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The Camp Ruston Collection

About the Collection

The Louisiana Tech Archives hosts an extensive collection of photographs, documents, and artifacts from the WWII-era prisoner of war camp known as Camp Ruston. Some of the items encompassed in this collection include:

  • Books from the camp library, drawings made by prisoners, wood carvings and other artwork and furniture crafted by the prisoners.
  • Items unearthed during Tech’s archaeological survey of the site.
  • Camp Ruston script, Christmas cards, dinner menus, musical concert programs, athletic equipment, and dinnerware.
  • Photographs of staff and prisoners.
  • ...and more!

Cesare Puelli

Camp Ruston scrip, photo of Puelli as prisoner, two pressed flowers (one annotated from Camp Ruston 1943-1945), U.S. Map showing his route by train from New York City to Camp Ruston, color photocopy, (1944)

Portrait of a group of three people.

Photographed are Mary Snelling and Nancy Colvin, who worked at Camp Ruston. The third person is a man dressed in military clothing.

German prisoner of war funeral procession

German Prisoner of War funeral procession. Notice German flag on the coffin.

Model Rhine Castle

Photograph of a model replica of the Rhine Castle constructed by the German prisoners of war at Camp Ruston.

Ariel view of Camp Ruston

Ariel view of Camp Ruston. The photograph shows the watchtower, fence, and buildings.

Clearing of watch tower site

June 12, 1994: the clearing of the watch tower site during the archaeological excavation of Camp Ruston

Mark Scalia and the remains of the model Rhine Castle

Archaeologist Mark Scalia, who led the excavation of the Camp Ruston site, is photographed with the remains of the model Rhine Castle, which was built by prisoners during their internment at the camp.

Clearing of watch tower site

1994: the unearthed foundation of the watch tower at the Camp Ruston archaeological dig site

Archaeological dig site of Camp Ruston

1994: Kristen Forrester at the archaeological dig site of Camp Ruston

Archaeological dig site map

Map of the 1994 archaeological dig site of Camp Ruston