John Gutmann photographs, 1942-1945

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Summary

Creator:
Gutmann, John and Archive of Documentary Arts (Duke University)
Abstract:
John Gutmann (1905-1998) was a photojournalist, professor of photography at San Francisco State University, and fine art photographer, whose work has been collected by many museums. Originally from Germany, Gutmann moved to the United States in the 1930s and became known for his work in photographing diverse groups, modern environments, with distinctive angles in black-and-white photographs. During World War II, Gutmann enlisted and stationed with the U.S. Office of War Information and U.S. Army 164th Signal Photo Company taking photographs and making motion pictures for the less known China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater in which the U.S. Army and Chinese Nationalist Army, allies, and civilians in various support operations such as transporting supplies, particularly the construction of the Ledo Road (also known as the Stilwell Road) and the journey of the First Convoy. Collection includes approximately 1000 photographs taken by Gutmann in black-and-white between 1942-1945, with most sized 3.5x5.5 inches and many include some notation on the reverse side including stamps for the Signal Corps. Materials depict various wartime activities such as construction, the First Convoy's journey, training, recreation, war injuries, office work, etc., in various locations in China, Burma, and India, with many identified in Kunming, China. Gutmann's photographs showcase notable figures such as General Joseph Stilwell, Colonel Lewis Pick, and additional military officials from the United States; General Ho Ying-Chin (He Yingqin); T. V. Soong; the Chinese Nationalist Army; Japanese POWs; Burmese nurses; Indian dock workers; African Americans serving in the United States Army; and civilians. Acquired by the Archive of Documentary Arts.
Extent:
0.75 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13156

Background

Scope and content:

Contains approximately 1000 photographs taken by John Gutmann during his time as a member of the U.S. Army 164th Signal Corps Company between 1942-1945, focusing on the overlooked China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. Photographs are in black-and-white and mostly 3.5 x 5.5 inches. They include some notations as well as stamps related to the U.S. Army Signal Corps on the reverse side, although most are not dated. Some images include dealer-generated descriptions on small strips of paper identifying people, locations, and context.

Photographs include depictions of activities related to World War II including land transport, airplanes, and other vehicles used by the United States Army; construction of barracks and Ledo Road (sometimes referred to Stilwell's Road); war support operations in various offices, printing shops, and other locations; manufacturing; the First Convey's journey through Burma and China; interaction between armies; and war injuries. There are multiple images of American troops at leisure including playing games, watching performances, a visit from actor Paulette Goddard in 1944 while the army was in Kunming, and religious services. Most photographs are taken in China, especially in and around Kunming; Myitkyina Fork (also known as Pick's Triangle) and Bhamo in Burma; the Salween River; Kolkata (referred to as Calcutta in materials); and others as part of the CBI Theater.

The collection has photographs of people from various backgrounds including notable military figures from the U.S. Army in the CBI Theater such as General Joseph Stilwell and Colonel Lewis Pick; a few images of General Ho Ying-Chin (He Yingqin) and T. V. Soong; civilians from different countries particularly in China; the Chinese Nationalist Army training and working alongside the U.S. Army; Indian dock workers unloading and loading supplies; Burmese nurses; Japanese prisoners of war in Burma; and African Americans in the U.S. Army.

Biographical / historical:

John Gutmann (1905-1998) was a photojournalist, professor of photography at San Francisco State University, and fine art photographer, whose work has been collected by many museums. He was born to Jewish parents in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland). Studying art, Gutmann earned a bachelor's degree in 1927 and learned painting from the artist Otto Müller. Moving to Berlin, his paintings were part of several exhibitions while he began teaching art in local schools.

In 1933 under the Nazi regime, Gutmann was forbidden from teaching and exhibiting his works of art. To support himself, he bought a Rolleiflex camera and turned to photography, earning a contract with a German agency, Presse-Foto, to photograph different places in the United States for publications in Germany. Traveling to the United States, he photographed diverse groups of people, city life, and more in black-and-white with distinct use of angles.

By 1936 he switched agencies to Pix, Inc. in New York, traveling throughout the United States, and taught art at San Francisco State University, where he was based. While associated with Pix, Inc., Gutmann's photographs were promoted in magazines such as Time, The Saturday Evening Post, Life, Look, and many more. With World War II, Gutmann enlisted to serve in the United States Army, and later stationed with the U.S. Army 164th Signal Photo Company and the U.S. Office of War Information, to photograph and make motion pictures.

After Gutmann's service, he focused his career on teaching and photography. He was later appointed full professor at San Francisco State University and held several exhibitions. In 1998, John Gutmann died in San Francisco.

Sources: International Center for Photography, "John Gutmann", accessed August 13, 2025, https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/john-gutmann

John Gutmann, "John Gutmann Chronology", accessed August 13, 2025, https://web.archive.org/web/20190913162354/http://johngutmann.org/chronology.html

Weimar Art, "John Gutmann", accessed August 13, 2025, https://weimarart.blogspot.com/2010/09/john-gutmann.html

Acquisition information:
The John Gutmann photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase from Susan Herzig and Paul M. Hertzmann in 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Tere Elizalde, August 2025

Some folders have dealer-generated titles.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2025-0068

Arrangement:

Arranged by subject.

Physical facet:
approximately 1000 photographs
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], John Gutmann photographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m19b41