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Naval History and Heritage Command

S-053 COL Carl Mahakian Collection

S-053 COL Carl Mahakian Collection 40 photos and 5 postcards. Photographs are from Paul Williams, capturing moments from his naval service during World War II. Collection highlights African-American life in the Navy during the war. Postcards are humorous World War II color cartoons. Donation was made by a third party with very little context, thus it is unclear if postcards are related to the Williams photographs. See detailed folder descriptions below.
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Caption: Collection photo number S-053.01: Sailors and civilians at a nightclub, circa World War II.
Description: 40 photos and 5 postcards. Photographs are from Paul Williams, capturing moments from his naval service during World War II. Collection highlights African-American life in the Navy during the war. Postcards are humorous World War II color cartoons. Donation was made by a third party with very little context, thus it is unclear if postcards are related to the Williams photographs. See detailed folder descriptions below.
Accession #: S-File
Catalog #: S-053
Donor: COL Carl Mahakian
Copyright Owner: Naval History and Heritage Command
Related Content

S-053-A: 5 postcards with humorous and slightly risqué color cartoons circa World War II, showing inspections, uniforms, inoculations, dating, and mock Nazi sub-hunting.


S-053-B: 40 photographs from an album once belonging to Paul Williams, capturing moments from his naval service during World War II. Photographs highlights African-American life in the Navy, showing Naval Training School Norfolk graduating class, wedding photo of a Chief in Oakland, CA, crossing the line ceremony,  sailors at bars and nightclubs, and mostly uncaptioned images of sailors on base, at home, and in studio portraits.

Topic
  • People--African Americans
Document Type
  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
Navy Communities
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
Author Name
Place of Event
Recipient Name