Harpel's Original Storefront Located on 757-759 Cumberland Street in Lebanon, Pennsylvania (Photograph Courtesy of David Harpel)
This photograph of Harpel's storefront is where they were located when they sent this letter to Margaret.
Citation: Odyniec, Fran. “County Currents: Luther Harpel the Area's Foremost Photographer.” Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon Daily News, April 29, 2016. https://www.ldnews.com/story/news/local/2016/04/28/county-currents-luther-harpel-areas-foremost-photographer/83587312/.
Operation Argument, also called "Big Week," took place from February 20-25, 1944. During this week, the United States Army Air Force (the Eighth Air Force or the "Mighty Eighth"), Royal Air Force (England), and the Fifteenth Air Force (Southern Italy) prepared and carried out a campaign to bomb German aircraft factories. By joining forces, the allies set Germany's aircraft production back by two months. This event ultimately began the downfall of the German Luftwaffe.
Citations:
“Eighth Air Force History.” 8th Air Force/J-GSOC. Accessed April 12, 2023. https://tinyurl.com/Eighth-Air-Force-History
Wueschner, Dr. Silvano. “Operation Argument ('Big Week'): The Beginning of the End of the German Luftwaffe.” Maxwell Air Force Base, February 11, 2019. https://www.maxwell.af.mil/News/Display/Article/1754049/operation-argument-big-week-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-german-luftwaffe/.
Citation: “Big Week - WW2 Timeline (February 20th - 25th, 1944).” World War II Timeline Day-by-Day. Accessed April 12, 2023. https://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/big-week-bombing-campaign.php.
The following object description information includes basic elements from the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI). An additional notes field is included to list dates from the actual letter, envelope postmark locations, and any other identifying details.
Was $2.50 the standard price for colored photos in 1944?
How long does the company (Harpel's) keep old negatives?
"A Photograph in Uniform"
This is an ad that was taken out in the Lebanon Daily News for Harpel's Studio. This is similar to what John would have had done.
Citation: Harpel's Studio. “A Photograph in Uniform.” Newspapers.com, March 27, 1942. https://www.newspapers.com/article/lebanon-daily-news-a-photograph-in-unifo/122745389/.
"Have You Seen Harpel's Window of Children's Photographs"
This is an ad that was taken out in the Lebanon Daily News for Harpel's Studio. This ad displays the size and price of photographs that Harpel's offers.
Citation: Harpel's Studio. “Have You Seen Harpel's Window of Children's Photographs.” Newspapers.com, February 28, 1941. https://www.newspapers.com/article/lebanon-daily-news-have-you-seen-harpel/122745440/.
"Our Photo Finishing Plant"
This is an ad that was taken out in the Lebanon Daily News and The Lebanon Daily Times for Harpel's Studio. This ad briefly details how Harpel's develops, prints, and enlarges photographs.
Citation: Harpel's Studio. “Our Photo Finishing Plant.” Newspapers.com, September 5, 1942. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-our-photo-finishing-plant/122745526/.
"How It's Made, Developing Photographs from Negatives"
This video shows how photographs are made from negatives. Harpel's Studio would have had a similar process to print the photographs of John for Margaret.
Citation: “How It's Made, Developing Photographs from Negatives.” YouTube. YouTube, December 5, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiLjznwYG1E.