Ethiopia Photograph Album
place: label: Place
content: Africa
label: Place
content: Ethiopia
topic: label: Topic
content: Animals -- Africa
label: Topic
content: Vernacular architecture
label: Topic
content: Religious processions -- Ethiopia
culture: label: Culture
content: Afar (African people)
abstract: label: Summary
content: This collection includes one photographic album containing 269 silver gelatin black and white prints (12 x 16 cm.) and dates from 1936-1941.  The photographs were taken in northern Ethiopia, and possibly Somalia. The images highlight peoples including the Danakil and Afar, dress, adornments, coiffures, churches, and historical residence, among other subjects.
bioghist: label: Historical note
content: Unknown photographer. The album was likely compiled by Italian military officers around the beginning of World War II.  At the time, Italy had colonies in Libya and Italian East Africa (now Libya).  The cover of the album reads: "FONDAZIONE DELL IX IMPERO ANNO XIV MAGGIO", which translates to "Foundation of the Ninth Empire year 14 May"
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 269 Photographic prints (1 box, 1 album; black & white, 12 x 16 cm. )
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1936-1941
container: label: Container
content: Box 1
custodhist: label: Custodial History note
content: Purchased, 1995. Conserved through a preservation grant funded by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee, 2006.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: EEPA.1995-019
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Photographic prints
label: Type
content: Black-and-white photographs
label: Type
content: Black-and-white negatives
arrangement: label: Arrangement note
content: Original album order maintained.
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Finding aid created by Eden Orelove, June 2017.  Images digitized in 2012.  

Most of the images have copy prints available for viewing in the Archives.  There were also (269) copy negatives made in-house of the collection (5x4 in.).
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographic prints
label: Genre/Form
content: Black-and-white photographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Black-and-white negatives
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection includes one photographic album containing 269 silver gelatin black and white prints (12 x 16 cm.) and dates from 1936-1941.  The photographs were taken in northern Ethiopia (Afar region) and possibly Somalia, and may have been produced by Italian military members during the occupation and war with Ethiopia. The images largely depict groups and portraits of African peoples, including the Danakil and Afar, scenic views, soldiers, vernacular architecture, churches, and towns.  Many photographs depict animals, including lions, camels, warthogs, wildebeest, porcupines, hyenas, baboons, cheetahs, snakes, and ostriches.  Of particular note are photos of an Ethiopian priest with a cross, an Ethiopian horseman with a shield, and clergy in full ceremonial attire.