Title: James R. Coles' photograph album

Identifier: 1263-b1-fa-i2   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/38302)

Description: A photograph album with leather decorative cover belonging to James R. Coles, an African American who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve during World War II. An official navy certificate, along with two insignia patches, indicates that Coles achieved the rank of Petty Officer 1st class after first being appointed a Motor Machinist's Mate. The photographs show Coles and his fellow African-American recruits posing in dress whites. Two of these photos feature a white commanding officer posing with the group. Coles traveled by train to his assignment, seen here posing with friends in train cars and on the tracks. The album continues to show the men on leave with their fashionably dressed girlfriends. Also featured here are the men in their blue navy uniforms on docks and standing at attention. Five photos show the men with rifles and helmets and a final photo shows a group of men in uniform in front of a military building. Also included are autograph pages that his fellow sailors signed and listed their home addresses and an article about Jim Crow in the Navy in the Philippines. Date approximated.