Doolan (Jerome K.) California Shipbuilding Corporation Photograph Albums, 1941-1945

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Jerome K. Doolan California Shipbuilding Corporation Photograph Albums
Dates:
1941-1945
Creators:
California Shipbuilding Corporation
Abstract:
Extent:
3 oversize flat boxes (3.25 linear feet)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Jerome K. Doolan California Shipbuilding Corporation Photograph Albums . Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library

Background

Scope and content:

The Jerome K. Doolan California Shipbuilding Corporation Photograph Albums (067) consists of three oversize flat boxes containing five photograph albums. Located approximately twenty-five miles south of downtown Los Angeles at Terminal Island, in the Long Beach and San Pedro area, the California Shipbuilding Corporation was responsible for building Liberty and Victory ships, essential for the United States Merchant Marine’s efforts to supply U.S. armed forces during World War II. The albums record the shipyards' initial construction in 1941 to the launching of various ships from that date through 1945. Reflecting the shipyard’s proximity to Los Angles, numerous Hollywood stars were present at the launching and christening ships in the albums. These include Claudette Colbert, Leo Carrillo, Irene Dunne, Deanna Durbin, Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery (the latter two are in uniform). Also included are Hattie McDaniel and Marion Anderson at the launching of the Booker T. Washington, the first prominent United States ship named after an African-American and the first to have an integrated crew under an African-American skipper (Hugh Mulzac). Political personages appear as well: Vice-President Henry Wallace, Lord Halifax, and Aurora Quezon, for example. Rene Gagnon and John H. Bradley, two of the Marine and Navy personnel who raised the American flag on Iwo Jima, also appear, undoubtedly as part of their participation to raise bonds for the war. The albums also record the participation of women in the war effort, especially as welders in the shipyard. The California Shipbuilding Corporation produced the albums; each album has a title page noting the dates and general theme of the subject of the album. The provenance of the albums is unknown, but they probably came to LMU through Jerome K. Doolan (1897-1990); his name is stamped on the cover of the albums.

Biographical / historical:

A former chair of the board of regents at Loyola Marymount University (1964-1970), Jerome K. Doolan (1897-1990)was first the general manager and then the vice-president of the California Shipbuilding Corporation during its war years and later was senior vice-president and director of the Bechtel Corporation.

Acquisition information:
Accession number 2003.84

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library staff.
Date Prepared:
1941-1945
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.

Terms of access:

Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors.

Preferred citation:

Jerome K. Doolan California Shipbuilding Corporation Photograph Albums . Loyola Marymount University, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library

Location of this collection:
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, US
Contact:
(310) 338-5710
Special.Collections@lmu.edu
Website