Ted Gilien Photographs of postwar Japan and the Philippines, ca. 1945-1946

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Gilien, Ted.
Abstract:
This collection contains approximately 500 photographs taken by combat artist and painter Ted Gilian ca. 1945-1946 documenting war destruction in Japan and the Philippines. He later used many of the photographs as source materials for his paintings.
Extent:
2 boxes (0.8 linear ft.)
Language:
Finding aid is written in English. and Materials are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains approximately 500 black and white photographs taken ca. 1945-1946 in Japan and the Philippines. The photographs document the destruction caused by the atomic bomb in Nagasaki including the ruins of the Urakami Cathedral. Along with significant photographs depicting building destruction, many images depict Japanese citizens clearing rubble, living in the streets in makeshift camps, or moving bundled belongings by any means available. The photographs also include images of ruined Japanese boats, ships, and military planes. A few photographs depict crowds at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as well as kabuki theatre. The collection also contains photographs of US GIs serving in Japan. Photographs from the Philippines focus on images of citizens living in rough and meager conditions.

Biographical / historical:

Date Event
1914 March 17 Ted Gilien born in Brooklyn, New York
1932-1933 Attended the Art Students League and the National Academy of Art in New York City
1934-1938 Participated in the Federal Arts Project as a mural and easel painter
1939 Painted a post office mural in Lees Summit, Missouri
1940-1942 Employed as a shipyard worker in San Pedro, California
1942-1946 Served as a combat artist with the US military and covered areas of Japan decimated by atomic bombs as well as the Philippines
1946-1965 Displayed artwork at 20 one-man shows on the West Coast
1951 Published the Price, a collection of 50 anti-war paintings and drawings
1954 Held show in New York at Associated American Artists
1949-1960 Published a Visual History of the Maccabees, comprised of 180 paintings and drawings
1932-1965 Exhibited at over 500 shows, represented in more than 400 private and public collections, and received 26 major awards
1946-1965 Taught at Chouinard, Kann, Palos Verdes, Westside Jewish, Pasadena Community Center, and the University of Judaism
1963 Featured in American Artist magazine
1965-? Exhibited one man shows at the International Design Center in LA, the LA Sports Arena, the Inheritance Gallery, and the Renaissance Gallery in Beverly Hills
1965 Awarded first prize at the California State Fair
1967 March 11 Died in Los Angeles

Acquisition information:
Gift of Jeremy Gilien, Ted Gilien's son, 2010.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into the following series:

  1. Nagasaki destruction
  2. Urakami Cathedral destruction
  3. Planes and ships
  4. Street scenes
  5. Clearing rubble
  6. Men and crowds
  7. Children
  8. Girls
  9. Kabuki
  10. Tokyo Imperial Palace
  11. US GIs
  12. Philippines

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website