John Romeo Photograph Collection
Scope and Contents
The views of the U.S. Navy Alaskan Wireless Expedition are in fair condition, but fragile, having been removed from an album. Some of the views are fading, and include two cyanotypes. John Romeo also photographed and collected general views of other Southeast communities. These include views of the wreck of the PRINCESS KATHLEEN near Juneau in September 1952, and the subsequent rescue effort. These views are in good condition. [1911 U.S. Navy Alaskan Wireless Expedition from California to Alaskan coastal communities including Cordova, Kodiak and the Aleutian Islands. Includes views of Southeast Alaska, and sinking of the PRINCESS KATHLEEN in 1952 near Juneau, ca. 1911-1952]
Dates
- ca. 1911-1952
EAD
PCA0342Conditions Governing Access
The collection is unrestricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Request for permission to publish material from the collection must be discussed with the Librarian.
Biographical
John Romeo, an enlisted hospital corpsman, served a U.S. Navy Alaskan Wireless Expedition in 1911 to improve navigation and communication along the Pacific coast. The expedition is described in detail in the accompanying article, "Cruising in the land of the Midnight Sun," by K. W. Sherman (see #153). Romeo, an amateur photographer, documented the four month voyage to Nome, the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands and Southcentral Alaska, where the crew installed three wireless stations and repaired existing ones. John and Christine Romeo had a daughter, Marie.
Extent
0.2 Linear Feet : 1 2-1/2" legal box
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Charles F. and Lucille Noll (niece of John Romeo) donated portions of a photograph album (108 views) about the 1911 U.S. Navy Alaskan Wireless Expedition. Their son, Rick Noll, donated 44 photographs of the PRINCESS KATHLEEN shipwreck and Southeast Alaska, which had belonged to the Romeos.
Existence and Location of Copies
Photographs digitized and available for viewing via Alaska's Digital Archives: 109-118, 120-129
Processing Information
The views of the U.S. Navy Alaskan Wireless Expedition are in fair condition but fragile and were removed from black album pages, scraped, and kept in order. Some are fading. Two cyanotypes are included. Views of Southeast communities and the PRINCESS KATHLEEN were reorganized placed at the end of the collection.
- Title
- Finding aid for the John Romeo Photograph Collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Processed: June 1993 by Marilyn Kwock ; ArchivesSpace finding aid by: Sandy Johnston 2019 May ; Inventory added by: Sandy Johnston
- Date
- 2020 June
- 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
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)
asl.historical@alaska.gov