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.
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Manuscript Collection No. 748
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Repository: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
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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.
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Collection Number: |
MS-748 |
Language: |
Collection material in English. |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Processed by Charlie Lester, September 2007. Additional processing by Nathan Tallman,
2013.
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Series A. Prints. 1920-2000. [9 record cartons] |
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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.
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Subseries 1. Celebrities. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains photos of celebrities during their visits to
Cincinnati.
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Box |
Folder |
1 |
1 |
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Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Charles
Lindbergh.
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1 |
2 |
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Pop culture: Bob Hope, Wayne Newton, Nick Clooney, Perry
Como.
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1 |
3 |
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Politicians: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Cincinnati
mayors.
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1 |
4 |
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Sports stars: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Royals, Cincinnati
Bengals, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino.
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Subseries 2. Biographical Prints. 1930-1949, undated. |
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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.
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Box |
Folder |
2 |
1 |
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Ben Rosen, family and friends. |
2 |
2 |
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Ben Rosen. 1930-1949. |
2 |
3 |
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Ben Rosen in World War II. 1939-1945. |
2 |
4 |
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World War II/Airplanes. 1939-1945. |
2 |
5 |
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World War II Europe. 1939-1945. |
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Subseries 3. Cincinnati. 1920-2000. |
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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.
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Box |
Folder |
3 |
1 |
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1937 Flood/Union Terminal/University of Cincinnati and Xavier
University. circa
1930.
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3 |
2 |
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Cincinnati theater houses: Albee, Keith, Shubert, 20th Century,
etc.
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3 |
3 |
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Fountain Square. |
3 |
4 |
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Wide shots of Cincinnati. |
3 |
5 |
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Cincinnati. 1920-1939. |
3 |
6 |
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Cincinnati. 1940-1959. |
3 |
7 |
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Cincinnati. 1960-1979. |
3 |
8 |
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Cincinnati. 1980-2000. |
3 |
9 |
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Cincinnati neighborhoods. undated. |
3 |
10 |
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Garfield Park, Riverfront Stadium, Kings Island. |
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Subseries 4. Jewish Related Prints. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains images of Jewish life in Cincinnati, in which
Rosen was an active participant.
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Box |
Folder |
4 |
1 |
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Miscellaneous photos: memorials, wedding and bar mitzvah
cakes.
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4 |
2 |
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Weddings. |
4 |
3 |
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Bar mitzvahs. |
4 |
4-6 |
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Various social events. |
4 |
7 |
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Congregation Adath Israel. |
4 |
8 |
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Schools. |
4 |
9 |
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Synagogues, school buildings, community centers. |
4 |
10 |
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Rabbis, seders. |
4 |
11 |
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Jewish organizations: B'nai B'rith, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati,
Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds.
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4 |
12 |
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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.
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4 |
13 |
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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.
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Subseries 5. Social Events. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains prints from various social events over the
years.
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Box |
Folder |
5 |
1 |
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Organizations. |
5 |
2 |
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Speakers. |
5 |
3-8 |
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Various social events. |
5 |
9 |
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Recreation. |
5 |
10-11 |
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Corporate and business photos. |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
1 |
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High school reunions. |
6 |
2 |
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Funerals. |
6 |
3 |
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Anniversaries. |
6 |
4-9 |
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Weddings. |
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Subseries 6. Catholic Related Prints. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's work for the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati.
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Box |
Folder |
7 |
1 |
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Bishops and cardinals. |
7 |
2 |
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Various religious events. |
7 |
3 |
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Various social events and priests. |
7 |
4 |
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Various social events and nuns. |
7 |
5 |
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Churches. |
7 |
6 |
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Schools. |
7 |
7 |
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Board of Education, rectories, convents, seminaries. |
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Subseries 7. Professional Work. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains professional work, such as portraits and
insurance claims.
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Box |
Folder |
8 |
1 |
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Portraits. |
8 |
2 |
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Miscellaneous photos: boats, tools, Protestant churches, various
objects, commercial photos.
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8 |
3 |
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Insurance claims: automobile accidents, home damage, crash
victims.
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Subseries 8. Real Estate. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains photos of commercial real estate around
Cincinnati.
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Box |
Folder |
9 |
1 |
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Commercial real estate. |
9 |
2 |
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Commercial real estate. |
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Series B. Personal. undated. [1 record carton] |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains the personal papers of Rosen. These include scrap
books, log books, personal and professional correspondence, and some biographical
information.
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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. |
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Series C. Large Format Prints. 1939-1945, circa 1970, undated. [1 flat file box] |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains large format prints of celebrities, real estate,
and Rosen in World War II.
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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. |
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Series D. Large Format Negatives. 1920-1959, undated. [3 Hollinger boxes] |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains large format (8x10) negatives. |
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Arrangement Note: Arranged in two (2) subseries: |
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Subseries 1. Cincinnati. 1920-1959, undated. |
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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.
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Box |
Folder |
12 |
1 |
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Ben Rosen in World War II, University of Cincinnati. circa
1930-1945.
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12 |
2 |
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Catholic negatives: St. Xavier College boxing and football teams.
circa
1927.
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12 |
3 |
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Cincinnati theater houses. |
12 |
4 |
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Cincinnati. 1920-1939. |
Box |
Folder |
13 |
1 |
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Cincinnati. 1940-1959. |
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Subseries 2. Professional Work. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains examples of Rosen's professional work. |
Box |
Folder |
14 |
1 |
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Social events. |
14 |
2 |
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Portraits, residential and commercial real estate. |
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Series E. Small Format Negatives. 1920-2000. [15 card boxes] |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains smaller format, mainly 4x5, negatives. |
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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.
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Subseries 1. Ben Rosen, Celebrities, Historic Cincinnati. 1937-1945, undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains negatives of Ben Rosen’s life, celebrities, and
historic images of Cincinnati.
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Box |
Folder |
15 |
1 |
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Ben Rosen, family and friends. |
15 |
2 |
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World War II. 1939-1945. |
15 |
3 |
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Cincinnati celebrities. |
15 |
4 |
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Sports stars: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Royals, Jack Nicklaus,
Jesse Owens, Notre Dame stars.
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15 |
5 |
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Pop culture: Bob Hope, Eddy Arnold, Loretta Young. |
15 |
6 |
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Politicians. |
15 |
7 |
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Dignitaries: Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Charles
Lindbergh.
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15 |
8 |
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Sports venues: Crosley Field, Cincinnati Gardens. |
15 |
9 |
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Union Terminal, Lunken Airport, Riverfront. |
15 |
10 |
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Kings Island construction. |
15 |
11 |
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Cincinnati theater houses. |
15 |
12 |
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1937 Flood. 1937. |
15 |
13 |
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Fountain Square. |
15 |
14 |
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Wide shots of Cincinnati. |
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Subseries 2. Cincinnati. 1920-2000. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains negatives of Cincinnati from the 1920s through
2000.
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Box |
Folder |
15 |
15 |
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Cincinnati. 1920s-1930s. |
Box |
Folder |
16 |
1 |
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Cincinnati. 1940s-1950s. |
16 |
2 |
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Cincinnati. 1960s-1970s. |
Box |
Folder |
17 |
1 |
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Cincinnati. 1960s-1970s. |
17 |
2 |
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Cincinnati. 1980-2000. |
17 |
3 |
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Cincinnati neighborhoods. |
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Subseries 3. Jewish Related Negatives. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains images of Jewish life in Cincinnati, in which
Rosen was an active participant.
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Box |
Folder |
18 |
1 |
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Jewish celebrities and celebrities at Jewish events. |
18 |
2 |
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Synagogues, community centers. |
18 |
3 |
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Rabbis. |
18 |
4 |
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Jewish organizations. |
18 |
5 |
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Jewish schools. |
Box |
Folder |
19 |
1 |
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Jewish social events. |
19 |
2 |
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Congregation Adath Israel. |
19 |
3 |
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Jewish weddings. |
19 |
4 |
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Bar mitzvahs. |
19 |
5 |
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Miscellaneous Jewish related photos. |
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Subseries 4. Catholic Related Negatives. 1926, undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's work for the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati.
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Box |
Folder |
20 |
1 |
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Bishops, archbishops, cardinals. |
20 |
2 |
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Priests. |
20 |
3 |
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Nuns. |
20 |
4 |
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Catholic churches. |
20 |
5 |
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Catholic schools. |
Box |
Folder |
21 |
1 |
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St. Xavier College boxing and track teams. circa 1926. |
21 |
2 |
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Catholic organizations. |
21 |
3 |
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Catholic religious and social events. |
21 |
4 |
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Miscellaneous Catholic related photos. |
21 |
5 |
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Various social events. |
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Subseries 5. Social Events. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains prints from various social events over the
years.
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Box |
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22-24 |
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Various social events. |
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Subseries 6. Professional Work. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's professional photographs. |
Box |
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25 |
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Portraits. |
Box |
Folder |
26 |
1 |
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Portraits. |
26 |
2 |
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Protestant churches. |
26 |
3 |
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Cars, airplanes, schools. |
26 |
4 |
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Miscellaneous objects. |
26 |
5 |
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Automobile accidents and insurance claims. |
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Subseries 7. Real Estate. undated. |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains Rosen's professional photography of commercial
and residential real estate.
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Box |
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27-28 |
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Commercial real estate. |
Box |
Folder |
29 |
1 |
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Commercial real estate. |
29 |
2 |
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Residential real estate. |
Box |
Folder |
30 |
1 |
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Residential real estate. |
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Series F. Slides. undated. [1 card box] |
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Scope and Content Note: Contains a small number of slides of varying subjects. |
Box |
Folder |
30 |
2 |
Slides. |
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Series G. Albert E. Lane Collection of Ben Rosen Photographs. 1965-1976. [1 Hollinger box] |
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Provenance Note: Received from Albert E. Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 2013. |
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Historical Note: Albert E. Lane, Cincinnati businessman, commissioned Rosen to
take photographs of his properties, as well as general scenic shots.
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Box |
Folder |
31 |
1 |
Descriptions by Albert E. Lane. 2013. |
31 |
2 |
9 Riverview Place. 1968,
1978.
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[Now known as 909 Riverview Place; originally part of the Longworth
estate.]
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31 |
3 |
Mt. Adams, Downtown Cincinnati, Riverfront. 1972-1976. |
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[Includes negatives.] |
31 |
4 |
Queensgate, Union Terminal, Cincinnati Convention Center. 1972. |
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[Includes negatives.] |
31 |
5 |
West 8th Street and Dalton Ave, Southeast Corner. 1965. |
31 |
6 |
Northbound I-75 from West 5th Street Ramp. 1965. |
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[Includes negatives.] |
31 |
7 |
101 West Central Parkway, Checker Store and Alemite Buildings.
undated.
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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
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