Irene Guttman: Life Magazine
The November 17, 1947 edition of Life Magazine featured the article "Orphans Clothed." The three page spread included six images of two young "war orphans": Irene Guttman and Charles Karo.
Poster children
Both Irene and Charles were Jewish orphans who had survived the Holocaust and were brought to New York by an organization called Busy Buddies, a group affiliated with Rescue Children, Inc. and their Child Adoption Program. The brief article that accompanied these vibrant images noted that Irene lost her parents in the concentration camps while Charles' parents died of starvation. There is no mention of what Irene or Charles had lived through. More about children as a symbol of postwar need >
The wonder of America
Rather, the article focused on the work of Busy Buddies to raise money in support of orphans like Irene and Charles. And, the photographs show the children in awe of American opportunity and generosity: they are shown surrounded by food, new clothes, and gazing up at the wonder of New York City. More about the theme of America in postwar survivor narratives >
Fundraising goal
While the article raised awareness of the plight of Jewish orphans and directed readers to a viable avenue for action (financial support of Busy Buddies), the experiences and traumas of Irene and Charles were diminished to reveal the joy of children in America. As can be seen in the representations that follow here, Irene's story as a Mengele Twin was told in more detail in the 1990s and until today and reveals a darker picture than the images from Life.
Poster children
Both Irene and Charles were Jewish orphans who had survived the Holocaust and were brought to New York by an organization called Busy Buddies, a group affiliated with Rescue Children, Inc. and their Child Adoption Program. The brief article that accompanied these vibrant images noted that Irene lost her parents in the concentration camps while Charles' parents died of starvation. There is no mention of what Irene or Charles had lived through. More about children as a symbol of postwar need >
The wonder of America
Rather, the article focused on the work of Busy Buddies to raise money in support of orphans like Irene and Charles. And, the photographs show the children in awe of American opportunity and generosity: they are shown surrounded by food, new clothes, and gazing up at the wonder of New York City. More about the theme of America in postwar survivor narratives >
Fundraising goal
While the article raised awareness of the plight of Jewish orphans and directed readers to a viable avenue for action (financial support of Busy Buddies), the experiences and traumas of Irene and Charles were diminished to reveal the joy of children in America. As can be seen in the representations that follow here, Irene's story as a Mengele Twin was told in more detail in the 1990s and until today and reveals a darker picture than the images from Life.
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