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James S. Russell Photograph Collection, 1941-1943: Aleutian Campaign, World War II

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 98

Scope and Contents

This collection contains slides and photographs taken by various photographers before and during the Aleutian campaign of World War II. Included are images of U.S. Naval officers and enlisted men, many who are identified, and locations in the Aleutian Islands, including some aerial views and bomb damage.

The first 37 slides were copied from a set of 59 positive glass lantern slides.

Dates

  • 1941-1943

EAD

PCA0098

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for viewing; however the images may not be photocopied.

Conditions Governing Use

Request for permission to publish or reproduce material from the collection should be discussed with the Librarian.

Biographical Note

James S. Russell, retired Admiral, was commander of U.S. Navy Patrol Squadron 42 (VP-42) from July 1941 to October 1942. The squadron first came to Alaska in the summer of 1941 and returned to Seattle in October.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the planes escorted some of the crippled ships coming back from Hawaii. Early in 1942, the squadron came back to Alaska for patrol duty. Until late May of 1942 the 12 planes in the squadron patrolled 2000 nautical miles of Alaska's coastline, flying from Southeast Alaska to the island of Attu.

Extent

68 items (1 folder ; 4 boxes of positive glass lantern slides) : 37 photographic slides ; 9 black and white photographs ; 22 items scanned but have no prints

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James S. Russell donated this collection through Mr. Stanton Patty in 1972. Acc.#1986-004. Additional photographs (#38-46) were donated by Admiral Russell in 1986 with the same accession number.

Existence and Location of Copies

Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: 01, 03, 06, 10, 11-13, 20, 28-29, 32-34, 36, 39-41, 43-46

Items scanned but have no prints: 47-68

Processing Information

The photographs and slides are sleeved in Mylar. An item-level inventory is available. Positive Glass Lantern Slides are located in the vault for images: 1-17, 19-22, 25-37, 47-68. There are Film Negatives for images: 1-10, 12-15, 18-19, 21-25, 29, 34-35, 38-46.

Title
Finding aid for the James S. Russell Photograph Collection, 1941-1943
Subtitle
Aleutian Campaign, World War II
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by: Staff. Revised by: Staff, 7/15/2004; Jacki Swearingen, October 2015. ArchivesSpace Finding Aid by: Freya Anderson; Inventory added by Jack Kovaleski, October 2020
Date
2020 October
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository

Contact:
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)