#PA64
Ca. 1945
95 gelatin silver photographs ca. 12 x 9.5 cm (4 ¾ x 3 ¾ in). 73 photographs with period print captions on the margins/images and/or period pencil captions on verso, 18 captioned in negative. Four photographs with “Official US Army Photo” stamped on verso. All photographs have been previously removed from an album, with residue of glue or old mounts on verso. A few photos mildly faded or with minor discolouration or rubbing/minor tears on extremities, ten photos with minor losses in corners or creases affecting images, but overall a very good collection of interesting strong photos.
A collection of original silver gelatin photographs showing Guam, local Chamorro people, and the Northern Mariana Islands, in 1945. They were likely taken by photographers of the US Forces.
23 photographs show villages and environs of Guam. They include Merizo and environs (a farm, highway, and beach); Inarajan (St. Joseph’s Church and “native houses”); Umatac (a thatch house and Lamira Root Fountain, dedicated in 1933 and built by the principal of Umatac School, F. Q. Sanchez, alongside others); Agat and Asan, villages that were rebuilt with aid from the US military, and a photograph of the sign for Agat School; a waterfall near Agana, the capital of Guam; and Talofofo Bay.
44 photographs are portraits of Chamorro people—women in “hula costume," schoolchildren, families, a pair of siblings enjoying coconuts, etc.—several of whom are identified in the captions (“Lourdes S. Torres,” “Florence Flores – 15 yrs,” “Maria Garrido & brother,” and others). Other photos show scenes of children drawing water, women doing laundry, and locals swimming and bathing.
18 photographs, captioned and dated in negative (May 1945), show the coastline and harbours of the Northern Mariana Islands, including Alamagan, the Maug Islands, Pagan, and Sarigan. One photo showing a native bird with webbed feet on the Maug Islands.
Overall, an interesting collection of photographs showing Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands during the last months of WWII.
