Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Unidentified United States War Department Photo, Dated November 24, 1943 of African American Servicemen and One Female


   
Black Buzz News Service
James S. Robinson, Jr. Project
Robinson Family Archives
Rare Photos
Slippery Rock, PA
August 16, 2011




On the back of the  above picture is the following: "Released for Publication, War Department, Photo News Bq, Bur. Pub.Relations, Nov.24, 1943, 3

This picture is part of James S. Robinson, Jr.'s collections of rare photos who was drafted by the FBI during World War II because of his unique expert skill in self defense.  He worked as a self defense instructor for the War Department.

Black Buzz in November of 2010, met with Michael G. Kraus, Curator Historian and John L. Ford, Historian, both of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, PA in attempt to obtain the names of the persons in the above photo.  Mr. Kraus stated that he knew that the above picture was a World War II era photo because of the boots and the uniforms.  Both men stated that the female in the picture was probably a celebrity whom they also could not identify.

If any personnel from the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture or any other entity can identify anyone pictured above, it would be greatly appreciated.

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