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Photographic archives in Paris and London Pascale Dollfus

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Pascale Dollfus. Photographic archives in Paris and London. European bulletin of Himalayan research, University of Cambridge ; Südasien-Institut (Heidelberg, Allemagne)., 1999, Special double issue on photography dedicated to Corneille Jest, pp.103-106. ￿hal-00586763￿

HAL Id: hal-00586763 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00586763 Submitted on 10 Feb 2018

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. EBHR 15- 16. 1998- 1999

PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES IN PARIS AND epal among the Limbu. Rai. Chetri. Sherpa, Bhotiya and Sunuwar. LONDO ' Both these collections encompa'\s pictures of land ­ flY PA CALE DOLL FUSS scapes. architecture. techniques. agriculture. herding, lrade, feslivals. shaman practices. rites or passage. etc. In addition to these major collecti ons. once can find I. PUOTOGRAPfIIC ARCIUVES IN PARIS 350 photographs taken in 1965 by Jaeques Millot. (director of the RCP epal) in the Kathmandu Valley. Photographic Library ("Phototheque"), Musee de approx. 110 photographs (c. 1966-67) by Mireille Helf­ /'lIommc. fer. related primari Iy to musicians caSles, 45 photo­ 1'1. du Trocadero. Paris 750 16. graphs (1967-68) by Marc Gaborieau. 40 photographs The photographic library of the Musee de I' Homme taken in 1966 by Harka Gurung in the Upper Karnali currently includes some 2800 photographs, bOlh black Valley (Mugu. Tibrikot). a dozen pictures by Alexan­ and white and slides. devoted 10 the Himalayas. in addi­ der. W. Macdonald ( 1967). a dozen pictures laken in lion to the bundreds of photographs - not taken in the Terai as well as the Upper Trisuli Valley by R. account below - depicting the objects kepi in the Musee Rieffel, at the time a diplomat in Kathmandll. 15 photo­ de I'Homme elhnugrdphic collections. graphs taken in the 1970s by Albert Robi ll ard and The photographs arc classified first by country (. approx. 20 anonymous pictures concerning Kathmandu Nepal. Pakistan) and then according to themes such as urbanisation c.1965-70. local inhabitanls and costumes. selllements. landscapes. The Ell a Maillart collection ( 120 prints) taken all agriculJure. herding, techniques. rituals and festivals. over the Himalayas and must also be mentioned. architecture and monuments, etc. Finally. in 1981-82. 100 more photogrophs from the The o ld coll ection (before the I 930s.) includes : Kalash uf the Hindu-Ku sh (Paki stan) wcre bought by - 28 photographs taken by Johnston & Hoffman c. th e museum from the privulc collecti on of the photogra­ I 880s. (cf. supra) pher Hervc Negre. - 4 glass pi ales ( 1890-1904) captioned Annel (name In addition to this black and while pholographs. the of thc au thor ?), epal. Photographic Library has some 200 slides taken in - 2 studio-photographs lakeD before the 19305. by H. 1969 by Solange Thierry in the Kathmandu Valley. and Wentz in Kathmandu and captioned 'Deux jeune. by the photographer Henri Bancaud in the Kathmandu femmes nepalaises' . Valley and Humla (nonh-western Ncpal) c. 1980. - Dr. H.E. Kauffmann collection : approx. 370 photo­ Bcsides these Himalayan collections. the photogra­ graphs taken in the 1930s among different tribes of phic Library oflhe Musec de I' Homme also holds Tibet aga in Assam and describing the agas' daily life and collections. including 35 photographs by Jacqucs ceremonies. Sacot. a great scho lar who undertook several Asian In 1958. these collections were augmented by two expeditions which led him to eastem Tibel ( 1907) and donations: various pans of the Himalayas ( 1913-14 and 1930-31). - Gabrielle Benrand collection on Assam: approx. 50 approx. 80 photographs by Andre Guibaut and Louis photographs depicting various tribes of the north­ Liotard who undenook two expeditions along the Sal­ eastern Himalayas: Garo, Apa-Tani, Naga. etc .. ween River up to the Go-log country in the bent of the - G. Pourcher collection on Nepal: 145 photographs Yellow River in 1996-37 and 1939-40. and 24 photo­ taken in 1958 in Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara; the graphs from Alexandra David-Ncel. who traveled wide­ former including a set on the "coronation ceremonies of ly in Tibet between 191 4 and 1938. the bulk of the King Mahendra" (approx. 30 photos) and • set on goat A.D. . collection is kept in the Alexandra David- eel sacrifice. (approx. 25 photos). Foundation. Digne, France. In the course of the years, however, the HimaJayan section was expanded by photographic material collec­ Musee national des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet ted in the 19605. mainly in Nepal, by French anthropo­ 6 place Icna, Paris 75116. logists of the RCP Nepal based al the time in thc Musee Photographic Librarian : Jerome Ghesqui~rcs de I' Homme. Among them, special mention must be e-mail: jerome.ghesquiere@culture. fr. given to Corneille Jest and Philippe Sagant. TheMusee Guimet will rc-open in 1999-2000. The Corneille Jest collection comprises more than 550 photographs taken in different parts of epal The photographic archives of the Musee Guimet com­ (Kalhmandu Valley, Dolpo. Baglung, Langtang, Trisu­ prise 320 slidcs on and 3600 slides on epal, Ii, etc.) among the Newar, Dolpo-pa, Tibetans. M.gar, taken chieny in the Kathmandu Valley and primarily Thakali_ Chepang ... during 1960, 1963, 1965 and 1967 concerning siLes, architecture and mon um ents. In addi­ mi ssions. C. Jest also provided photographs taken in tion, the Musee Guimet possesses a quile large collec­ Sikkim in the I 950s. (India drawers). tion of black and white photos donated to the museum The Philippe Sagant collection consists of more than by Jean Mansion. This collection includes pictures 730 photographs taken in J 966-fi7, mainly in eastern taken in Tibet. Ladakh, Nepal and Bhutan.

103 for 'c!,am (monastic masked dances) and young men wearing vel vel hals. The pielure was probably laken D. PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVES IN LONDON during the feslival.

IlIdia Office library Tir e Henry Lee HadweJJ ShUI11eworfh Collection Orienlal & India Office collections of the British Libra­ c. 19 10·1920. ry. MSS. EUR. D. 722. This colleclion includes 2 boxes SI Pancras, Euslon Road. London NW I. (O.722129 and 0 .722130) comprising black and while OIOC collections are expecled 10 move before spring pholographs laken by Henry Lee Hadwen Shuuleworth '99. (c. 19 10-1920) India's weslern Himalayas (Kulu . e-mail ; [email protected] Lahul, Spiti and Ladakh). Unfortunalely. caplions and a numbering system are lacking. The India Office Library possesses a large co lleclion MSS.EUR.D.772129 displays 249 mi sce ll aneous prinls, devoled 10 Ih e Himalayas. 11 is divided belween Ihe including some views of (Ladakh), lemple inleri ors Reading Room and the Prinl and Drawings Department. and masked dances, Buddhisl monumenls such as chor­ For reasons of space, Tibet, Simla. Mussooric and Dar­ len and rock carvin gs, nomadic people (from jeeling, and Ihe "North Easlem Frontiers Provinces" of '1), converted Chrislians. farme rs. ele. India (Assam. Arunachal P.) are excluded and only Ihe MSS. EUR. D. 722130 consisled of 169 beauliful pano­ most importan t coll ecti ons arc listed below. ramic views lakcn in Kulu. Lahul and SpitL including among many others a view o f Kyi village in Spiti. of IOL Rcadjoo Room in Lahul ; Ihe connuence of the Pin and Spili rivers near Dangkar. Ih e Bhaga valley. or Ihe Tshomori­ The J. Claude IVhite Collection ri Lake in Ladakh. Mosl of Ihese photos arc also kepi in The IOL Slores Ihe bulk of Ihe l .C. While Coll ection Ihe Royal Geographical SocielY. bUI wilh capli ons. on Sikkim. Bhutan and Tibet. l .C. White (1853- 191 8) (illfra) lived for 2 1 years in Ihe Himalayan region. He was pro­ moted to Ihe POSI of polilical onicer in charge of Ihe Tire F. Bournes Collectioll 1925 administration of Sikkim in 1889 and of Bhulan in Under MSS.EUR. E. 364 is kepi in a box conlaining Sir 1905. Hi s pholographic albums Sikkilll (1902) and Tibet F. Bournes' and hi s wife's papers. medals. diploms. and (1908), which contain some of Ihe mosl waler colours and an album of 120 pholographs shol in amazing images of Tibet and th e Himalayas. were 1925 during a one-monlh summer trek Ihrough "Indian publi shed by lohnslon and Hoffmann. Some of Ihem, Tibel" from Kulu 10 across Lahul (Kyelang, primarily portrails and groups of people, arc also kepi Palseo, Baralacha pass) and Ladakh (Lingli pl ain . allhe Royal Geographical SocielY. Lachalung pass, Debring, Gya. . Chu chol. Leh. Saspol. . Mulbek. and Zoji -Ia). Th e Sir Charles Alfred Bell Collection This renowned coll ection encompasses more than 500 Tir e Sir Robert N. Reid Collectioll 1933·1941 prints laken before Ihe 1920s. The eolleclion focusing MSS. EU R. E. 278/86. An Album belongi ng 10 Sir primarily on Tibel, is di vided among 4 boxes MSS. Rober! Niel Reid ( 18 83- 1964) and conl ai ning 488 EUR F.801282: 801283: 801284, 801287 and IWO enve­ prinls concerning Bhutan and laken belween 1933 and lopes (MSS EU R F 80/288 a & b). 1941. C. Oell (1878- 1945) was a Brilish administralor who spenl many years frum 1901 10 191 8 in Darjeeling. Tir e S),1II011 Alec Collectioll Kalimpong, and Sikkim in Ihe easlern Hjmalayas. From MSS. EUR E 367. Bux 2. This box includes a diary May 10 Seplember 1904, he was fortunale enough 10 be along with an envelope of black and while pholographs able 10 push through Bhulan 10 Tibel, and was Ihen in (withoul caplions) of landscapes and monumenls. A. charge of Ihe Chumbi Valley. Finally, in November Symon wilh his wife Dodo Symon undertook a journey 1920 in response 10 repealed invitalions from the Dalai from the Indian border to Kathmandu Ihrough Ihe Terai Lama, he went 10 Lhasa for nearly one year. in November 1947. In addition 10 the large eo lleclion devoled 10 central Tibel (Lhasa, Ganden, Drepung and Gyanlse), Ihey are IOL Prints and Drawings Department IWU sels concerning Sikkim and the Chumbi valley, and This departmenl slores aboul 160 pholographs - mainly several prinlS devoled 10 Nepal as well as the Mishmi anonymous - laken in , Ladakh, Darjeeling and people and their seulemenlS. Nepal belween Ihe lasl decades of the )(lXlh cenlury and the firsl decades of the XXlh. Th e Fronds Younglwsband Collection MSS . EUR F. 197/65 I. Two large formal prints; one Baltistan and Ladaklr showing Leh bazaar e.1904 and the olher, a group com­ 1870s ; 4 stereoscopic views of unidenlified Ladakhi prising th e king of Ladakh along wilh monks dressed villages (Basgo. and Shergol '1) . onc dislanl

104 EB HR 15- 16. 1998- 1999 view of lhe Buddhisl monaslery at Lamayuru . and onc game, elc.) view of the Buddhist monastery at Thiksey. 1896- I 899, H.P. Oeasy & A. Pike : 3 distant views of 1899 : a dozen prints showing th e town of Khapalu, lhe Leh and 6 pictures of . Shigar Valley. shepherds huts and uni denli fied vi ll ages 1900, Lieut. A.A. Crookshank: approx. 15 photos in Baltistan; taken in Eastern Ladakh : Gya, Tsomorari, Tsokar. a dozen pri nt s including yak as pack-animal; pitching Debring, wild animals and hunting scencs. camp in Ladakh; th e Buddhi st monasteries of Basgo 1903. Capt. C. G. Rawling : approx. 50 photos takcn and Hemis; Leh bazaar. palace and Muslim cemetery; throughout Ladakh. in Puri g, Basgo, Le h (caravanserai, cho rt en and praycr-wa ll s; nomads' bl ack tents in shoeing ponies. etc.). Changthang (nomads, wildlife, Chang-thang. hunting). c. I 928 : 60 pi ctures including a scenic view of th e 1904. Jane E. Duncan : approx. 10 photos taken in the Valley. Leh town, Hemi s and Lamayuru monas­ Shyok Vall ey showing pctruglyphs and rock-carvings. teries. ploughing in lhe Indus valley. yaks and sheep as J.E. Duncan look part in an archac logical excavation pack-animals, bridge, Wakha vall ey. Zoji-la near Kh alatse with A.H. Franckc. pass. 1906, Capt. C.M. Ritchic : a dozen small and poor qua­ lity prints on Leh , north ern and eastern Ladakh. MOUIII Evere.f1 and "H imalayolJ range" 192 I, Miss G. Macklin : approx. 20 photos of people About 35 views (including teleph otographs) of Mount and landscapes from western Ladakh (Kargil. Mulbek. Everest , Kanchcnjunga and "others snowy peaks and Wakha). woodcd hillsides in the Himalaya." taken between th c 1923 -25. Capt. E.L.G. Griffith Williams : more than 50 1860s and 1929. photos taken in western, central and eastern Ladakh (Kargil. . Lamayuru . Nurla. Phyang, Leh. NeIJlt/. Kmlmlllluiu Valley , Tsomorari and Pangong lakes). About 40 photographs from lhe Kathm andu Valley bet­ 1925. Col. R. Meincrtzhagcn : approx. 10 photos ween th e 1860s and 190 I including street sce nes in dcpi cting Mulbck Chamba, Lch. Hemi s monastery. Kathrna ndu. Balhing and Cremati on Ghat al Pashu pat i. Pangong Lake. and Shyok confluence. Durbar sq uare at Patan and Bhatgaon. th e Buddhist 1927. Dr. E. Trinklcr: 2 photos of landscape taken in temple of Shimbhoonath IS wayambunath l. Among th e north-eastern Ladakh (Aksai Chin . Chang ehenm o va l­ oldest are an anonymous picture of a man holding a ley). sword untitl ed "Ramnath subovadur guide" (1860's). 1928. Lieut. Col. C. H. Stock Icy : 5 photos takcn at Leh ';;OIllC beauliful views of the "valley and city of Kath­ and Hcmis monastery. mandu" and several ve ry interesting "scenes from the 1932-33. H. de Terra : 5 landscapes of Tsomomri and Indra Jatra festiva), ' taken in 1863 by c.c. Taylor. Pangong lakes.

71,. Royal Geographical Society Nepal I Kensington Gore The ph oLOgraph s relmed 10 Nepal \l rc riled wi lh in 2 Lo ndon SW7 2AR 'Nepal Pakistan ' compartments according to their sizc. Pict urc Librarian : Joann a Scadden and few envelopes. Six large, red boxes arc devoted la e- mail: picLurcs@ rgs.org th e 01 field coll ection. 1854- I 860, the OldJield Collectioll . The Royal Geographical Society di splays an eX lraordi ­ This unique historical co llection cont ains, bes ides beau­ nary coll eclion of pi ctures devoted to the Karakorum. tiful water-colours. a large sct of exceptional photo­ the Himalayas, and Tibet. Each print has a number : graphs of landscapes and architecture taken c. 1850-60 030180.088770, etc. and, usually, a caplion specifying in lhe Kalhmandu Valley. Among th e forme r, sevcral place, date and name of photographer. The photographs picturcs should be noted, such as the views of Kath­ arc filed by area, such as Kashmi r. Nepal-Pakistan. mandu one takcn from Swayambunath. the other from Indi a. Tibet. For example. if you want to learn about ., agarjoon mountain", a view of Nuwakot and and a Ladakh. onc mu st look in the . India and Tibet view of "Bheemphety village at the foot of the Cheese­ drawers. pani Mountain. wilh a view of the Host of Cheesaghur­ Conccming Weslem Himalayas, The RGS possesses a rie near its summit". dated January 1854. large collection of images (over 200 prints) frum the Henry Ambrose Oldfield (1822- I 87 I) was posted to period 1890- I 933, concerning Ballistan and Ladakh. Nepal in March 1850 as Residency Surgeon and remai­ Some of lhe panoramic views of Lahul-Spili by H.L.M. ned lhere until his retirement in 1868. Shullleworth (supra. 10L) are also kept there. 1894 J Ohll'

t05 1926. Capl. J. C. Morris: approx. 100 photographs of anonymous, c. 1905: approx. 10 poor quality photo­ landscapes, settl ements and people taken in the Terai, graphs depicting landscapes, Buddhist prayer walls and central and eastern Nepal, including among others, chortens, and monks takcn in Nycmo, Saspol. Basgo. splendid pictures or Ingla and Massiang vi llages, Fatula pass, etc. Magar women. 1924-26. Major W. Brook Northey. Numerous photo­ Nepal and HimalayolI range graphs shot in thc Kathmandu Valley in 1924 and a se t 1900- 1909. An album including vicws or th e Hima­ on Mas,iang village taken in 1926 during the journey in layas eastern Nepal with J.c. Morris. 1922. Everest Expedition 1949-50. Tiirnan. Two main boxes comprising nume­ 1933 5 photos, Houston Mount bverest Flight Expedi­ rOUS small size photographs without any number or li on caption: Upper Kali Gandaki valley, Mustang 7: and 4 Worth noting : a exceptiona l panoramic view ( 140 CIll beautirul photographs taken in 1950 : "Looking up x 15) showing th e northern slope or th e Himalayas Marsyandi va ll ey from Pisang" amI uKallli river near made rrom various photographs taken c. 1922-24 by Tange". Mr. Milward: 1978. Richard Ravensdale : a set or photographs taken - an amateur film shot in the 1930s. by Ll. Col. W. during the Pokhara-Muktinath and Trisu li-Langtang Emsden-Lambert in Kulu. Kangra. and Mahili; trips. - and numerous photographs depicting coloni al li re in the hills (Mussoorie, Simla. DilIjeeling). In addition to these collecti ons related to Ladakh and epal. the Royal Geographical Society orrers a large Royal Anthropological Institute collection. especiall y devoted to Sikkim. Bhutan and Photographic Library Tibet. and ehi eny comprising photographs or Tibet. 50 Fitzroy Streel. London WI P 51·IS. Sikkim and Bhutan The Royal Anthropological Institute boasts the P.A. Tibel Johnston and T. Horrmann stud io portraits or Tibetans by Chandra Das ( 1879-08). G.R. Lillledale ( 1895). and Nepalese: 60 portraits or "Natives" (ru ll race. left Capl. Rawling (1903), Capt C. H.D. Ryder (1904). Per­ profile or right profile) taken c. 1880s. Each prinl is 6" eeval Landon ( 1904), ( 1906-08). Brig. x 4" wide. Gen. G. Pereira (19 10 & 1921-23), Capl. Noel (1913 & Johnston and Horrmann (dates unknown) were the pro­ 1922), W. Pierdom ( 1914-1915), Major E.O. Wheeler prietors or a photographi c studio in C.lcuua and publi ­ ( 1921). E. Teichmann (192 1 Eastern Tibet). Capl. shers or the J. Claude White albu ms. They had also H.R.C. Meade (1922), F. Kingdom Ward (1924 , 1932- established smaller studi os along Ihe harder between 33. 1935 Eastern Tibet). H. Ruttledge (1926, Western Tibet and epal. where they specialize in photogra­ Tibet), Cap I. M.R. Sinelair ( 1931 ), E.W. Fletcher phing the local inhabitants (see in this vo lume th e ( 1931 ). J.L.R. Weir (1931 ) or Tibet. Sir G. Taylor article or Pratyoush Ont.). ( 1935 S.E. Tibet & Assam), F. Spencer Chapman The captions or the photographs mention : "Lepehas or (1937 ). Sikkim. Nepalese Black-s mith casle or Kami : a Tibctan lady rrom Tashilhumpo wearing Lhasa style or dress: Sikkim Newars; a Sherpa, a Tibeto-Nepalese. a Gurung or Eas­ by Chandra Das (1879-08), Rev. R.A. MacLeod (1926). tern Nepal; Limbus: a Bhotiya: a Yakha; Mangors; a Bhutall Tamang; Nepalese Rajpuls: a Goldsmith casle or Eas­ by J.C. Wh ite (1905), Capt. H.R.C. Meade (1922). tern Nepal; a Murmi or Eastern Nepal: Jimdars or And also several sets concernin g Karakorum valleys Kharnbus or Eastern Nepal ("onc of the righ ting (Gilgi t, Astor. Hunz., Baltit. etc) and glaciers (Biaro. tribes"). a Sikkimese "slave" or Gharti: a Nepalese cul­ Baltoro ... ) by Major J.R. Roberts (1895. extraodinary tivator casle Western Nepal wearing European cap". photographs). G.J.F. Knowles (1902), J.B. Mackintosh ( 1905). A.R.B. Shuttleworth ( 1909), T. Longstarr Acknowledgements : (1910), c.P. Skrine (1922-24), G. Dainelli (1930), etc.

I am grateful to Joelle Smadjil and Mane Lccomlc-Tilouinc National Army Museum for their assistance concerning the collections in London. Tro­ Royal Hospital Road. Chelsea vel expenses in London for the three of us were financed by London SW3 4HT. the programme coordinated by Juellc Smadja : "Hi sLoin: cl Picture Librarian : P. Boyden dcvcnir des Paysages en Himalaya". I also wi h to thank Jcromc Ghesquicrcs for information on the photographic Only, a rew photographs and films are kept there. archi ves or the MusCc Guimcl.

Ladakh 1873. Cap I. E.F. Chapman. approx. 10 photographs taken in Leh ci ty and in Panamik vi llage (Nubra).

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