tairving Loc: Magnolia, Texas USA

My long since deceased father gave me this photo of CCC Camp 1430, Vicksburg, Mississippi taken on July 29, 1940. Dad was the commanding officer and is second from the left of the 4 officers seated in the middle of the front row with their hats in their laps.

Dad's notes say:
"The men were seated in a semicircle and the picture was taken using a camera which mechanically scanned in a semicircle from left to right. The entire scanning process took approximately two minutes. We were cautioned to keep very still and all but one or two did so."

I have a paper copy of this image which measures 9" x 39". It would not fit in my scanner so I created a digital image by laying it out and photographing it in 4 sections, then stitching it together with image processing software.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to better create an image and preserve this photo and others like it.

(Download)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Some commericial photo/art scanning services have scanners that can do it. And they may even have suggestions on preservation of the original but a major museum/univerity with a historical photo section or a place like the Smithsonian would definitely have preservationists who would know what to do. Some might even want a copy for their own collection (might even try to talk you out of the original). If you have them I would advise handling this type of old photo with the thin gloves that are made for handling old photos, negatives and papers/books. Kodak used to sell them but B&H has several brands for sale: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/accessories/Gloves-for-the-Kodak-14757711/175206-USA-98127?from=detail

Busbum Loc: 85367

tairving,
Hi, after seeing your photo, I emailed the link to a very close friend of mine; Kathleen Duxbury, whom is an author of a lot of CCC Art Material, whose father was also in the CCC... http://kathleenduxbury.com/



Here is what she sent back to me;


"Hello Larry,


How are you all doing?

Thanks for the link to a great CCC image, love it and I can give a little information about it. If the son of the CCC Commander is interested he can
request his fathers military records from the NARA in St. Louis, once they open again.

There were several CCC companies within the borders of Vicksburg Military Park, this Company 1430, in June 1940 had about 175 enrollees, white juniors.
The CCC boys were from: 1 from Alabama, 15 from Louisiana and the balance, about 154 from Mississippi.

In the photo there are four men front and center, sitting with hats in their laps. The man whose hat has a diamond shape pin is probably the Company Commander.
To his right is a man with the glasses and mustache he was Theodore Monson, First Lieutenant, MC-Res, Camp Surgeon.
Sitting to the left of the presumed Commander is James T. Harris, the Camp Educational Advisor.

This CCC camp was also designated as MP-4 (military park #4) and was located 1 mile north of the RR station and was called "Camp Woodpeckers Nest"

In 1939, it was a well established and smoothly running CCC camp. I have a different Commander in 1939, so I'm assuming the 1940 commander,
Lt. Thurman Irving, arrived sometime in 1939 - 1940.

"The company aids in the guide service and the preservation of the Vicksburg National Military Park...
it even boasts a string band which plays over station WQBC every Saturday afternoon as the "Camp 4 Wildcats"".

Thanks,

Kathy

Also, forgot to add.

Perhaps a way to scan the panoramic photo could be done at a Staples, FEDEX Kinkos or if there is a local Moto Photo.
I think it's called a Drum scan."

Hope this helps with learning about your dad...
Stay safe,
Larry