Guide to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria photograph collection, 1920s-1930s
A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Collection Number C0200
George Mason University Libraries
2011 By George Mason University Libraries. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Special Collections and Archives Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Japanese invasion of Manchuria photograph collection, Collection #C0200, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Mr. Nagurney in 1978.
Processing Information
Processed by Kristen Korfitzen in November 2011. EAD created by Kristen Korfitzen in November 2011.
Scope and Content
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria photograph collection consists of 99 lantern slides and 4 glass negatives. The majority of the slides show images of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1932, but many also show images of conflict from earlier periods possibly including the Chinese revolution of 1911 and the reign of the Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin. Some slides in the collection are dated and several images show weapons, tanks and trains that were not introduced into China until the Japanese invasion in the 1930s. Several of the slides are maps dated to 1933. The maps mainly show Jehol Province, which in 1955 was dissolved and incorporated into several other provinces. The maps highlight several passes in Jehol strategically important for the Japanese invasion. Other maps in the collection include larger areas of the Republic of China, areas of China under Communist control prior to the Chinese Civil War, and maps of Asia and Eurasia. The photo slides show various images of war throughout a possible 10 to 20 year period. The images include; soldiers in and out of combat, soldiers transporting weapons, soldiers demonstrating and displaying weapons, civilian casualties, destruction of cities, rebuilding of cities, armored vehicles and buildings around Manchuria. Images of soldiers could be from both Chinese and Japanese armies.
Series 1 consists of four glass negatives. The negatives feature images of soldiers in combat and are reproduced as lantern slides in the general collection.
Series 2 consists of map slides. Several slides depict maps of Jehol province dated to 1933. Maps of Jehol highlight areas of strategic importance for the Japanese invasion, routes of transportation, and combat maneuvers. Other maps in this series include larger maps of China, maps of Asia, maps of Eastern Hemisphere with the Eurasian continent highlighted and maps of areas of interest for the Japanese Empire.
Series 3 contains photographic slides relating to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and other conflicts in the region during a similar time period. Images represented in these slides include pictures relating to all aspects of war and conflict. Many of the images document the damage inflicted on urban areas in China, including the destruction of entire cities. Civilians in these images go about their daily business amongst demolished buildings and rubble strewn streets. Several images document the Chinese and Japanese armies' use of weaponry and combat tactics. Weapons such as armored trains, first introduced in China during the Japanese invasion, cannon, mortar and machine guns are picture in use and for display purposes. Images of soldiers show them in active combat and occupying war camps. Lastly, graphic images of war casualties show bodies burned and assembled in large piles and mass graves.
Series 4 contains photographic slides of Manchuria and other areas. Photographs in this series depict urban areas of China, featuring scenes of residents and soldiers populating city streets and public squares. Images in this series also highlight historically and culturally signifigant architechure showing both Western and Chinese style buildings. Also included in this series are images of battleships and other large ships at sea and a major port.
Arrangement
Organized into four series.
Series 1: Negatives, 1920s-1930s (Box 1) Series 2: Maps, 1920s-1930s (Box 1) Series 3: War Photographs, 1920s-1930s (Boxes 1-2) Series 4: General Photographs, 1920s-1930s (Box 2)Related Material
Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections of lantern slides.
Index Terms
- Japan. Rikugun--Slides.
- Manchuria (China)--Slides.
- Artillery--China--Slides.
- Casualties, War--Slides.
- Mukden Incident, China, 1931--Slides.
- War crimes--Slides.
- War--Slides.
- Glass negatives.
- Lantern slides.
Corporate Names:
Geographical Names:
Subjects:
Document Types:
Contents List
Series 1 contains glass negatives featuring images from the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.
- box: 1
Folder: 1
Soldier with Machine Guns,1920s-1930s
Glass negative of soldiers firing a machine gun.
- box: 1
Folder: 2
Soldiers behind barricade,1920s-1930s
Glass negative of soldiers fighting from behind a barricade.
- box: 1
Folder: 3
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Glass negative of a street destroyed by combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 4
Soldiers on street,1920s-1930s
Glass negative of two soldiers standing on a destroyed street.
Series 2 contains several lantern slides of maps including maps of China, Asia, and the Eastern Hemisphere.
- box: 1
Folder: 5
Map of Northern China,1930s
Map of the northern area of China around Jehol province.
- box: 1
Folder: 6
Map of Communist China,1932
Map of communist controlled China in 1932.
- box: 1
Folder: 7
Map of Jehol Province,1933
Map of former Jehol province with elevation.
- box: 1
Folder: 8
Map of Jehol Province,1933
Map of former Jehol province with tactical maneuvers.
- box: 1
Folder: 9
Map of Jehol Province,1933
Map of former Jehol province with tactical maneuvers.
- box: 1
Folder: 10
Map of Jehol Province,1933
Map of former Jehol province with tactical maneuvers.
- box: 1
Folder: 11
Map of Jehol Province,1933
Map of former Jehol province.
- box: 1
Folder: 12
Map of Jehol Province,1930s
Map of former Jehol province with railroads.
- box: 1
Folder: 13
Map of Jehol Province,1933
Map of former Jehol province with strategically important passes through the Great Wall of China.
- box: 1
Folder: 14
Map of China,1930s
Map of areas of China invaded by Japan.
- box: 1
Folder: 15
Map of Central Asia,1930s
Map of central Asia including China, Mongolia, Korea, Tibet, India and Russia.
- box: 1
Folder: 16
Map of Eurasia,1920s-1930s
Map of Eurasia.
- box: 1
Folder: 17
Map of the Pacific,1930s
Caption reads "Japan's Mandate and its Setting".
Series 3 contains photographic slides featuring images from the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and other military conflicts.
- box: 1
Folder: 18
Armored Train,1930s
Armored train stopped at a station. Two soldiers appear, one on the train and one on the platform.
- box: 1
Folder: 19
Armored Train,1930s
Machine gun mounted on an armored train.
- box: 1
Folder: 20
Armored Train,1930s
Long view of an armored train with soldiers aboard.
- box: 1
Folder: 21
Armored Train,1930s
Aerial view of an armored train stopped at a station.
- box: 1
Folder: 22
Armored Train,1930s
Close up view of guns mounted on an armored train.
- box: 1
Folder: 23
Armored Train,1930s
Long view of an armored train stopped at a station.
- box: 1
Folder: 24
Armored Train,1930s
Armored train with guns.
- box: 1
Folder: 25
Armored Train,1930s
Armored train with two flags, the flag of the Republic of China, or "Five Races Under One Union" and one unidentified flag.
- box: 1
Folder: 26
Soldiers with Mortar,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers loading an infantry mortar.
- box: 1
Folder: 27
Soldiers with Machine Guns,1920s-1930s
Soldiers firing machine guns from trenches.
- box: 1
Folder: 28
Soldiers with cannon,1920s-1930s
Soldiers in the field with cannon.
- box: 1
Folder: 29
Soldiers with cannon,1920s-1930s
Soldiers marching and towing a cannon.
- box: 1
Folder: 30
Soldiers firing cannon,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers firing a cannon during combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 31
Soldiers firing cannon,1920s-1930s
Group of soldiers firing a cannon during combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 32
Soldiers firing cannon,1920s-1930s
Group of soldiers firing a cannon in the field during combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 33
Soldiers firing cannon,1920s-1930s
Several cannons being fired during combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 34
Soldiers towing cannon ,1920s-1930s
Soldiers marching and towing cannon.
- box: 1
Folder: 35
Soldiers firing cannon,1920s-1930s
Several groups of soldiers firing large cannons during combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 36
Soldiers with cannon,1920s-1930s
Soldiers in the field with a cannon.
- box: 1
Folder: 37
Fengtien Forces,1920s-1930s
Fengtien soldiers standing with 150mm Howitzer cannon.
- box: 1
Folder: 38
Soldier with Mortar,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers loading a mortar.
- box: 1
Folder: 39
Soldier with Mortar,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers loading a mortar in an army camp.
- box: 1
Folder: 40
Soldier with Mortar,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers posing with mortar and shell in an army camp.
- box: 1
Folder: 41
Soldiers with Mortar,1920s-1930s
Several soldiers load a mortar in an army camp.
- box: 1
Folder: 42
Soldiers with tanks,1920s-1930s
Soldiers in the field during combat with tanks.
- box: 1
Folder: 43
Soldiers with tanks,1920s-1930s
Soldiers in the field during combat with tanks.
- box: 1
Folder: 44
Soldiers behind barricade ,1920s-1930s
Soldiers fighting from behind a barricade.
- box: 1
Folder: 45
Soldiers behind barricade ,1920s-1930s
Soldiers behind a barricade on a city street.
- box: 1
Folder: 46
Soldiers with Machine Guns,1920s-1930s
Soldiers in combat with machine guns.
- box: 1
Folder: 47
Soldiers with Machine Guns,1920s-1930s
Soldiers firing machine guns during combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 48
Soldiers with binoculars ,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers posed with large binoculars.
- box: 1
Folder: 49
Soldiers in Combat,1920s-1930s
Two soldiers engaged in combat on a street corner.
- box: 1
Folder: 50
Soldiers on lookout,1920s-1930s
A group of soldiers on lookout, one perched on a large pole.
- box: 1
Folder: 51
Japanese or Chinese Soldiers,1923
Japanese or Chinese cavalry marching in winter.
- box: 1
Folder: 52
Japanese or Chinese Soldiers,1923
Japanese or Chinese cavalry marching in winter. Same image as 1-51 but with a different label.
- box: 1
Folder: 53
Soldier, Calgan,1923
Soldier with gun.
- box: 1
Folder: 54
Western Sailors,1920s-1930s
Western (possibly Russian) sailors on street with civilians.
- box: 1
Folder: 55
Western Sailors,1920s-1930s
Western (possibly Russian) standing in a shallow trench in the street with other military personnel and civilians.
- box: 1
Folder: 56
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
View from the street of a destroyed building, possibly a house.
- box: 1
Folder: 57
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of several blocks of destroyed buildings due to combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 58
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Completely demolished street, strewn with rubble and no intact buildings.
- box: 1
Folder: 59
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Street scene with civilians and military walking through a public square. The buildings in the square have been heavily damaged due to combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 60
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of a large section of destroyed city.
- box: 1
Folder: 61
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Civilians weeding through rubble in a demolished street.
- box: 1
Folder: 62
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Demolished urban area with two large buildings intact in the background.
- box: 1
Folder: 63
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Demolished urban area with buildings in background.
- box: 1
Folder: 64
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Urban area destroyed by combat.
- box: 1
Folder: 65
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Damage due to combat in a large section of a city along a river. In the background is a harbor with battle ships.
- box: 1
Folder: 66
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of damage due to combat of an urban area along a river.
- box: 1
Folder: 67
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of damage due to combat of a large urban area along a river including several bridges.
- box: 1
Folder: 68
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Street scene with civilians walking amongst destroyed buildings.
- box: 1
Folder: 69
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Chinese style tower destroyed by a Japanese shell.
- box: 1
Folder: 70
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of people walking through the streets of a demolished city. In the background a large building remains intact.
- box: 1
Folder: 71
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Street scene of civilians walking through a demolished street. A large round building and overhead tram cables remain intact.
- box: 1
Folder: 72
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Pile of smoldering rubble.
- box: 1
Folder: 73
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Civilians weeding through rubble in a demolished street. In front of them is a large damaged building.
- box: 1
Folder: 74
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Civilian standing on a street corner in front of a completely demolished building.
- box: 1
Folder: 75
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
View of a demolished street. In the background a temple can be seen.
- box: 2
Folder: 1
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Civilians walking, riding bikes and driving down a street in front of a very large destroyed building.
- box: 2
Folder: 2
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
View of rubble
- box: 2
Folder: 3
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
A soldier stands in front of destroyed buildings in full uniform with gun.
- box: 2
Folder: 4
War Damage ,1920s-1930s
Destroyed Shanhaikwan pass through the Great Wall. Now modern day Shanhaiguan.
- box: 2
Folder: 5
War Casualties ,1920s-1930s
Image of burn victims/casualties of combat.
- box: 2
Folder: 6
War Casualties ,1920s-1930s
Image of burn victims/casualties of combat, arranged in a pile.
- box: 2
Folder: 7
War Casualties ,1920s-1930s
Soldiers or civilians carrying victims on a stretcher.
- box: 2
Folder: 8
War Casualties ,1920s-1930s
War casualties arranged in a pile.
- box: 2
Folder: 9
War Casualties ,1920s-1930s
Mass grave or pile of war casualties.
Series 4 contains photographs from Manchuria of general subject matter.
- box: 2
Folder: 10
Chang Tso-Hsiang,1920s
Portrait of Chang Tso-Hsiang, Chinese Commander in Chief.
- box: 2
Folder: 11
Dock with sandbags,1920s-1930s
Dock or harbor loaded with sandbags and other supplies.
- box: 2
Folder: 12
Harbor with Docked Ships,1920s-1930s
Large ship docked at a harbor with personnel loading or unloading supplies.
- box: 2
Folder: 13
Battleships,1920s-1930s
Several battleships at sea, possibly during combat.
- box: 2
Folder: 14
Western Troops,1920s-1930s
Western troops on a street corner with a horse cart.
- box: 2
Folder: 15
Great Wall of China,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of the Great Wall of China.
- box: 2
Folder: 16
Public square,1920s-1930s
Image of people standing, sitting, and walking in a public square. Could possibly be a market.
- box: 2
Folder: 17
Ships,1920s-1930s
Large ship out at sea with several other ships surrounding it.
- box: 2
Folder: 18
Automobiles on street,1920s-1930s
Several automobiles driving down a city street. Buildings on the street are undergoing reconstruction/renovation.
- box: 2
Folder: 19
City or Palace,1920s-1930s
Aerial view of a walled city or palace on a hill.
- box: 2
Folder: 20
Shell,1920s-1930s
Man displaying a mortar bomb/shell.
- box: 2
Folder: 21
Fortress of Potala,1920s-1930s
The Great Fortress of "Potala" in Chengteh. Possibly the Chengde Mountain Resort.
- box: 2
Folder: 22
Western Style Building,1920s-1930s
Image of a western style building with graveyard in front.
- box: 2
Folder: 23
Western Style Building,1920s-1930s
Image of a western style building on a residential street. Possibly a large house or small hotel.
- box: 2
Folder: 24
Western Style Building,1920s-1930s
Image of a western style building with a fountain in front of it. Possibly a hotel.
- box: 2
Folder: 25
Western Style Building,1920s-1930s
Large western style building in a busy city intersection.
- box: 2
Folder: 26
Western Style Building,1920s-1930s
Large western style building in a busy city intersection.
- box: 2
Folder: 27
Building,1920s-1930s
View of the front steps and gate of a building. A sign on the gate has wording in Chinese.
- box: 2
Folder: 28
Building,1920s-1930s
View of the front steps of a building, decorated with Chinese lion statues.