Aurora Studio and Kenji Uchida Photographic Postcards of the Philippines, approximately 1906-1930s

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Summary

Title:
Aurora Studio and Kenji Uchida photographic postcards of the Philippines
Dates:
approximately 1906-1930s
Abstract:
Photographs of the Philippines produced by two Japanese photographers based in Zamboanga.
Extent:
0.54 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Aurora Studio and Kenji Uchida photographic postcards of the Philippines, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of 52 photographic postcards and some unmounted photographs of the Philippines created by two Japanese-owned photography studios based in Zamboanga City prior to World War II. The images by Kenji Uchida and the Aurora Studio date from approximately 1906 to the 1930s and depict scenes in the Zamboanga region and Jolo. Subjects include people in everyday activities; street scenes and bird's-eye-views; Moro people praying in the chapel; coconut husking on a farm; ships; schools; and church buildings. Most photographs have identifying captions produced on the prints.

Biographical / historical:

Kenji Uchida arrived in Zamboanga City, Philippines from Kobe, Japan in 1906 and was believed to be the first person to operate a photo shop in that city, in front of City Hall. Uchida maintained a studio with another Japanese photographer named Koyama who owned the Aurora Studio along Calle Madrid. In 1939, realizing that war was imminent, Uchida sold all his equipment to Koyama and left for Davao where he worked for the Japanese Chamber of Commerce as translator to General Morimoto of the Japanese Imperial Army.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Michael Maslan Vintage Posters, Photographs, Postcards Ephemera, November 2024.
Processing information:

Processed in April 2025 by Suzanne Oatey.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Suzanne Oatey
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-04-15 10:13:37 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Aurora Studio and Kenji Uchida photographic postcards of the Philippines, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
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