NEW LONDON, Conn. — The United States Coast Guard Museum is currently hosting an exhibit of vintage movie posters pertaining to the Coast Guard in films from the 1920’s to the 1980’s.
The title of the exhibit is "Coast Guard goes to the Movies: The CDR Ralph W. Judd Collection". The show will run from Nov. 8, 2013 to May 26, 2014.
A graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 1954, Ralph W. Judd served on Coast Guard Cutter Northwind. He returned to the Academy in 1962 to become the chief of the physics section.
In 1972 he retired at the rank of commander and became a writer. Throughout his life, Cmdr. Judd was featured in Readers Digest, the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association Bulletin, National Lampoon, Christopher Street, and Veterans Voices. In 2006, he released his book, "The Coast Guard in Film." In 1997 he donated his collection of over 500 pieces of movie ephemera to the United States Coast Guard Museum. Commander Judd passed away in Seattle on Dec. 20, 2007.
This current exhibit is guest curated by Mary Elizabeth Pratt. Currently a senior at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, Ms. Pratt plans on pursuing a master’s degree in military history followed by a Ph.D. in history. "Coast Guard goes to the Movies: The CDR Ralph W. Judd Collection" is Ms. Pratt’s first exhibit.
The United States Coast Guard Museum is located at 31 Mohegan Avenue, New London, Conn., 06320. The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
