Oblong Folio album (ca. 27,9x35,5 cm). 19 card stock leaves. With 40 mounted original gelatin silver photos with the larger ones from ca. 13,7x8,8 cm (5 ½ x 3 ½ in) to ca. 10,4x7 cm (4 x 2 ¾ in), the smaller ones from ca. 6x9,8 cm (2 ¼ x 3 ¾ in) to ca. 5x4 cm (2x 1 ½ in), and the other photos ca. 8,5x8,5 cm (ca. 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ in). Also, with eight real photo postcards from ca. 13,9x8,9 cm (5 ½ x 3 ½ in) to ca. 10,7x7,1 cm (4 ¼ x 2 ¾ in). About fifteen photographs and four real photo postcards addressed or captioned on the front or the verso. Period maroon full calf album fastened with a string; gilt-tooled ornaments and gilt-lettered generic title “Photographs” on the front board. The inner side of the front cover with a period white ink presentation inscription: “Happy Birthday Sister Ruth from Brother Harry. 12-21-.x” Binding rubbed on extremities, black ink and residue marks on the front board, several photos age-toned with corners chipped, but overall a very good album of strong interesting photos.

Historically important private album documenting the early segregated lives of African American soldiers in WWII.  The album was apparently compiled by Laura Darby Viges (1926/27-1985), her sister Ella Darby (1928-?), and her sister-in-law Helen Viges (1932-2015) of Eunice, St. Landry, Louisiana, in 1943-1946. The photographs primarily depict African American soldiers from the Viges and Darby families, along with their friends and other relatives, during and after WWII. Identified soldiers include Frank Viges (1922-2009), Henry Darby (1921-1997), Frank Darby (1925-2015), and his brother-in-law Corporal James “Jimmie” Ringo (1911-1960). While Ringo was part of the 24th Infantry Regiment (one of the Buffalo Soldier regiments), military insignias visible in photographs suggest the other men served in the segregated units of the United States Army Central, the Anti-Aircraft Command, and the 6th Armored Division.

Racial discrimination in the U.S. Army was an official state policy between 1898 and 1948. Black Americans were segregated into separate military units, typically assigned labor-intensive roles with limited responsibility, issued less equipment, and rarely deployed overseas to restrict their frontline combat involvement.

The album contains 40 original gelatin silver photographs and eight real photo postcards, most of which were likely taken at military bases and training camps across the U.S. About nineteen well-executed close-up studio portraits show “Frank Viges,” “James Ringo,” one “Floyd,” “Henry Darby,” “John W. H.,” and “Frank Darby,” along with their African American comrades and white commanding officer (possibly), either laughing or striking fierce poses with guns and clenched fists. A series of six lively vernacular photos capture a group of Black soldiers from the Civil Air Patrol repairing automobile engines, building wooden structures, and reading letters & newspapers. Especially notable are three rare photos of “Thomas Taylor Smith” cheerfully posing with other African American servicemen in postwar Japan. An excellent photo at the album's rear shows two black selectees in El Paso, Texas, boarding a train en route to Fort Benning’s primary infantry training center. The other interesting photos feature a newly-wed Black couple and African American soldiers smiling with white pals, posing with guns, etc. Overall, historically important album with original gelatin silver prints and real photo postcards documenting early racial segregation in the U.S. Army during WWII.

Some of the captions include “The Tornado, the One + Only (Smile) / Laura Viges P. Box 319 Eunice Lo;” “To the one I love Miss Helen Viges, my love is for you only, John W. H. Killer Killer;” “For you Darling, from Frank Viges to Helen Viges;” “Listen tell me how are you getting along. I would like to know you are getting along girl… to Ella Darby;” “Miss Ella Darby love Floyd;” “My Dearest Darling Helen Viges you my darling + dearest (angel);” “To Laura Viges for our friendship … Lee;” “To my sister miss Helen Viges 1945;” “Chicko;” “Thomas Taylor Smith taken in Japan;” “El Paso Tex Enroute to Fort Benning.”