Photograph of Elsie Hansen of Dorchester playing the piano with Marines as part of Bernard Gorfinkle’s piano donation initiative, 1941.
Colonel Bernard Gorfinkle was visiting the Yankee Division at Fort Devens and Camp Edwards in 1941 when he realized that “on many evenings the boys were just twiddling their thumbs,” but would greatly appreciate a piano for playing, singing and socializing. By one month later, 241 pianos had been donated to the troops in Massachusetts. As Gorfinkle's plea for pianos spread, the "piano blitzkreig" became the largest piano moving project in New England, providing soldiers entertainment as well as artistic and cultural expression.
Bernard L. Gorfinkle Papers (P-664),Box 4, Folder 10