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Indian photograph album

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

This volume contains very few hints of its creator. It is probable that it was created by a British soldier in the 3rd Sappers and Miners in the Indian Army, but beyond two photographs of the Corps' mess hall, there are only limited indications of a military connection.

This photograph album was likely created by a British soldier in India in the early 20th century. The album contains about 100 photographs, both in the album and loose. Loose photos have been placed into a folder.

The album chronicles the sights of India in several regions, where he was likely either living or a tourist. Areas include Shimla, Pune, Nainital, Khadki, Ghorbunder, Bombay, Trichinopoly, Agra, and Delhi. Many of the photographs are landscapes or famous sites. The creator of the album captured Shimla in summer and under the snow and hail, and has flood and non-flood photos of the River Bund. A researcher will find photos of Delhi, including the Taj Mahal, Kulab Minar and the Pearl Mosque. There are a few photos of leisure activities such as sailing at the Puna Boat Club or Bombay Yacht Club or tennis in Nainital. Some of the photos capture locals in everyday activities like a vegetable stand, an ox-drawn carriage, or a fakir feeding monkeys. There are several photographs of people using mussuck rafts in the Sutley Valley. There are also two photographs of mess hall for the sapper and miners (Indian Army Corp of Engineers). In Shimla, the photographer captured the army headquarter offices and the United Services Club.

Though most of the photographs are of the sights, a few individuals are mentioned by name: Major Stokes, Alaric, and Elaine. A woman named Margaret is also referenced on a trip to Delhi and Harry is memorialized sailing at the Bombay Yacht Club.

Researchers will find that the spelling of various towns and sights mentioned in the finding aid are the modern spelling and are not consistent with the spelling used in the actual volume of photographs.

Purchase, 2006

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Finding Aid Author
Clémence Scouten
Finding Aid Date
2015 December 3
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Collection Inventory

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Photograph album, 1909-1914.
Box 1 Folder 1
Loose photos (include a British family as well as several sites), undated.
Box 1 Folder 2

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