TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement Note

Conditions of Access and Use

Administrative Information

Search Terms

Box Folder Listing

Series A. Prints. 1920-2000.

Series B. Personal. undated.

Series C. Large Format Prints. 1939-1945, circa 1970, undated.

Series D. Large Format Negatives. 1920-1959, undated.

Series E. Small Format Negatives. 1920-2000.

Series F. Slides. undated.

Series G. Albert E. Lane Collection of Ben Rosen Photographs. 1965-1976.

A Finding Aid to the Ben Rosen Photographs. 1920-2000.

Manuscript Collection No. 748


Introduction

Repository: The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
Creator: Rosen, Ben, 1913-
Title: Ben Rosen Photographs
Dates: 1920-2000
Quantity: 15.6 linear ft. (10 record cartons, 1 flat file box, 4 Hollinger boxes, 16 card boxes)
Abstract: Contains prints, negatives, slides, and papers of Cincinnati photographer Ben Rosen whose photographic career spanned 75 years. Included are images of sports stars, politicians, and dignitaries, together with local street and urban scenes as well as people and events around Cincinnati. Rosen's work for The American Israelite and The Catholic Telegraph documented religious life in Cincinnati. Images in the collection also include his work with the 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in World War II.
Collection Number: MS-748
Language: Collection material in English.

Biographical Sketch

Ben Rosen was born in 1913 to Russian Jewish immigrants. As a boy, he lived in Newport, Kentucky. His parents moved to the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati when Ben was an adolescent. At age thirteen, he was employed as a newspaper boy. In 1927, while attending Withrow High School, Ben was hired as an apprentice by local freelance photographer, Dan Morgenthaler. It was in the same year that Ben received his first major photographic assignment, capturing Charles Lindbergh’s victory tour stop at Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport.

In 1937 Rosen purchased Morgenthaler's photo business from Morgenthaler’s widow. Rosen then immediately went to work producing images of the worst recorded flood in Cincinnati history. In 1943, Rosen was drafted into the Army. He was assigned to the 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron and worked in the photo lab. With the war’s end, Ben returned to Cincinnati in 1945 to resume his work in photography.

Ben Rosen’s photography career spanned over 75 years, the most productive of which occurred after World War II. In that period, he captured images of sports stars, politicians, and dignitaries such as Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition, his work for The American Israelite and The Catholic Telegraph candidly documented religious life in Cincinnati. Finally, Ben’s work in real estate photography left a bountiful cache of historic photos of Cincinnati. Continuing his career well into his 90s, Ben Rosen's work provides an amazing visual record of 20th century Cincinnati.


Scope and Content Note

Contains prints, negatives, slides, and papers of Cincinnati photographer Ben Rosen, whose photographic career spanned 75 years. Included are images of sports stars, politicians, and dignitaries, together with local street and urban scenes as well as people and events around Cincinnati. Rosen's work for The American Israelite and The Catholic Telegraph documented religious life in Cincinnati. Images in the collection also include his work with the 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in World War II.


Arrangement Note

This collection is arranged in seven (7) series:

  • Series A. Prints. 1920-2000.
  • Series B. Personal. undated.
  • Series C. Large Format Prints. 1939-1945, circa 1970, undated.
  • Series D. Large Format Negatives. 1920-1959, undated.
  • Series E. Small Format Negatives. 1920-2000.
  • Series F. Slides. undated.
  • Series G. Albert E. Lane Collection of Ben Rosen Photographs. 1965-1976.

Conditions of Access and Use

Terms of Access

The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.

Terms of Reproduction and Use

Copyright restrictions apply; Ben Rosen's heirs retain copyright. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair use, may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please address queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information, see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Ben Rosen Photographs and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:

[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-748. Ben Rosen Photographs. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Provenance

The Ben Rosen Photographs were received from Ben Rosen, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 2007. Series G. Albert E. Lane Collection of Ben Rosen Photographs was received from Albert E. Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 2013.

Processing Information

Processed by Charlie Lester, September 2007. Additional processing by Nathan Tallman, 2013.


Box Folder Listing

Series A. Prints. 1920-2000. [9 record cartons]
Arrangement Note: This series is arranged in eight (8) subseries. Subseries were designed to place the most relevant images at the beginning of the series.
Subseries 1. Celebrities. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains photos of celebrities during their visits to Cincinnati.
Box Folder
1 1 Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Charles Lindbergh.
1 2 Pop culture: Bob Hope, Wayne Newton, Nick Clooney, Perry Como.
1 3 Politicians: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Cincinnati mayors.
1 4 Sports stars: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Royals, Cincinnati Bengals, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino.
Subseries 2. Biographical Prints. 1930-1949, undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains images of Rosen and his family and friends, including his experiences in the Army during World War II. Not all of the WWII images were photographed by Rosen. Some were captured by fellow soldiers in the 34th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron. Included with the WWII prints is a brief synopsis of where Rosen was stationed during the war, along with a timeline of major operations in the European Theater.
Box Folder
2 1 Ben Rosen, family and friends.
2 2 Ben Rosen. 1930-1949.
2 3 Ben Rosen in World War II. 1939-1945.
2 4 World War II/Airplanes. 1939-1945.
2 5 World War II Europe. 1939-1945.
Subseries 3. Cincinnati. 1920-2000.
Scope and Content Note: Contains many historic images of Cincinnati. Not all of these images were captured by Ben Rosen. Some of the oldest prints in the collection, especially those from the 1920s and 1930s, were inherited by Rosen when he took over the photography business of Dan Morgenthaler in 1937.
Box Folder
3 1 1937 Flood/Union Terminal/University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. circa 1930.
3 2 Cincinnati theater houses: Albee, Keith, Shubert, 20th Century, etc.
3 3 Fountain Square.
3 4 Wide shots of Cincinnati.
3 5 Cincinnati. 1920-1939.
3 6 Cincinnati. 1940-1959.
3 7 Cincinnati. 1960-1979.
3 8 Cincinnati. 1980-2000.
3 9 Cincinnati neighborhoods. undated.
3 10 Garfield Park, Riverfront Stadium, Kings Island.
Subseries 4. Jewish Related Prints. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains images of Jewish life in Cincinnati, in which Rosen was an active participant.
Box Folder
4 1 Miscellaneous photos: memorials, wedding and bar mitzvah cakes.
4 2 Weddings.
4 3 Bar mitzvahs.
4 4-6 Various social events.
4 7 Congregation Adath Israel.
4 8 Schools.
4 9 Synagogues, school buildings, community centers.
4 10 Rabbis, seders.
4 11 Jewish organizations: B'nai B'rith, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds.
4 12 Jewish organizations: National Council of Jewish Women, Orthodox Jewish Home, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Community Center, National Conference of Christians and Jews, American Red Magen David for Israel.
4 13 Jewish celebrities and celebrities at Jewish events: Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Albert Sabin, Jerry Springer, Oscar Robertson, Roger Staubach, Gerald Ford, Jehan Sadat, Alexander Haig, Abba Eban.
Subseries 5. Social Events. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains prints from various social events over the years.
Box Folder
5 1 Organizations.
5 2 Speakers.
5 3-8 Various social events.
5 9 Recreation.
5 10-11 Corporate and business photos.
Box Folder
6 1 High school reunions.
6 2 Funerals.
6 3 Anniversaries.
6 4-9 Weddings.
Subseries 6. Catholic Related Prints. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's work for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Box Folder
7 1 Bishops and cardinals.
7 2 Various religious events.
7 3 Various social events and priests.
7 4 Various social events and nuns.
7 5 Churches.
7 6 Schools.
7 7 Board of Education, rectories, convents, seminaries.
Subseries 7. Professional Work. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains professional work, such as portraits and insurance claims.
Box Folder
8 1 Portraits.
8 2 Miscellaneous photos: boats, tools, Protestant churches, various objects, commercial photos.
8 3 Insurance claims: automobile accidents, home damage, crash victims.
Subseries 8. Real Estate. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains photos of commercial real estate around Cincinnati.
Box Folder
9 1 Commercial real estate.
9 2 Commercial real estate.
Series B. Personal. undated. [1 record carton]
Scope and Content Note: Contains the personal papers of Rosen. These include scrap books, log books, personal and professional correspondence, and some biographical information.
Box Folder
10 1 Biographical information. Examples of work.
10 2 Professional and personal correspondence.
10 3 Bills, invoices, notes.
10 4 Log books.
10 5 Scrapbooks.
Series C. Large Format Prints. 1939-1945, circa 1970, undated. [1 flat file box]
Scope and Content Note: Contains large format prints of celebrities, real estate, and Rosen in World War II.
Box Folder
11 1 Ben Rosen in World War II. 1939-1945.
11 2 Jack Nicklaus and Bob Hope golfing.
11 3 Cincinnati skyline photos. circa 1970.
11 4 Commercial real estate.
11 5 Portraits.
Series D. Large Format Negatives. 1920-1959, undated. [3 Hollinger boxes]
Scope and Content Note: Contains large format (8x10) negatives.
Arrangement Note: Arranged in two (2) subseries:
Subseries 1. Cincinnati. 1920-1959, undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains historic images of Cincinnati including images of the University of Cincinnati and St. Xavier College (later Xavier University) in the 1920s and 1950s.
Box Folder
12 1 Ben Rosen in World War II, University of Cincinnati. circa 1930-1945.
12 2 Catholic negatives: St. Xavier College boxing and football teams. circa 1927.
12 3 Cincinnati theater houses.
12 4 Cincinnati. 1920-1939.
Box Folder
13 1 Cincinnati. 1940-1959.
Subseries 2. Professional Work. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains examples of Rosen's professional work.
Box Folder
14 1 Social events.
14 2 Portraits, residential and commercial real estate.
Series E. Small Format Negatives. 1920-2000. [15 card boxes]
Scope and Content Note: Contains smaller format, mainly 4x5, negatives.
Arrangement Note: This series is arranged in seven (7) subseries. Subseries are similar to the prints, with the most relevant images appearing at the beginning of the series.
Subseries 1. Ben Rosen, Celebrities, Historic Cincinnati. 1937-1945, undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains negatives of Ben Rosen’s life, celebrities, and historic images of Cincinnati.
Box Folder
15 1 Ben Rosen, family and friends.
15 2 World War II. 1939-1945.
15 3 Cincinnati celebrities.
15 4 Sports stars: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Royals, Jack Nicklaus, Jesse Owens, Notre Dame stars.
15 5 Pop culture: Bob Hope, Eddy Arnold, Loretta Young.
15 6 Politicians.
15 7 Dignitaries: Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Charles Lindbergh.
15 8 Sports venues: Crosley Field, Cincinnati Gardens.
15 9 Union Terminal, Lunken Airport, Riverfront.
15 10 Kings Island construction.
15 11 Cincinnati theater houses.
15 12 1937 Flood. 1937.
15 13 Fountain Square.
15 14 Wide shots of Cincinnati.
Subseries 2. Cincinnati. 1920-2000.
Scope and Content Note: Contains negatives of Cincinnati from the 1920s through 2000.
Box Folder
15 15 Cincinnati. 1920s-1930s.
Box Folder
16 1 Cincinnati. 1940s-1950s.
16 2 Cincinnati. 1960s-1970s.
Box Folder
17 1 Cincinnati. 1960s-1970s.
17 2 Cincinnati. 1980-2000.
17 3 Cincinnati neighborhoods.
Subseries 3. Jewish Related Negatives. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains images of Jewish life in Cincinnati, in which Rosen was an active participant.
Box Folder
18 1 Jewish celebrities and celebrities at Jewish events.
18 2 Synagogues, community centers.
18 3 Rabbis.
18 4 Jewish organizations.
18 5 Jewish schools.
Box Folder
19 1 Jewish social events.
19 2 Congregation Adath Israel.
19 3 Jewish weddings.
19 4 Bar mitzvahs.
19 5 Miscellaneous Jewish related photos.
Subseries 4. Catholic Related Negatives. 1926, undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's work for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Box Folder
20 1 Bishops, archbishops, cardinals.
20 2 Priests.
20 3 Nuns.
20 4 Catholic churches.
20 5 Catholic schools.
Box Folder
21 1 St. Xavier College boxing and track teams. circa 1926.
21 2 Catholic organizations.
21 3 Catholic religious and social events.
21 4 Miscellaneous Catholic related photos.
21 5 Various social events.
Subseries 5. Social Events. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains prints from various social events over the years.
Box
22-24 Various social events.
Subseries 6. Professional Work. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's professional photographs.
Box
25 Portraits.
Box Folder
26 1 Portraits.
26 2 Protestant churches.
26 3 Cars, airplanes, schools.
26 4 Miscellaneous objects.
26 5 Automobile accidents and insurance claims.
Subseries 7. Real Estate. undated.
Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's professional photography of commercial and residential real estate.
Box
27-28 Commercial real estate.
Box Folder
29 1 Commercial real estate.
29 2 Residential real estate.
Box Folder
30 1 Residential real estate.
Series F. Slides. undated. [1 card box]
Scope and Content Note: Contains a small number of slides of varying subjects.
Box Folder
30 2 Slides.
Series G. Albert E. Lane Collection of Ben Rosen Photographs. 1965-1976. [1 Hollinger box]
Provenance Note: Received from Albert E. Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 2013.
Historical Note: Albert E. Lane, Cincinnati businessman, commissioned Rosen to take photographs of his properties, as well as general scenic shots.
Box Folder
31 1 Descriptions by Albert E. Lane. 2013.
31 2 9 Riverview Place. 1968, 1978.
[Now known as 909 Riverview Place; originally part of the Longworth estate.]
31 3 Mt. Adams, Downtown Cincinnati, Riverfront. 1972-1976.
[Includes negatives.]
31 4 Queensgate, Union Terminal, Cincinnati Convention Center. 1972.
[Includes negatives.]
31 5 West 8th Street and Dalton Ave, Southeast Corner. 1965.
31 6 Northbound I-75 from West 5th Street Ramp. 1965.
[Includes negatives.]
31 7 101 West Central Parkway, Checker Store and Alemite Buildings. undated.

Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.

Persons and Families

Rosen, Ben, 1913-

Institutions

American Israelite (Cincinnati, Ohio : 1874)
Catholic Telegraph

Subjects

Catholics -- Ohio -- Cincinnati. -- Photographs
Jews -- Ohio -- Cincinnati. -- Photographs
Photographers
World War, 1939-1945 -- Jews -- Photographers

Places

Cincinnati (Ohio) -- Photographs

Genres and Forms

Photographs