Sara Ferguson

In the Autumn of 1939 Thérèse Bonney traveled to Finland to photograph preparations for the Olympic Games in Helsinki to be held the following year. Instead, she became a war correspondent. With World War II already underway, Bonney was one of few photographers in Finland as tensions with the neighboring Soviet Union grew. Bonney photographed Finnish military training operations leading up to the Soviet invasion on November 30, 1939. Throughout the ensuing Winter War she photographed civilian evacuations, relief operations, and meetings of Finnish leaders — work for which she was awarded the White Rose of Finland medal. The event would change the trajectory of her photographic career. Previously focused on French art and design, Bonney would go on to photograph throughout World War II, leaving an important record of the effect of war on civilian populations. Additional images of Bonney’s work in Europe during WWII can be seen in these previous postings: Wrapping up Women’s History Month: Selections from the Thérèse Bonney photograph collection at The Bancroft Library and Thérèse Bonney: Art Collector, Photojournalist, Francophile, Cheese Lover.

Still more is available via the Library’s Digital Collections site and the Finding Aid to the Thérèse Bonney Photograph Collection.

Field Marshal Mannerheim reviews the Army of Finland. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 7, item 177 — Field Marshal Mannerheim reviews the Army of Finland. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 7, item 177

Finnish Army on bicycles. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 7, item 250 — Finnish Army on bicycles. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 7, item 250

A member of the Lotta Svard, a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organization for women, works a field kitchen in Lohja. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 15, item 1092 — A member of the Lotta Svard, a Finnish voluntary auxiliary paramilitary organization for women, works a field kitchen in Lohja. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 15, item 1092

Finnish Army lookouts. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 7, item 246 — Finnish Army lookouts. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 7, item 246

News flier distributed in Helsinki “The war has begun” BANC PIC 1982.111: box 14, item 893 — News flier distributed in Helsinki “The war has begun” BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 14, item 893

An officer walks over a pine bough door mat at “White Headquarters”. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 8, item 325 — An officer walks over a pine bough door mat at “White Headquarters”. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 8, item 325

Women work in a gas mask factory. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 14, item 874 — Women work in a gas mask factory. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 14, item 874

Military dog training school. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 11, item 558 — Military dog training school. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 11, item 558

Finnish tanks line the countryside. BANC PIC 1982.111: box 8, item 287 — Finnish tanks line the countryside. BANC PIC 1982.111: NNEG box 8, item 287

The Thérèse Bonney photograph collection at The Bancroft Library consists chiefly of documentary photographs taken throughout Western Europe during World War II. Bonney (Berkeley class of 1916) photographed all aspects of the war, but focused on its effects on the civilian population.

An active humanitarian, Bonney frequently used universal symbols in her work, allowing her images to speak beyond language barriers and leading their viewers to see beyond cultural differences. Her photographs of children were exhibited and published widely, influencing audiences to contribute to relief efforts for innocent victims of war. But the images throughout her archive feature another prominent symbol — women. Old women, young women, mothers, sisters, friends, neighbors; always at work, usually together, forever the epitome of personal sacrifice for the greater good. In honor of Women’s History Month, the Bancroft Library’s Pictorial Unit presents this collection of newly digitized images from the Thérèse Bonney Photograph Collection. The Finding Aid to the Thérèse Bonney Photograph Collection circa 1850-circa 1955 is available through the Online Archive of California. The finding aid includes digital images for Series 6: France, Germany 1944-1946. Images for Series 3: Carnegie Corporation Trip: Portugal, Spain, France 1941-1942 are coming soon, with a preview offered here!