Vahan Ouzoonian U. S. Army Signal Corps photographs

Finding aid created by California Museum of Photography staff using RecordEXPRESS
UC Riverside. California Museum of Photography
3824 Main Street
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 827-5303
cmpcollections@ucr.edu
http://www.artsblock.ucr.edu/
2020


Descriptive Summary

Title: Vahan Ouzoonian U. S. Army Signal Corps photographs
Dates: February-March 1905
Collection Number: 1991.0001
Creator/Collector: Ouzoonian, Vahan, 1913-2001 United States. Army. Signal Corps.
Extent: 248 photographic prints
Repository: UC Riverside. California Museum of Photography
Riverside, California 92501
Abstract: The Vahan Ouzoonian U. S. Army Signal Corps photographs collection is comprised of 248 photographic prints dating from the final year of World War II. The prints depict the progress of the U.S. Army through Central and Western Europe in the months before Axis surrender.
Language of Material: English

Access

The collection is open for research use.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder (if applicable).

Preferred Citation

Vahan Ouzoonian U. S. Army Signal Corps photographs. UC Riverside. California Museum of Photography

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to UCR/CMP in 1991 by Vahan Ouzoonian.

Biography/Administrative History

The U.S. Army’s Signal Corps had the enormous task of managing communications for the Army’s ground and air forces throughout World War II. As part of this effort, hundreds of photographers were sent into the field to capture motion picture and still photographs documenting all aspects of the war. The film was used for training, historical documentation, and publication. Private Vahan Ouzoonian, of the 3908 Signal Corps Battalion, offered up many of his own cameras for the use of the Signal Corps. He served in Europe from 1943-45 before returning to his native California, where he died in 2001.

Scope and Content of Collection

The photographs in this collection were taken in February and March of 1945. They follow the U.S. Army on the warfront in Belgium, Germany, France, and Holland. A myriad of subjects were photographed by Vahan Ouzoonian--from the daily operations of the American soldiers to civilian evacuees and prisoners of war. Often captions on the back of each photo identify the individuals pictured and give a short contextual description.

Indexing Terms

World War, 1939-1945
Gelatin silver prints