Finding aid for the World War I photograph albums 6060

Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2014 June


Title: World War I photograph albums
Collection number: 6060
Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 4.58 linear ft. 5 boxes
Date: circa 1915-1918
Abstract: 5 photograph albums containing over 500 photographs and related ephemeral items. The first three albums were created by photojournalist Robert Sennecke and are propagandistic in nature, with images from the front showing officers, war heroes, weaponry, politicians, and soldiers; all images are accompanied by typewritten captions. Sennecke's albums contain a mounted identification slip from Sennecke's studio. The fourth album, created by a German grenadier, contains 210 photographs, many accompanied by extensive handwritten descriptions; it also includes some documents and letters, a small medals, and pieces of his uniform. The fifth album contains images depicting scenes of soldiers at work and at rest; urban and industrial scenes, including railways, sawmills, and factories; and locations such as Verdun, Somme, La Bassee, and Flanders. As a collection, the photograph albums provide a well-documented German perspective on World War I.
creator: Sennecke, Robert, 1885-1940

Biographical note

Robert Sennecke, who created three of the five albums, was a well known photojournalist in Germany during the 1920s. He was best known for his sports photography and ran a successful agency before succumbing to mental illness in the 1930s.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], World War I photograph albums, Collection no. 6060, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Acquisition

Purchased from F.A. Barnett Booksellers, April 19, 2014.

Scope and Content

5 photograph albums containing over 500 photographs and related ephemeral items. The first three albums were created by photojournalist Robert Sennecke and are propagandistic in nature, with images from the front showing officers, war heroes, weaponry, politicians, and soldiers; all images are accompanied by typewritten captions. Sennecke's albums contain a mounted identification slip from Sennecke's studio. The fourth album, created by a German grenadier, contains 210 photographs, many accompanied by extensive handwritten descriptions; it also includes some documents and letters, a small medals, and pieces of his uniform. The fifth album contains images depicting scenes of soldiers at work and at rest; urban and industrial scenes, including railways, sawmills, and factories; and locations such as Verdun, Somme, La Bassee, and Flanders.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Sennecke, Robert, 1885-1940 -- Archives
Photograph albums
Soldiers--Germany--1914-1918--Photographs
World War, 1914-1918--Germany--Archival resources

Box 1-3

Robert Sennecke albums

Box 4

German grenadier album

Box 5

Soldiers album