Entomologist and professor. Lewis Berner was born on September 30, 1915, in Savannah, Georgia. He received his B.S. in 1937,
M.S. in 1939 and Ph.D. in 1941, all from the University of Florida. In 1941, he was inducted into the army, training in field
artillery in Texas. Soon thereafter, he was assigned to Ft. McPherson Medical Laboratory (Atlanta) to make use of his scientific
background. He spent six months there until his transfer to Accra, Gold Coast (now Ghana) in September 1942 to undertake mosquito
control work and other tropical health programs.
Berner served as an army major and entomologist for the Inter-Allied Malaria Control Group in Accra. He received the Legion
of Merit medal for his mosquito control work with this primarily British and American group, which was commanded by an Australian
and staffed principally by engineers. According to Berner, the group was almost entirely successful in eliminating malaria
from the Accra area of the Gold Coast, at the time a British colony (it became independent as Ghana in 1957).
When he first went to Africa in 1942 (flying via Brazil, from Miami), Berner landed in Liberia and stayed for two nights at
the Firestone Rubber plantation. Continuing to Accra, he stayed in barracks built by Pan American Airlines. They were relatively
luxurious accommodations with mattresses and screened windows. Pan American army planes transported the group throughout much
of Africa.
Berner was the medical inspector of Morrison Field Air Base (Palm Beach) for the Africa-Middle East Wing of the Air Transport
Command, and for the North African Wing of the A.T.C. He traveled to Liberia, Senegal, French Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, and
the Union of South Africa in this capacity in 1943 and 1944. He also traveled from Elizabethville, Belgian Congo (Lubumbashi)
to Johannesburg, South Africa, on a narrow gauge railway trip that took five days and four nights to complete.
After returning to the U.S. (again via Brazil) in 1945, Berner was stationed in Miami, and two months later was transferred
to the Philippines. On his way there, he stopped in Hawaii, where he arrived on VJ Day, August 14, 1945. There he met his
future wife, Amelia (Amy), a nurse on a ship stationed there (they married the same year). He continued to his post as Commanding
Officer of the School of Preventative Medicine in Manila, but because the war ended it never functioned. He was discharged
in February 1946 as a Lieutenant Colonel and was subsequently offered a position as an Assistant Professor in the Biology
Department at UF, where he began work that June. He became a full Professor in 1954, later served as chair of the department,
and was named Professor Emeritus in 1984.
Berner was a recognized expert on the mayflies of the Southeast U.S. He was the author of numerous publications, primarily
on entomology, aquatic insects, mosquitoes and mayflies (particularly the mayflies of Florida). Throughout his career, Berner
returned to Africa to conduct research and provide consultation. In 1950, he worked on the Volta River project in the Gold
Coast, investigating schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis with the Inter-Allied group. He also worked in the Shire Valley of
Malawi in 1952, during which time Archie Carr was his assistant. Dr. Berner died on January 19, 2004.
Photographs, correspondence, field notes, reports, papers for presentations, maps, publications, and postcards. A large number
of photographs and documents pertain to Berner's 1950 survey of the Volta River basin, Gold Coast, British West Africa, to
produce an entomological report assessing the public health implications of a planned system of reservoirs and canals. Also
covered is his trip to Nyasaland in 1952, along with Dr. Archie Carr of the University of Florida, to survey the insect vectors
of human diseases present in the Shire River Valley and to report on the entomological impact of channeling and constructing
irrigation drains in the region. Although the correspondence and documents do not cover Berner's Army service in Africa and
the Philippines, this period is well represented by the photographs from 1941 through 1945.
A number of documents and photographs portray, or are related to, conservation biologist Archie Carr. Also included are photographs
of Marjorie Carr; George Hopper, Sanitary Inspector for Nyasaland; various American and British military and medical personnel;
and numerous African people. Of particular interest are the field notes and writings related to the entomological surveys
and West African insects such as mosquitoes, black flies (simulium damnosum) and mayflies. Other topics and locations include
French Togoland, Dakar, Denu, Lake Malombe, Ntundu, Lake Shirwa, Lake Nyasa, Zambesi River, Ruo River, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Marrakech,
and a Nairobi game preserve.
The postcards cover various locations in Africa, including Accra, Gold Coast; French West Africa; Dakar, Senegal; East Africa;
and Marrakech. The majority of the postcards are photographs, but several are illustrations portraying stereotypical images
of African people.
Collection is open for research.
The photograph scrapbook Album 1 (Box 6) from this collection has been digitized and is available online in the UF Digital Collections. Please read the Permissions for Use statement for information on copyright, fair use, and use of UFDC digital objects.
[Identification of item], Lewis Berner Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
The collection was donated by Lewis Berner of Gainesville, Florida, in November 2002.
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Photographs, 1939-1952
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This large series consists of prints and negatives created over a period of 13 years, primarily during Berner's research to
Africa. The majority of the photos were taken during World War II, while Berner served in the U.S. Army conducting malaria
research in the Gold Coast, primarily in Accra from 1943 to 1945. Other locations during this period include French Togoland,
Dakar, the Volta River region, Denu, as well as Manila and other locations in the Philippines. In addition, the photographs
also cover Berner's trips to the Gold Coast in 1950 and to Nyasaland in 1952 to conduct entomological surveys of the Volta
River basin and Shire River Valley. Archie Carr is in several images, especially those from 1952. Other persons portrayed
include Marjorie Carr, George Hopper, Ronnie Pink and several other British military and medical personnel, as well as a number
of African men, women and children. Arranged chronologically.
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Box 2 |
Berner, Lewis, "In case you've forgotten what a pre-war Berner looked like". 1939
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Hobbs, Horton, "Science Hall". 1940 |
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Carr, Archie. December 1940 |
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Carr, Marjorie. December 1940 |
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Peggy and Mary "one pretty Saturday in... Atlanta - 4th Corps area". May 1942 |
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Carr, Archie and Margie and Mrs. Carr - Umatilla. September 1942 |
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"The Scrub, Margie". December 1942 |
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"Along coast, Gold Coast". 1943 |
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Berner, Lewis, at tennis, Accra. 1943 |
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Berner, Lewis, in Liberia. 1943 |
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Berner, Maj. Lewis, Accra. 1943 |
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Berner, Maj. Lewis (left) with Australian officers, Accra. 1943 |
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Christenbury Castle, Accra, Gold Coast. 1943 |
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"Hausaman, Gold Coast". 1943 |
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Marshalls, "Season's Greetings". 1943 |
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"Merry Christmas, Nina, Georgia and Horton Hobbs". 1943 |
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"Merry Christmas, Peggy and Bill Harkness". 1943 |
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"Road paving, Gold Coast". 1943 |
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Dakar Zoo. June 1943 |
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Hobbs, Nina. July 1943 |
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Carr, Marjorie "Age 5 weeks, her first sun bath". "July 25, 1943" |
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Carr, Margie and baby. September 1943 |
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Carr, Archie and Marjorie. September 1943 |
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Carr, Marjorie, Jr. September 1943 |
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Berner, Lewis, World War II, "Sphinx near Cairo, Egypt" (2 items). November 1943 |
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Accra. 1944 |
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Berner, Lewis, in Accra (various poses) (9 items). 1944 |
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Berner, Lewis, with Brown, Sullivan, Moore, Franklin, Christian, at Accra (2 items). 1944 |
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British Army Officers, beach, Accra (2 items). 1944 |
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Brown, Col., Accra (2 items). 1944 |
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Castle remains, Gold Coast (3 items). 1944 |
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Driver ants, Gold Coast. 1944 |
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Gold Coast (4 items). 1944 |
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Kapok tree and unidentified man, Gold Coast. 1944 |
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"My mosquito plane," Accra (2 items). 1944 |
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Office and lab, malaria and mosquito survey (4 items). 1944 |
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"One of our drainage ditches," Accra. 1944 |
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On the Volta River, Ghana (Gold Coast) (3 items). 1944 |
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Pink, Ronnie (British Army), Accra (7 items). 1944 |
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Termite mound and Capt. Franklin, Gold Coast. 1944 |
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Tribal markings, Accra (3 items). 1944 |
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Weaver birds, Accra. 1944 |
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Weisen, Maj., Accra (2 items). 1944 |
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Major Bamber, Major Woodrow, Capt. More (RAMC) in native compound. May 1944 |
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Mountains near Sempene, Gold Coast. May 1944 |
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Berner, Major Lewis, and Mosquito Trap #2. June 1944 |
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Friend in bathing at Bawaleshi. June 1944 |
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Ziperman, Capt., Accra. June 1944 |
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Winneba road at Lagoon day after 4.33 inch rain. July 1944 |
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Drinking sewage water from main Achimota drain near Ring Road. "July 7, 1944" |
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Native house or compound in the village of Nkwantanang on Dodowah Road (2 items). "July 13, 1944" |
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Aburi. August 1944 |
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Gogel, KW, searching for larvae. August 1944 |
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Homowa celebration at Accra with chief and subchiefs. August 1944 |
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Capt. Hoffman's room at Maiduguri. September 1944 |
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Castle on coast, Gold Coast. October 1944 |
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Hausa man leading Brahama bull to slaughter house, Accra. November 1944 |
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Loading a mahogany log near Kumasi, Gold Coast. December 1944 |
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Berner, Lewis, with group of men at table, drinking (5 items). n.d. (ca. 1944) |
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Unidentified man (shirtless) seated (2 items). n.d. (ca. 1944) |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-A, 8th ADG." (on verso: "Village near Accra, Gold Coast"). 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-B, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-C, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-D, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-E, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-F, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-G, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-H, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-I, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-J, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1026-K, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-A, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-B, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-C, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-D, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-E, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-F, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-I, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-J, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-K, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1021-L, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-A, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-B, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-C, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-D, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-E, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-F, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-G, 8th ADG." (2 items). 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-H, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-I, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-J, 8th ADG." (2 items). 1945 |
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Aerial Photo "A-1020-L, 8th ADG.". 1945 |
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Berner, Maj. Lewis, Accra, Gold Coast. 1945 |
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Volta River, Gold Coast. 1945 |
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Berner, Lewis, on road to Abusi, Gold Coast. March 1945 |
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Adolescents near Keta, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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African village near Denu, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Beach scene at Leventis' Beach, Accra, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Berner, Lewis, at rest house in Denu, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Berner, Lewis, in native dugout on Volta River, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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"Boy-pickin with yaws, near Keta," Gold Coast (5 items). April 1945 |
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British Medical Officers - Maj. Woodrow, Lt. Stevens at Accra Beach. April 1945 |
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British officer, Lt. Stevens, Mr. Leventis, Mrs. Paige, Mrs. Leventis, Accra, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Bush trail near Volta River, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Chwatt, Maj. Leonard, at rest house, Denu, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Chwatt, Maj., and douche bowl at "Lome hospital where we lived for two days," French Togoland. April 1945 |
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Chwatt, Maj., and Lewis Berner in French Togoland. April 1945 |
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"Fishing god near Keta, Gold Coast, smeared with blood". April 1945 |
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Gogel and Berner in dugout with oarsman on Volta River. April 1945 |
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Hausaman near Volta River, Gold Coast (2 items). April 1945 |
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Idol to fishing god in village near Keta, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Lagoon at Lome, French Togoland (2 items). April 1945 |
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Le Gac, Lt. Col., and Maj. Chwatt, Lome, French Togoland. April 1945 |
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Le Gac, Lt. Col., at his lab in hospital, Lome, French Togoland. April 1945 |
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Lome, French Togoland. April 1945 |
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Monkey island and outing on Volta, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Monkey island in Volta River near Senchi, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Outing of Malaria survey men on Volta River, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Outing on Volta River, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Outskirts of Denu, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Parker and Adotey at rest house in Denu, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Rest house at Denu, Gold Coast (2 items). April 1945 |
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Road scene on road to Keta, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Soldiers of malaria survey on outing at Volta River (L to R: Dawkins, Thornbury, Rowe, Slettin, Rothstein). April 1945 |
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Survey group at Volta (L to R: ?, Nolan, Stewart, Dawkins, Thornbury, Rothstein, Berner, Slitten, ?, Montgomery, Gozel). April 1945 |
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Typical Denu house, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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Typical "pickins" (African youths) near Keta, Gold Coast (3 items). April 1945 |
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Vann, Charlie, at Leventis Beach, Accra, Gold Coast. April 1945 |
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African Linesman, Gold Coast (2 items). May 1945 |
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Chwatt, Maj., on Volta River, returning from French Togoland. May 1945 |
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Crossing the Volta River by Ferry. May 1945 |
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Gold Coast road leading to Volta River ferry. May 1945 |
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Parker and Adotey and Volta River, Gold Coast. May 1945 |
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Parker and Adotey, mosquito boys, on Volta River ferry. May 1945 |
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Volta River from ferry, Gold Coast. May 1945 |
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Old Spanish lighthouse off Miami Beach. June 1945 |
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Amadon, Corp., and Corp. Poll and Capt. Dow in mountains near Manila. September 1945 |
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Amadon, Corp., on mountain road near Manila. September 1945 |
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Amadon, Corp., washing off mud in mountains near Manila. September 1945 |
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Battle-scarred mountains near Manila. September 1945 |
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Mountains near Manila (3 items). September 1945 |
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Neepa-hut, quarters for Capt. at San Fernando La Union. September 1945 |
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Philippines. September 1945 |
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Bombed Bridge at Baguio. October 1945 |
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Chinese grave, Manila (7 items). October 1945 |
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Church in Manila. October 1945 |
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Church in walled city, Manila. October 1945 |
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Crowded cemetery, Manila (2 items). October 1945 |
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Crypt in cemetery, Manila (note open crypt). October 1945 |
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Dining room, officers' mess, Manila. October 1945 |
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Living room, officers' mess, Manila. October 1945 |
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Luzon, Philippines (3 items). October 1945 |
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Luzon, Philippines, bridge destroyed by Japanese (2 items). October 1945 |
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Market scene, Manila. October 1945 |
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Miniature Japanese garden at officers' quarters, Manila. October 1945 |
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Mountain road at Baguio (2 items). October 1945 |
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Mountains on Luzon, Philippines. October 1945 |
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Officers' quarters, Manila. October 1945 |
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Old Cemetery, Manila (Capt. Frank Wood). October 1945 |
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Old Church in Manila (2 items). October 1945 |
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Open crypt, Chinese cemetery, Manila. October 1945 |
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Pier 13, largest in world, Manila. October 1945 |
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Public buildings, Manila (5 items). October 1945 |
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Ruined church, walled city, Manila. October 1945 |
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Ruined city of Baguio. October 1945 |
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Shrine in Chinese cemetery, Manila (2 items). October 1945 |
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Street scene in walled city, Manila. October 1945 |
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Street scene, Manila (7 items). October 1945 |
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University in Manila. October 1945 |
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Water buffalo, Luzon, Philippines. October 1945 |
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Berner, Lewis. 1948 |
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"Island Waterway, Biscayne Bay". June 1948 |
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Carr, Archie, and Al Loessle. Late 1940s |
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Afram River, Gold Coast (2 items). 1950 |
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Cattle after swimming, Volta River, Gold Coast. 1950 |
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Cattle near Kumasi, Gold Coast. 1950 |
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Cattle swimming, Volta River, Gold Coast (5 items). 1950 |
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"Checking for oncho. - Gold Coast". 1950 |
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Checking for parasites, Dr. Hughes, Gold Coast. 1950 |
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"Checking for Tryps., Gold Coast". 1950 |
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Crossing the Volta River, Gold Coast. 1950 |
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Footprints along Volta River. 1950 |
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Gold Coast. 1950 |
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Gold Coast (2 items). 1950 |
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Gold Coast cattle, Yeji. 1950 |
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Hughes, Dr. Mark, looking for oncho., Gold Coast. 1950 |
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Hughes, Dr. and Mrs., Gold Coast. 1950 |
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"Looking for onchocerciasis larvae, Gold Coast". 1950 |
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"Mealtime - Gold Coast" (puppies). 1950 |
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"Our home in Accra". 1950 |
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Typical oncho. Wrinkles - Gold Coast. 1950 |
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Volta River in flood. 1950 |
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Yeji, Gold Coast. 1950 |
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"Zachery and Isafu, Gold Coast". 1950 |
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Zachery (cook) and driver, Gold Coast. 1950 |
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"Along edge of Lake Nyasa," Nyasaland. 1952 |
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Berner, Lewis, at termite mound, Nyasaland. 1952 |
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Berner, Lewis, in Nyasaland (2 items). 1952 |
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Carr, Archie, and George Hopper, sampling mosquitoes, Nyasaland. 1952 |
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Carr, Archie, Nyasaland (4 items). 1952 |
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Dugout, Nyasaland. 1952 |
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Mayfly on screen, Nyasaland. 1952 |
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Native dugout, lower Shire, Nyasaland. 1952 |
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Nyasaland (5 items). 1952 |
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Shire River, Nyasaland (5 items). 1952 |
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Shire River, rapids, Nyasaland (3 items). 1952 |
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Unidentified (possibly Shire River), Nyasaland (5 items). 1952 |
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Unidentified Nyasaland (9 items). n.d. (ca. 1952) |
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"Sincere Greetings" note cards with photos of African scenes (2 items). n.d. |
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Southern Rhodesia. n.d. |
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Unidentified African men, women and children (10 items). n.d. |
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Unidentified city with river or lake in background. n.d. |
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Unidentified image of bellows and kiln or oven. n.d. |
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Unidentified image of conjoined, deceased babies (2 items). n.d. |
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Unidentified image of malformed, deceased baby (2 items). n.d. |
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Unidentified image of malformed, deceased baby (3 items). n.d. |
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Unidentified man in front of dwelling with logs leaning against wall. n.d. |
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Unidentified scene with Jeep and field. n.d. |
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Unidentified square in city. n.d. |
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Unidentified woman with men in uniform in forest scenes (2 items). n.d. |
