Eva L. R. Meyerowitz Photographs
name: label: Photographer
content: Meyerowitz, Eva L. R. (Eva Lewin Richter), 1899-1994
label: Creator
content: Meyerowitz, Herbert Vladimir, 1900-1945
place: label: Place
content: Africa
label: Place
content: Abomey (Benin)
label: Place
content: Umahahya (Nigeria)
label: Place
content: Techiman (Ghana)
label: Place
content: Benin
label: Place
content: Ghana
label: Place
content: Nigeria
topic: label: Topic
content: Tallensi (African people)
label: Topic
content: Akan (African people)
creator: label: Photographer
content: Meyerowitz, Eva L. R. (Eva Lewin Richter), 1899-1994
label: Creator
content: Meyerowitz, Herbert Vladimir, 1900-1945
culture: label: Culture
content: Fon (African people)
label: Culture
content: Konkomba (African people)
setName: label: See more items in
content: Eva L. R. Meyerowitz Photographs
abstract: label: Summary
content: This collection consists of negatives and photographic prints taken in 1936 and 1937 by Eva L.R. Meyerowitz in Nigeria, Benin and Ghana.  Peoples depicted include the Akan, Fon, Konkomba, and Tallensi and subjects include artisans, blacksmiths, dancing, markets, artwork and objects that were originally displayed in King Bezu's palace in Abomey, potters, shrines, and vernacular architecture.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Born in Berlin, Eva Lewin-Richter Meyerowitz (1899-1994) was an anthropologist and photographer.  In 1925 she married sculptor, educator, and British colonial administrator in Africa, Herbert Meyerowitz (1900-1945).  They had one child. Eva and Herbert moved to South Africa and collaboratively surveyed the indigenous crafts of the Gold Coast.  In South Africa, Herbert taught at Cape Town University and opened an art school.  Having moved away from Africa for several years, Meyerowitz returned after World War II and lived for forty years in the Bono-Tekyiman State of Ghana. She was made Queen Mother there in 1950.

Some of Meyerowitz's publications include: The Akan of Ghana (1958); The Divine Kingship in Ghana and Ancient Egypt (1962); and At the Court of an African King (1962).
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 88 Negatives (photographic) (black and white, 35 mm)
label: Extent
content: 268 Copy negatives (black and white, 35 mm)
label: Extent
content: 285 Photographic prints ((0.4 cubic feet; 3 binders), black and white, 8 x 10 inches or smaller)
label: Extent
content: 16 Contact sheets (black and white, 8 1/2 x 11 inches or smaller)
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1936 - circa 1937
custodhist: label: Custodial History note
content: Donated by Eva L.R. Meyerowitz, 1986.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: EEPA.1987-009
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Negatives (photographic)
label: Type
content: Copy negatives
label: Type
content: Photographic prints
label: Type
content: Contact sheets
label: Type
content: Black-and-white photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Collection arranged in two series by format:

Series 1: Negatives, 356 items, 0.1 cubic feet (1 box), 1936-1937

Series 2: Photographic Prints, 0.4 cubic feet (3 volumes), circa 1936 - circa 1937
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Negatives digitized in 2019.  Descriptive information prepared by Hannah Storch, 2019.  Finding aid by Eden Orelove, 2019.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Photographic prints
label: Genre/Form
content: Black-and-white photographs
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection measures 0.5 cubic feet and consists of negatives and photographs taken by Eva L.R. Meyerowitz in Abomey, Republic of Benin; Umahahya, Nigeria; and Techiman, Ghana.  Peoples depicted include the Akan, Fon, Konkomba, and Tallensi. Subjects include artisans; artwork and objects that were originally displyed in King Bezu's palace in Abomey, including sculptures, staffs, applique cloth, and bas-reliefs; blacksmiths; dancing; a Legba shrine; markets, including one in Bohicon, Nigeria; potters; priests and priestesses at Abomey; and vernacular architeture.  Individuals depicted include two wives of King Behanzin, Prince Justin Aho, and the only surviving Dahomey Amazon women warriors who had fought against the French in 1894.