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Roland J. Regan collection of World War II photographs and memorabilia

 Collection
Collection MS-2000-012: Roland J. Regan collection of World War II photographs and memorabilia

Dates

  • Creation: 1943 - 1945

Scope and Contents

The Roland J. Regan collection documents Regan's experiences during World War II largely through photographs and military memorabilia.

The photographs from 1943 show Regan in combat engineer training in Wales and England, including photos at the Lakenheath/Mildenhall Royal Air Force base. The photos from 1944 document Regan and his fellow combat engineers at the 348th Army Engineering combat battalion HQ in southern England, unloading supplies on Utah Beach during the week after D-Day, and in Paris in the fall of 1944. The photographs from 1945 show the close of the war in Germany, including Regan and fellow combat engineers building pontoon bridges across the Rhine, Elbe, and Sauer rivers, posing with German artillery, and meeting the Russian army, as well as the aftermath of the liberation of concentration camps. Many of Regan's photographs were published in the book From Boston to Berlin (2001) by his son Roland J. Regan, Jr. and Christopher Mauriello. The index in the collection lists the Dachua and Luekenswig concentration camps; the book From Boston to Berlin identifies some of the same images as taken at the Wobbelin concentration camp outside Ludwigslust.

The artifacts include both U.S. and German military memorabilia. The U.S. military memorabilia includes Regan's military emblems, ribbon bar, and dog tag. The German memorabilia includes a knife, pins, and belt buckles; all the German artifacts have a swastika or SS symbol.

Also included is a history of the 150th Engineer Combat Battalion produced by battalion staff immediately after the war.

Creator

Restrictions on access

Collection is open for research.

Restrictions on use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note

Roland J. Regan, Sr. was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in December of 1922. In January 1943, he entered the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 348th Engineer Combat Battalion (the 348th later combined with the 150th Engineer Combat Battalion). He was an amateur photographer and by the end of the war he had accumulated approximately 350 pictures. From 1944-1945 his battalion engaged in the D-Day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, the River War campaigns, and several concentration camp liberations. After the war, Regan was a firefighter in Lynn, Massachusetts for 34 years before retiring as a Lieutenant.

Source:

Mauriello, Christopher E. and Roland J. Regan, Jr. From Boston to Berlin: A Journey through World War II in Images and Words. Purdue University Press, 2001.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection documents Roland J. Regan's service in the U.S. Army during World War II. It consists primarily of photographs taken by Regan in England, France, and Germany. It also includes U.S. Army memorabilia and German military artifacts.

Arrangement

The Roland J. Regan collection is arranged into three series: I. Artifacts, II. Photographs, and III. Printed material.

Provenance

Gift of Roland J. Regan (2000).

Related Materials

Frederick J. Mauriello letters, MS.2002.026, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Title
Roland J. Regan Collection of World War II Photographs and Memorabilia
Subtitle
1943-1945
Status
Completed
Author
Rachel Ernst
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the John J. Burns Library Repository

Contact:
John J. Burns Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill MA 02467 United States
617-552-4861