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Lester H. Best photographs

Guide to the Lester H. Best photographs
undated, 1944

Collection number: HMC-1206.
Creator: Best, Lester H.
Title: Lester H. Best photographs.
Dates: undated, 1944.
Volume of collection: 0.2 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Collection summary: Photographs of a member of the 77th and 404th Bombardment Squadrons who served in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.

Biographical note:
Lester H. Best was born in Pennsylvania in 1917. He served as a photographer in the 77th and 404th Bombardment Squadrons in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. Best died in Riverside, California in 1995.

Collection description:
The collection consists of black and white prints and proof sheets of photographs taken or collected by Lester Best. Subjects of the photographs include aircraft, aerial views of various locations in the Aleutian Islands, group and individual shots of other men in Best’s unit, and scenes of military life in the Aleutians during World War II.

Arrangement: Photographic materials in the collection are arranged by type.

Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: Archives and Special Collections does not own copyright to the collection.

Preferred citation: Lester H. Best photographs, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Related materials: Henry K. “Hank” Frese papers. HMC-0862.

Custodial history: Lester Best’s original photographs were loaned to Hank Frese for copying in 1986. Frese’s copies were donated to the Archives as part of the Henry K. “Hank” Frese papers.

Acquisition note: The photographs were originally part of the Henry K. “Hank” Frese papers, presented to the archives on behalf of the Henry K. Frese Sr. family with the assistance of fellow Shemya veteran Dan Lange, in 2006.

Processing information: The photographs were removed from the Henry K. “Hank” Frese papers and described by Gwen Sieja in 2015. At that time photocopies of the photographs and published materials were removed from the collection.

Location of originals: The location of Best’s original photographs is unknown.

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