Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1765

Repository:

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

Extent:

.21 linear feet (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Richard W. Taylor slides of Indian temple architecture, 1955-1968, Ms. Coll. 1765, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1955-1968 (inclusive)

Creator:

Taylor, Richard W. (Richard Warren), 1924-1988

Form:

Slides (photographs)

Abstract:

This collection of slides of Indian temple architecture were taken by the Reverend Richard W. Taylor, during his 30 years of service in India, as a missionary and co-founder of the Christian Institute of Religion and Society.

The Rev. Richard Warren Taylor was born on December 8, 1924 in Los Angeles, California to Herbert S. Taylor and Bonnie Snoke Taylor. He graduated from UCLA in 1947 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Boston University in 1950.

Taylor, known as Dick, was a United Methodist missionary who served in India for over 30 years. He spent most of his career with the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS), eventually becoming Associate Director. A committed Christian sociologist, he researched India's social, economic, political, and cultural issues, beginning with a major study of mass Buddhist conversions in 1956. He taught sociology at Hislop College in Nagpur, Maharashtra and Serampore College, Serampore, West Bengal. He also directed research programs, organized conferences, edited publications, and mentored scholars, making a lasting contribution to Christian social thought and responsible citizenship in India.

Taylor died suddenly during a family vacation in Srinagar, Kashmir on October 19, 1988, where he is buried.

Taylor married Mary Lyon Seasholes (1926-2017) on August 20, 1948, after becoming engaged while serving as delegates to the World Student Christian Federation in Oslo, Norway in 1947. The couple had 5 sons, George, Woodman, Brooks, Bradbury and Nathan.

Sources:

Scott, David C. "In Memoriam: Richard W. Taylor." Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies, vol. 2, Article 3, Jan. 1989, pp. 1–2, https://doi.org/10.7825/2164-6279.1012. Accessed 10 May 2026.

"Molly Taylor Lhamon." Barton Family Funeral Service, 2017, bartonfuneral.com/2017/10/17/molly-taylor-lhamon/. Accessed 11 May 2026.

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This collection of slides documents Richard W. Taylor passion for Indian temple architecture. According to Taylor's sons, Taylor developed quite the passion for searching out temples and taking slides which he thought would help someone research and teach about Hindu temple architecture. The slides were taken by Taylor with two Leica cameras over the course of his 30 year service as a missionary in India.

Taylor organized a majority of this collection by an alphanumeric system. This system is based on the month and year the image was taken, followed by the location or temple. For example G-8 slides were taken in November 1955 of the Ellora caves in Aurangabad, India. Taylor stops using this alphanumeric system in 1960, but was pretty consistent in writing the location or temple on the front of the slide. It should also be noted that Taylor photographed the same temple in multiple years. The Taj Mahal was photographed in 1956, 1957 and 1959. Some other sites photographed include the Panch Mahal, Buland Darwaza, Great Stupa at Sanchi, The Tomb of Muhammad Ghaus, Humayun's Tomb, Shore Temple, Karla Caves, and the Begunia Temple at Barakar.