Chappman (Edward Francis) photographs, 1873-1874

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Summary

Title:

Edward Francis Chapman photographs of Yarkand and Kashgar

Dates:

1873-1874

Creators:

Chapman, Edward Francis, 1840-1926

Abstract:

The album of 90 photographs documents the information gathering mission from Leh, India to Yarkand (Shache), China led by Sir T. D. Forsyth in 1873. The photographs portray the southern branch of the Silk Road and its routes, and are the first photographic record made of the indigenous inhabitants of Chinese Turkistan.

Extent:

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language:

Collection material is in English.

Preferred citation:

Edward Francis Chapman Photographs of Yarkand and Kashgar, 1873-1874, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2017.R.16.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2017r16

Background

Scope and content:

The album of 90 albumen photographs documents the information gathering mission from Leh, India to Yarkand (Shache) China led by Sir T. D. Forsyth in 1873 that was instigated by a request from Yakup Beg, Amir of Yarkand and Kashgar, to establish a relationship with British India. The photographs document the southern branch of the Silk Road and its routes, and are the first photographic record of the indigenous inhabitants of Chinese Turkistan.

Forty-five of Chapman's photographs were used to illustrate T. D. Forsyth's Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873 (1875).

Ninety photographs are adhered to 89 mounts. English captions are written on the mounts below the images. The photographs are numbered 1-97 sequentially near the bottom of their mounts, with some numbers lacking: 3; 4; 25; 66; 73; 75; 80; and 90. Some photographs are numbered in the negative; these numbers do not correspond to the numbers on the mounts.

Arrangement

Arranged in a single series: Series I. Edward Francis Chapman Photographs of Yarkand and Kashgar, 1873-1874.

Biographical / historical:

Edward Francis Chapman (1840-1926) was commissioned into the Bengal Artillery (later Royal Artillery) in 1858. He saw service in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Arogee, and Magdala (Amba Mariam) before accompanying Sir Thomas Douglas Forsyth on his six-month mission to Yarkand (Shache) in 1873. Prior to their departure, Chapman took a compressed course in photography at the Bourne & Shepherd studio in Shimla, India. Chapman rose through the military, becoming Commander-in-Chief of India in 1881 and its Quarter-master General in 1885. In 1896, he achieved the rank of general and was made Commander Scottish District. He was awarded Knight Commander of the order of the Bath (KCB) in 1905. Chapman authored several books on military tactics and military history.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 2017.

Processing information:

The finding aid was written by Beth Ann Guynn in 2018.

Physical location:

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Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Indigenous peoples -- Asia, Central
Albumen prints -- China -- 19th century
Photographs, Original

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Beth Ann Guynn
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-02-25 15:36:35 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:: Open for use by qualified researchers.
Terms of access:: Contact Library Reproductions and Permissions.