Description: Map of the Basse-Normandie region of northern France, where C. Walder Parke and his crew of the B-17 "Mission Mistress" had to make an emergency landing after being shot down by Germans. When the map is folded over, three red lines with labels drawn on the front and back of the map align to indicate where Parke landed, was processed for return to his base, and left France with his crew members to come back to England. "Mission Mistress" managed to land safely on a Canadian landing strip. Charles Walder Parke was born on July 28, 1924, and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 intending to be a pilot during WWII, but spent most of his military career as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortresses in the 94th Bombardment Group. Parke earned two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal with several Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful bombing missions, including some over Berlin. He is best known for being on board a B-17 which was shot down over France by German planes on June 25, 1944, during a non-combat mission. The crew managed to make an emergency landing, and everyone inside survived. After the war, Parke founded the Cleveland-based Laurel Industries Inc., which became a prominent supplier of antimony oxide to the plastics industry. He died of Lou-Gehrig’s Disease on September 15, 1996, at the age of 72. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS1510_B03F06_002_01
Subjects: France--Normandy; Surprise (Military science); Fighter planes--Landing
Places: Calvados (France);
 

Description: Photograph of a partial lead plate discovered at the mouth of the Muskingum River near Marietta in Washington County, Ohio. The plates were buried by French explorer Joseph Pierre Celoron de Bienville and his scouting party in 1749. The plate's inscription is in French and claim King Louis XV of France the ruler of the Ohio Valley region. This plate was part of a group of plates placed near strategic tributaries of the Ohio River by Celoron and his party. The expedition and the ceremonies conducted when the plates were buried was intended as a show of force and an attempt to reclaim for France land on which British settlers were encroaching. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL02716
Subjects: Washington County (Ohio); Ohio History--Settlement and Early Statehood; Louis XV, King of France, 1710-1774
Places: Washington County (Ohio)
 

Description: Visitor to the French Gratitude Train looking at a display case of traditional French dolls. On the wall are posters for the Alsace and Savoie regions of France from the French National Railroad Society. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_09
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This flag is textile(wool) with vertical blue (hoist side), white, and red stripes of equal width, halyard rope and frayed edges. Flags of this design have been used since the fall of Napoleon (the start of the Bourbon Restoration) in 1815. Blue and red are associated with France's capital city, Paris, and patron saint, the Virgin Mary. The colors are said to represent three main estates (the clergy: white, the nobility: red, and the bourgeoisie: blue). This flag is not cataloged in this collection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: H65456_001
Subjects: Ceremonial artifact; Communication artifact; National Flags --France; textile (wool);
Places: France
 

Description: Photograph of the exterior of the French Gratitude Train parked on an unknown set of railroad tracks in Ohio. On the exterior are crests from the different regions of France. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_12
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: 3"x 4" photograph of an Eiffel Tower replica from a collection of models for the Ohio State School for the Blind. The Eiffel Tower is a 984-foot symbol in the capital city of Paris, France. It was built between 1887 and 1889 by designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel. It was erected as a central identifying feature of the Paris Exposition of 1889. It has three levels. Stairs are available to reach the first two levels. However, visitors must take an elevator to reach the third level. The highest level reaches a height equal to that of a 90-story skyscraper. The Eiffel Tower's metal structure, consisting of steel and iron, weighs 7,300 tons. The total weight is 10,100 tons. The model is length 24", width 24", height 66". Photographs and descriptions of models were included in the book "Models for the Blind," compiled by workers of the Ohio Writers' Program. The book was meant as a guide, to be used in the building and study of models, and as documentation of the achievements at the Ohio State School for the Blind. The models were a result of research, design and construction by employees of the Works Projects Administration. Models were made of durable materials to withstand regular usage. The average cost of labor for larger models was $45. A special room was built to store the models where teachers could borrow them to be used in classroom instruction. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F02_039_001
Subjects: United States. Work Projects Administration; Blind--Education--Ohio; Ohio State School for the Blind; Tour Eiffel (Paris, France)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: This flag is a textile(wool) with vertical blue (hoist side), white, and red stripes of equal width and a leather fastening. This flag was donated by Lieutenant Mildred Hindman of Columbus, Ohio in 1947. Flags of this design have been used since the fall of Napoleon (the start of the Bourbon Restoration) in 1815. Blue and red are associated with France's capital city, Paris, and patron saint, the Virgin Mary. The colors are said to represent three main estates (the clergy: white, the nobility: red, and the bourgeoisie: blue). This flag is not cataloged in this collection. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: H65448_001
Subjects: Ceremonial artifact; Communication artifact; Military flags; World War 1935-1945; National flag--France; Textile--wool;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: 7" x 4.5" photograph of an Eiffel Tower replica from a collection of models for the Ohio State School for the Blind. The Eiffel Tower is a 984-foot symbol in the capital city of Paris, France. It was built between 1887 and 1889 by designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel. It was erected as a central identifying feature of the Paris Exposition of 1889. It has three levels. Stairs are available to reach the first two levels. However, visitors must take an elevator to reach the third level. The highest level reaches a height equal to that of a 90-story skyscraper. The Eiffel Tower's metal structure, consisting of steel and iron, weighs 7,300 tons. The total weight is 10,100 tons. The model is length 24", width 24", height 66". Photographs and descriptions of models were included in the book "Models for the Blind," compiled by workers of the Ohio Writers' Program. The book was meant as a guide, to be used in the building and study of models, and as documentation of the achievements at the Ohio State School for the Blind. The models were a result of research, design and construction by employees of the Works Projects Administration. Models were made of durable materials to withstand regular usage. The average cost of labor for larger models was $45. A special room was built to store the models where teachers could borrow them to be used in classroom instruction. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F02_055_001
Subjects: United States. Work Projects Administration; Blind--Education--Ohio; Ohio State School for the Blind; Tour Eiffel (Paris, France)
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing the interior of the Ohio car of the French Gratitude Train. Seen on the right are posters from the Theatre Nationale. Also seen are display cases with French items and explanations. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_03
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Photograph showing the French Gratitude Train in what is believed to be Chillicothe, Ohio, 1950. The Warner Hotel, located on North Paint Street in downtown Chillicothe, can be seen in the background. The French Gratitude Train was stopped in Chillicothe from October 20-22, 1950, during its final stop on its route. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialties, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_05
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Chillicothe (Ohio); Ross County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing three visitors exiting the French Gratitude Train, in Newark, Ohio. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_06
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Newark (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the French Gratitude Train in Sandusky, Ohio, 1950. In 1948 the United States sent a large shipment of food, fuel and clothing to Le Havre, France, to be distributed to needy people in the war-torn country. To reciprocate, the French people collected gifts, including hand-made toys and crafts and local specialities, to send to the United States. The gifts filled 49 box cars, one for each state and one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington, D.C. The train, known as the "Gratitude Train," "Train de la Reconnaissance," or "Merci Train," arrived in the United States in 1949. The boxcars were "40 & 8" type cars that had been used to transport troops during World War I and World War II. The Ohio train traveled through the state from June 5 through October 22, 1950. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SC1344_07
Subjects: World War II; Postwar Europe; France; International relations; French Gratitude Train
Places: Sandusky (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)