Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1166

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

0.08 linear feet (1 volume)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

India, Burma and Ceylon photograph album, 1945 October-1947 January, Ms. Coll. 1166, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1945 october-1947 january (inclusive)

Form:

Photograph albums and Photographs

Abstract:

This collection of about 200 photographs represents the time a young woman spent in India from October of 1945 to January of 1947, while she was likely working at military hospitals.

It's likely the creator of this collection was in India as part of the military medical corps of that time. The two hospitals mentioned in the captions of the photographs, the Combined Military Hospital in Poona and the "49 I.G.H." in Meiktila (49th Indian General Hospital) may have been her base of operations for part of her stay. Her rank and the nature of work (whether she was a nurse or an administrator) are not mentioned. Although a few photographs of the hospital and patients are present, the focus of the collection is her experience outside the hospital.

This collection of about 200 photographs represents the time a young woman spent in India from October of 1945 to January of 1947, while she was likely working at military hospitals. Her initials are probably S.F.L. but her name is not known. It's possible she was English but her nationality is not provided either. The photographs capture her leisure activities mainly composed of travel and every day time spent with friends. Some photos are missing from the album and there are a few loose photos as well. The hospitals mentioned are the Combined Military Hospital in Poona and the "49 I.G.H." in Meiktila, likely the 49th Indian General Hospital.

The creator traveled extensively. Her destinations included Bombay, Madras, Coimbatore, Mysore, Trichinopozy, Bangalore, Old Delhi, New Delhi, Ceylon Mussouri, Rangoon, Manday, Maymyo, and Madras. She appears to have left India from the port of Colombo on the M.S. Isipingo. The sights in these cities and towns were widely photographed. There is also a page labeled "Burmese Interlude" but has photos of people marked "Kenya." An extensive hiking trip is captured as well, detailing the experience of a long trip to Mossy Falls, then to Lakhwar, Churani, Chakrata, Deoban, Nagthat, Sainje, and Mussouri.

A researcher will find in this collection a commitment to photographing people as well as places. Many photos of the creator and her friends are present and provide insight into this group's activities. Cricket, sailing, tennis, picnics, hikes, trips, motorcycle rides are all part of the experience. There are many candid as well as posed shots, though there are no formal studio photographs. Most of the people photographed are of the creator and her friends. However, there are a fair number of photographs of locals living their lives as well, with laborers, beggars, snake charmers, families, and more providing a view of the life of Indians.