About the Collection
Korean War, conflict between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) in which at least 2.5 million persons lost their lives. The war reached international proportions in June 1950 when North Korea, supplied and advised by the Soviet Union, invaded the South. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal participant, joined the war on the side of the South Koreans, and the People’s Republic of China came to North Korea’s aid. After more than a million combat casualties had been suffered on both sides, the fighting ended in July 1953 with Korea still divided into two hostile states. Negotiations in 1954 produced no further agreement, and the front line has been accepted ever since as the de facto boundary between North and South Korea.
Introduction
These collections offer a rare and fine archive, of a Turkish commander who participated in the Korean War (1950-1953). They also include post-war photographs up to 1961, capturing the enduring presence of Turkish soldiers from the Brigade. The collections are distinct yet intertwined, documenting the Korean social life and American forces alongside the Turkish Brigade’s activities during and after the Korean War.
Collection One
The first collection, taken between 1953 and 1954, features photographs by members of the Turkish Brigade in Korea (in Seoul, Pusan, and along the battle front), during leave in Tokyo, Japan, and on their homeward sea voyage. It includes poignant portraits of Turkish soldiers in various settings, candid scenes of life on base, and significant moments at the Turkish military cemetery in Pusan. The photographs offer invaluable documentary content, such as warfront scenes, makeshift and grand mosques, and life during the return journey home. Notably, almost all photos feature detailed annotations on the verso, providing context and dates, with two photos labelled with captions in English.
Collection Two
The second collection vividly portrays the Turkish Brigade’s involvement in the Korean War and their interactions with the local populace and American forces. Highlights include Charles Erwin Wilson (1890-1961) giving a speech among American, Korean, and Turkish flags, Turkish soldiers celebrating Eid al-Adha in front of the American flag, and the South Korean military band greeting Turkish and American soldiers in Busan. Additionally, it captures various scenes of daily life such as Korean peasant women, military ceremonies, Korean architecture, and the bustling streets of Seoul. This collection also includes images from a journey by ship on the Indian Ocean, offering a broader perspective of the era.
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Physical Storage
All the originals are securely stored in the Korea Collection Special Collections Room at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library.
Permission to Use the Images of the Site
If images are used for non-commercial educational purposes such as use of the images in class lectures, students’ presentations, and academic conference presentations, no permission is necessary. Please credit the images with the sentence: “From the Images Of Korean War, courtesy of "the UHM Library Korea Collection” However if the images are planned to be used in books, newspapers, documentaries, films, and other forms of media and print, the users must write to the UHM Library Korea Collection to request permission. In the request, please explain the topic, image reference number, and the type of media/print.
Digitization Procedures
Digitization: Captured using a Phase One iXH 150MP, 72mm MkII lens; 600ppi, 16-bit TIFFs for preservation; derivatives generated for access.