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Warren K. Zerbe papers and photographs

Call Number

ARC.113

Date

circa 1923 to 1978, inclusive

Creator

Sewanhaka Central High School (Floral Park, N.Y.)
Floral Park-Bellerose School
Zerbe, Warren Kenneth

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet in four folders

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The Warren K. Zerbe papers and photographs span the 1920s to 1978, though they primarily focus on Zerbe's childhood and his service in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. The collection includes photographs of Brooklyn landmarks taken by Zerbe, such as the Montauk Club, Litchfield Villa, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, as well as views from the top of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank tower.

Biographical note

Warren Kenneth Zerbe was born on August 6, 1923 to Louis and Eleanor Zerbe. The Zerbes first lived in Islip, New York, located in Suffolk County on Long Island. The family then moved to Floral Park, New York in Nassau County, also on Long Island, where Warren Zerbe completed most of his education. The family home was located at 9525 239th Street in Floral Park. He attended Islip School, Floral Park Bellerose School, and Sewanhaka High School from which he graduated in 1941. Zerbe served as seaman first class in the United States Coast Guard during World War II and participated in the invasion of the Philippines aboard a Coast Guard-manned frigate. The contribution of the Coast Guard in screening, fire support, and escort duties during World War II helped to make it possible for U.S. vessels carrying supplies and troops to reach land during the offenses in the Philippines. Zerbe died in 1988.

Sources:

  1. National Park Service. The War in the Pacific. The Coast Guard during World War II. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/npswapa/extContent/wapa/coast_guard/cg7.htm (accessed October 1, 2010).

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series:

Series 1: Papers, 1937-1946

Series 2: Photographs, circa 1920s-1978

Scope and Contents note

The Warren K. Zerbe papers and photographs span the 1920s to 1978, though they primarily focus on Zerbe's childhood and his service in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. The collection includes photographs of Brooklyn landmarks taken by Zerbe, such as the Montauk Club, Litchfield Villa, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, as well as views from the top of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank tower.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction rights for the photographs have not been evaluated. Please consult library staff for more information.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Warren K. Zerbe papers and photographs, ARC.113, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Clark S. Marlor, 1990, 1992, and 1995.

Other Finding Aids

Item level description and digital versions of images from the collection are available for searching via the image database in the library. Please consult library staff for more information.

Collection processed by

Patricia Glowinski

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:22:36 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information note

Minimally processed to the series level.

This collection combines the accessions 1992.009, V1991.116, V1992.004, and V1995.061.

V1995.061, consisting of color slides of the Montauk Club house and Litchfield Villa taken by Zerbe in 1969, were added to the collection by John Zarrillo in October 2015.

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Container

Box: ARC.113 / ARC.119 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Series 1: Papers, 1937-1946, inclusive

Language of Materials

English.

Extent

0.01 Linear Feet in one folder.

Scope and Contents

This series consists of five certificates awarded to Zerbe relating to his education including his diploma from Floral Park Bellerose School in Floral Park, New York, issued on June 21, 1937; his high school diploma issued from Sewanhaka High School, also in Floral Park, 1941; and a Transcript of Record for Zerbe from Sewanhaka High School for the years 1938-1941, issued on July 8, 1946.

Series 2: Photographs, circa 1920s to 1978, inclusive

Extent

0.19 Linear Feet in two folders.

Scope and Contents

This series contains photographs of Warren K. Zerbe from infancy into his 20s, as well as two groups of photographs taken by Zerbe in 1969 and 1978.

Included in the collection are black-and-white photographs of Zerbe as a child taken in the towns of Islip, New York and Floral Park, New York. Zerbe's mother, Eleanor, is in one of the photographs, as are several family dogs. Several images show exterior views of the family home located at 9525 239th Street in Floral Park. The black-and-white group school photographs of Zerbe document his transformation from a child into a teenager, 1930-1936. The school photographs show his classmates, teachers, and exterior views of Floral Park Bellerose School in Floral Park.

After graduating high school Zerbe served in the United States Coast Guard. The series contains several photographs of Zerbe from this period showing Zerbe in various United States Coast Guard uniforms and one photograph of Zerbe in uniform in the Philippines during World War II, circa 1943.

Finally, the series includes color slides and photographs taken by Zerbe in 1969 and 1978.

These include ten color slides depicting the Montauk Club house in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, and seven color slides depicting Litchfield Villa in Prospect Park, all taken in July 1969.

The series also contains photographs Zerbe shot from the top of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building tower located at 1 Hanson Place in the Fort Greene neighborhood in Brooklyn and of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in springtime in 1978. These photographs have identifying notes on the rectos or versos.

Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201