Finding Aid for the Ted Gilien Photographs of postwar Japan and the Philippines, ca. 1945-1946
Processed by Lesley Ragsdale, with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli and Lilace Hatayama, March 2012; machine-readable finding
aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
© 2012
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Ted Gilien Photographs of postwar Japan and the Philippines
Date (inclusive): ca. 1945-1946
Collection number: 1924
Creator:
Gilien, Ted.
Extent:
2 boxes (0.8 linear ft.)
Abstract: This collection contains approximately 500 photographs taken by combat artist and painter Ted Gilian ca. 1945-1946 documenting
war destruction in Japan and the Philippines. He later used many of the photographs as source materials for his paintings.
Language: Finding aid is written in
English.
Language of the Material:
Materials are in English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Jeremy Gilien, Ted Gilien's son, 2010.
Processed by Lesley Ragsdale March 2012, with assistance from Kelley Bachli and Lilace Hatayama.
[Identification of item], Ted Gilien Photographs of postwar Japan and the Philippines (Collection 1924). UCLA Library Special
Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
7047179
| 1914 March 17 | Ted Gilien born in Brooklyn, New York |
| 1932-1933 | Attended the Art Students League and the National Academy of Art in New York City |
| 1934-1938 | Participated in the Federal Arts Project as a mural and easel painter |
| 1939 | Painted a post office mural in Lees Summit, Missouri |
| 1940-1942 | Employed as a shipyard worker in San Pedro, California |
| 1942-1946 | Served as a combat artist with the US military and covered areas of Japan decimated by atomic bombs as well as the Philippines |
| 1946-1965 | Displayed artwork at 20 one-man shows on the West Coast |
| 1951 | Published the Price, a collection of 50 anti-war paintings and drawings |
| 1954 | Held show in New York at Associated American Artists |
| 1949-1960 | Published a Visual History of the Maccabees, comprised of 180 paintings and drawings |
| 1932-1965 | Exhibited at over 500 shows, represented in more than 400 private and public collections, and received 26 major awards |
| 1946-1965 | Taught at Chouinard, Kann, Palos Verdes, Westside Jewish, Pasadena Community Center, and the University of Judaism |
| 1963 | Featured in American Artist magazine |
| 1965-? | Exhibited one man shows at the International Design Center in LA, the LA Sports Arena, the Inheritance Gallery, and the Renaissance Gallery in Beverly Hills |
| 1965 | Awarded first prize at the California State Fair |
| 1967 March 11 | Died in Los Angeles |
The collection contains approximately 500 black and white photographs taken ca. 1945-1946 in Japan and the Philippines. The
photographs document the destruction caused by the atomic bomb in Nagasaki including the ruins of the Urakami Cathedral. Along
with significant photographs depicting building destruction, many images depict Japanese citizens clearing rubble, living
in the streets in makeshift camps, or moving bundled belongings by any means available. The photographs also include images
of ruined Japanese boats, ships, and military planes. A few photographs depict crowds at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as well
as kabuki theatre. The collection also contains photographs of US GIs serving in Japan. Photographs from the Philippines focus
on images of citizens living in rough and meager conditions.
The collection is arranged into the following series:
- Nagasaki destruction
- Urakami Cathedral destruction
- Planes and ships
- Street scenes
- Clearing rubble
- Men and crowds
- Children
- Girls
- Kabuki
- Tokyo Imperial Palace
- US GIs
- Philippines
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Gilien, Ted, 1914-1967 --Archives.
Photographers --United States --Archival resources.
Urakami Cathedral destruction
Physical Description:
(51 photographs)
Biography/Organization History
St. Mary's Cathedral, also called Urakami Cathedral due to its location in Urakami in the northern region of the city of Nagasaki,
was originally constructed in 1895. The brick Romanesque Catholic Church was destroyed when an atomic bomb was dropped on
Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 and a replacement building was constructed in 1959.
Street scenes
Physical Description:
(123 photographs)
Scope and Content Note
The file contains images of vehicles, bicycles, and carts used to move bundled belongings along with images of citizens living
in makeshift camps amidst war destruction. The file also contains some images of intact buildings and monuments.