May 20, 2004

AP Highlights World War II Photographs in Book and Exhibit

NEW YORK — The Associated Press highlights some of its most famous photographs of World War II, as well as pictures from its archives that are rarely seen, in an exhibit and book timed to coincide with the unveiling of the national World War II Memorial in Washington.

Both the exhibit and book are called “MEMORIES of WORLD WAR II: Photographs from the Archives of The Associated Press” (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.).

The photo exhibit will be kicked off May 24-June 1 at Union Station in Washington and will be shown in the same venue the month of July. The collection tours nationally in September, with the first stop at the Dallas Historical Society during the Texas State Fair.

Photographs were culled from AP's collection of more than 100,000 World War II photographs. The images come from AP archives in Britain, France, Germany and Japan. Some of the pictures have not been publicly viewed since the war while others have taken on iconic status, including Joe Rosenthal's dramatic picture of the American flag being raised atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. Rosenthal won a Pulitzer Prize for that photo. Six other AP journalists also won Pulitzers for war coverage.

Some 68 journalists were killed covering World War II — five of them from the AP. The world's oldest and largest news organization provided a daily view of the immense scope of the war — from the bombed-out streets of London to the islands of the Pacific, to the Allied landings at Normandy and Japan’s surrender aboard the USS Missouri — as well as its individual triumphs and tragedies.

To view a sampling of images from the book go to http://www.ap.org/wwii/. For editorial and corporate licensing, visit http://www.apwideworld.com or call 212-621-1930 and ask to speak to a World War II account representative.


contact: Jack Stokes 212-621-1720