African Americana

67 photographs and 6 negatives, each 3 1/4 x 5 1/2 in., many with inked notations on verso or accompanied by typed paper labels describing the scenes. Subjects include the Emir of Zaria, prison labor, rare views of a hospital interior, men and women at work, and village, market, and landscape scenes.

Highlights include: Photograph with note on verso “The Emir of Zaria;” four with slips of paper with typed captions: “Some of the huts near Zaria are made of mud and thatch.” “[Pri]son labour passing through the city gate to work on the outer roads.” “The street scenes at Zaria are picturesque and colourful.” “To go to the dye works in the market one must reek with perfume of the strongest kind, to counteract the fearful odors of the native dye. The cloth is immersed in the deep holes in the rocks that hold the colour. Lathlite soil is used largely In dyeing.” Sixth image is unmarked, but shows a man in a shirt with Arabic lettering.

[With:] Photograph with note on verso: “Stocks are still in evidence in the old village of Zaria.” One of the other images is of people dyeing cloth (see previous group). The remaining two are village scenes, unmarked.

[With:] 2 rare 1912 views of a hospital interior, both with typed labels attached. One shows a group of people gathered around dancers and musicians. Another shows women at the riverbank with large pans for laundry or food preparation. Still another shows men on a handcart in a railyard. The last is a market scene with bundles of firewood for sale.

[With:] Celluloid negative with the caption: “A Native Court in Ujiji, Tanganyika Territory, Africa.” An accompanying card indicates it is from the 1890s.

[With:] 5 celluloid negatives show people sitting around, standing in the village square, kayaking.

[With:] 5 photographs with labels: “The market place in the city of Zaria.” “Market is sometimes held at the river.” “The wares are spread out in the sun. When it is food, the flies are thick upon it.” “The native beggars choose a shady spot to eat their noon repast.” “’Giddia Mata’ or ‘The House of women.’ Where an Emir’s wives after his death are placed. They never leave its walls, but are cared for in fitting manner by their attendants.” Sixth image is marked on verso “The oil refinery at B___ta.”

[Also with:] 45 more images, which include among others: “The vulture is a bird of good omen in the Northern Provinces.” “The natives are always ready to dance for a few coppers.” Views on shipboard on the way to Africa. Street scenes. There are a few of the Grand Canyon (or nearby), the Statue of Liberty, the New York skyline, and other American scenes, possibly taken as they returned home. A couple are positives printed from some of the negatives in the lot.