Portraits for the Home Front: The Story of Elizabeth Black

Leaving a promising art career behind, Pittsburgh native Elizabeth Black (1912-1983) joined the American Red Cross at the height of World War II. On special assignment, she sketched hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen throughout Europe and sent the treasured portraits to worried families back home. Seventy years later, Black's son uncovered photographs of her sketches, scrapbooks, news clippings and other memorabilia from her forgotten footlocker. Through Black's unforgettable sketches, rare archival images and interviews with the veterans and their families, PORTRAITS FROM THE HOME FRONT explores Black's lost art career and her distinguished service during World War II. It also captures memorable scenes of amazed families finally receiving the lost portraits, some of which capture loved ones killed in action.

Episode Duration: 58 minutes and 20 seconds




NHPBS Over-the-Air Broadcast

WENH-TV Ch. 11 Durham

WLED-TV Ch. 48 Littleton

WEKW-TV Ch. 18 Keene

W50DP-D Ch. 50 Hanover

W34DQ-D Ch. 34 Pittsburg

Cable and Satellite Channels


NHPBS Five Channels

NHPBS - 11.1

NH Explore - 11.2

NH World - 11.3

NH Create - 11.4

NH Kids - 11.5

Learn More


NHPBS NHPBS Passport Passport

Mr Bates vs The Post Office | Episode 1
This Old House | E18 | Glen Ridge Generational | Vintage
Ask This Old House | E18 | Shade Sod, Rocky Canyon Rustic | Ask This Old House
Alice & Jack | Episode 1
Nolly | Episode 1
Antiques Roadshow | LSU Rural Life Museum, Hour 3
History with David Rubenstein | Jeffrey Frank
Menus-Plaisirs - Les Troisgros | Menus-Plaisirs - Les Troisgros
Austin City Limits | ACL 9th Annual Hall of Fame Honors Trisha Yearwood
Rick Steves' Europe | Mighty Alps
Great Performances | George Jones: Still Playin' Possum
Nature | Patrick and the Whale
NOVA | Building the Eiffel Tower
Finding Your Roots | Mean Streets
Local, USA | In the Bubble with Jaime
Gospel | Gospel's Second Century
Reel Midwest: Homegrown | Episode 4
GOSPEL Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. | GOSPEL Live! Presented by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers | ROAR: The Story of the Southern Columbia Football Tigers
Independent Lens | Racist Trees
POV | Brief Tender Light
America's Test Kitchen | Multicooker Perfection
All Creatures Great and Small | Episode 7
Miss Scarlet & The Duke | Episode 6: The Fugitive
American Masters | HOPPER: An American love story (ASL + Audio Description)
Next at the Kennedy Center | Cynthia Erivo & Friends: A New Year's Eve Celebration
CHILDREN IN CRISIS: The Story of CHIP | CHILDREN IN CRISIS: The Story of CHIP
America ReFramed | By Water
Funny Woman | Episode 1