Photograph Album of Canton, 1870s

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Summary

Title:

Photograph album of Canton

Dates:

1870s

Creators:

Lai, Fong, approximately 1839-1890

Abstract:

The disbound album of 28 albumen photographs of Canton (Guangzhou), China and surrounding areas comprises a mix of Chinese scenes (temples, gardens, tea houses, rice fields) and images related specifically to the European community in Canton and its activities.

Extent:

1.5 Linear Feet (28 photographs in 1 album)

Language:

Collection material is in English with some French.

Preferred citation:

Photograph album of Canton, 1870s, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2010.R.3.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010r3

Background

Scope and content:

The disbound album of 28 photographs of Canton (Guangzhou) and surrounding areas compiled by an unidentified person in the 1870s. Based on the content of the album the compiler was likely a European residing in Canton at that time. The photographs comprise a mixture of Chinese scenes (temples, gardens, tea houses, rice fields), and images related specifically to the European community in Canton (Fort Macao; the European Concession on Shamian; the English church). Photographs recording the European community include three images taken at the Canton race course, two of which show the community gathered en masse; two group photographs taken on picnics in the Canton area; and a scene from an amateur theatrical production. One photograph reproduces a portrait painting or print of a young Chinese woman.

Two photographs are identified as being by Lai Fong and it is likely that he or his studio took a number of the images, as his studio frequently documented the events and outings of the denizens of the Western settlements in the treaty ports.

The album has blue paper covers. Captions are written on the mounts below the images in two different hands. Twenty-four English captions are written in pencil and four French captions are in ink. Two captions bear the date 1873. The image titles are taken from the captions.

Biographical / historical:

The compiler of the album is unknown. was likely a European residing in Canton during the 1870s.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 2010.

Processing information:

The finding aid was written by Beth Ann Guynn in 2020.

Arrangement:

Arranged in a single series:

Series I. Photograph album of Canton, 1870s.

Physical location:

Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Europeans -- China
Photograph albums -- China -- 19th century
Albumen prints -- China -- 19th century
Photographs, Original.
Group portraits -- China -- 19th century
Places:: Guangzhou (China) -- Description and travel
Shamian (China) -- Description and travel

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Beth Ann Guynn
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-03-19 09:07:15 -0700 .

Access and use

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