base Trinidad; a ship being worked on in a naval yard; inspections of the navy, one in cold weather and one with the army; a portrait of a NAS (likely Naval Air Station) jazz ensemble; and several snapshots from parties attended by Navy sailors. One large photograph shows Mastroeni developing photographs for the US Navy in Puerto Rico.

Also included are street views of Trinidad and Puerto Rico. They show the streets of San Juan (Puerto Rico), a steel guitar player, a barber on the street, and Trinidadians playing a game of bingo. Several photographs are of a gathering of Black Trinidadians, two with captions reading “July 4th 1944 natives kill goats drink blood” and “[Ylous?] bock they killed young girls drink their blood,” possibly referencing a Trinidadian Vodunu ceremony.

Other photographs in the album include a large group portrait of sailors at the US Naval Training Station in Sampson, New York, taken 12 March 1944, and portraits of the compiler and her family.

Overall, an interesting collection of photographs showing Trinidad and Puerto Rico during the final years of World War II.