Oswego Museum Seeks Military Photos

Submitted by the Little White School Museum:


The Little White School Museum, 72 Polk Street, Oswego, is seeking photographs of Oswegoland men and women who have served or are currently serving in the nation’s military and related services for exhibit during this year’s “Remembering Our Veterans” commemoration over Veterans Day weekend.

According to assistant museum director Bob Stekl, the museum is looking for any service-related photographs, from formal military portraits to candid snapshots for inclusion in the special exhibit’s “Wall of Honor.”

Recently, the museum issued a request for photographs of Paul Ellsworth Zwoyer, a 22 year-old who lived in both Yorkville and Oswego, and who was shot down during a nighttime bombing raid over Tokyo, Japan in 1945.

“Thanks to the Zwoyer family, we received more than a half-dozen photos of Lt. Zwoyer,” Stekl said. “They range from photos of him as a child to his Yorkville High School graduation photo, to photographs of him during his service during World War II.

Zwoyer’s photo will join those of other Oswegoland residents killed in action in a special section of this fall’s exhibit, Stekl explained.

The museum is seeking photos of anyone with an Oswego connection who served in any of the military services, the Coast Guard, the Civil Air Patrol, the Merchant Marine, or anyone who served with but not in the military in organization, such as the Women Airforce Service Pilots who served during World War II and the Red Cross nurses of World War I.

Stekl pointed out that while the museum would prefer to receive original photos, it will also accept digital photos scanned at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Further, area residents can bring photos to the museum on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, where staffers will scan them and return the originals.

“We’d also like the service details of each person in the photos so that we can assure that their service won’t be forgotten by future generations,” Stekl said.

The Little White School Museum is a joint project of the non-profit Oswegoland Heritage Association and the Oswegoland Park District. For more information on this year’s “Remembering Our Veterans” exhibit, call the museum at 630-554-2999 or send an email to info@littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org.