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Hand-illustrated cover
Object Details
- Description
- This postal stationery airmail envelope (UC3) sent to New York from APO 322 (Dreger Harbor, New Guinea) was postmarked June 29, 1945. The “to” address is framed in the portable film screen depicted in this watercolor by Corporal Jack Fogarty. Tropical foliage create a backdrop for the soldier setting up the film screen for showing Hollywood films, which provided recreation for American GIs deployed to the far-off South Pacific. Fogarty frequently discussed these films in his letters to pen pal Mary MacDonald. This cover was stamped and signed “J MacDonald - CWO”, unit censor and Mary’s husband who served with Fogarty.
- Jack Fogarty served with the US Army’s 98th Evacuation Hospital during World War II. While working in the hospital’s administrative office, Corporal Jack Fogarty (later promoted to Sergeant) struck up a life-long friendship with Chief Warrant Officer John MacDonald and his wife, Mary. Jack and John both wrote regularly to Mary as the war took them to the Pacific Theater. John MacDonald also served as a censor for the unit, and the illustrated covers by Jack Fogarty bear MacDonald’s censor stamp and signature. In his correspondence with Mary, Jack filled the envelopes with scenes in watercolors, ink, and pencil. The illustrated covers show Jack’s life at the Desert Training Center in Yuma, Arizona, and his overseas service in New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan. In addition to illustrating his personal correspondence, Jack contributed artwork to the 98th Evacuation Hospital’s newsletter, The Bulletin. After the war, Fogarty’s artistic career took him into acting and his prolific correspondence with friends sometimes included illustrations.
- References:
- Fogarty, John. Little Boy-Short Trousers-Eaton Cap: This I Remember. AuthorHouse, 2005.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- June 29, 1945
- Object number
- 2012.2006.17
- Type
- Covers & Associated Letters
- Medium
- paper; ink; watercolor
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 3 3/4 x 6 3/4 in. (9.6 x 17.2 cm)
- Place of Destination
- New York
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Title
- Scott Catalogue USA UC3
- Topic
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Covers & Letters
- Record ID
- npm_2012.2006.17
- Usage
- Usage conditions apply
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