Frances S. Szalay negatives
Physical Description: .5 Linear feet(10 folders)
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs, negatives, 8mm film reel, a stereo book, and a large poster of Frances S. Szalay signed
by friends and family. The photographs were taken and developed by Szalay.
There are 805 photographs in this series depicting different events, people, and locations during and after the Second World
War. The bulk of the photographs feature Frances S. Szalay, Fort Oglethorpe, Women's Army Corps events, other WAC service
members, and different locations to which Szalay traveled. One of the photographs is of actress Norma Shearer with an autograph
signed to Szalay. After the Second World War, a number of photographs depicted WAC Veterans Association conventions and WAC
exhibit displays.
227 of the photographs were found in a box labeled with "Italy riots 1945," "Stateside 1945," "Overseas training," and "Gang
Ft. Oglethorpe." These photographs depict various subjects: Szalay's visits to Italy, Germany, Egypt; the architecture and
art from her travels; the citizens of the cities she visited; and WAC service members from Fort Oglethorpe.
351 negatives were found in a wooden box. Most of the negatvies have started decaying. The negatives have been digitized,
linked to this resource, and deaccessioned. These negatives depict WAC service members, Fort Oglethorpe, Italy, and other
subjects that were not described by the photograph sleeves.
476 negatives were found in a cigar box. Most of the negatives have started decaying. The negatives have been digitized, linked
to this resource, and deaccessioned. In this cigar box were also three photographs. The first photograph is of Ronald Reagan
with a message printed on the back by Buz Lukens. The second photograph is of Pat Boone and his family with a message signed
by Pat Boone. The third photograph is of two women.
Other negatives were found in a tin container. Most of these negatives have started decaying. The negatives have been digitized,
linked to this resource, and deaccessioned.
There are also glass negatives depicting subsequent events of the execution of Benito Mussolini. Two of the negatives depict
Mussolini's body, along with other fascists, hanging from a gas station in Piazelle Loreta, Milan. The third negative depicts
a crowd of people standing around a pile of bodies on the ground. Two of the negatives are of stock photographs that can be
found on the internet.
The 8mm film reel, according to descriptions on the container, is footage of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia in 1944.
The stereo book features cities in the U.S. occupied zone of Germany. Included are the stereoscope and pictures of German
cities.
The poster is a 30x20 inch photograph of Szalay in her WAC uniform. The poster is signed by her friends and family for her
90th birthday.