Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Russell Hamilton postcards
Hamilton, Russell
EEPA.2003-001
Archival Resource Key
49 Postcards
black & white
9 x 14 cm.
between 1900 and 1909
English
.
1
Scope and Contents
The collection includes 49 postcards collected by the English petty officer Russell Hamilton (d.1911) during his voyages made prior to 1909, likely for the British Merchant Marines. The postcards are from Madagascar, Mauitius and Seychelles. Among the twenty-seven postcards from Madagascar (dating 1900-1905) are images showing Betsimisarka women weaving a mat and women pounding rice and a Merina family wearing lambas. Several postcards were taken in and around Antsiranana, formerly Diégo Suarez, and late 19th century European and Indian inspired dress. The most prominent of the eleven Seychelles postcard images is one of King Prempeh of Ashanti and his followers as political prisoners in Mahé. Also included are two studio portraits published by S. Ohasi, which show the sitters in front of a classical landscape backdrop imported from Europe. The remaining eleven postcards are mostly of landscapes. One is a street scene from Port Louis.
Arrangement note
Arranged in 3 series by location:
- Series 1: Madagascar, EEPA 2003-001-0001 to
- Series 2: Mauritius
- Series 3: Seychelles
Preferred Citation
Russell Hamilton Postcards, EEPA 2003-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Conditions Governing Access note
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Biographical / Historical
Russell Hamilton was born in England around 1880. He became an officer in the British Merchant Navy and around 1900 married Ethel Mary Hadwen. Throughout Russell's voyages to Africa, Australia, China, Japan and elsewhere he gathered picture postcards and exotic curios to bring back to his wife and son, Oliver, born in 1906.
Russell likely contracted tuberculosis by 1903 and for the rest of his life suffered from the effects. By the end of 1908 the tuberculosis had progressed to the point that the Merchant Navy sent him to recuperate in Canada. Between extended stays in a sanatorium he worked at various jobs and fathered a daughter in May 1911. Russell died in a sanitarium from the effects of tuberculosis around 1913.
Custodial History note
Collected by the English petty officer Russell Hamilton (d.1911) during his voyages made prior to 1909, likely for the British Merchant Marines. Hamilton gave these postcards as souvenirs to his wife, Ethel Mary, neé Hadwen, who left them to her daughter, Mary Shepherd Slusser. Donated by Mary Shephard Slusser as part of a larger collection of postcards to the Freer-Sackler Art Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; transferred to the National Museum of African Art, 2002.
Description note
All titles are taken directly from the postcards
Africa
Seychelles
Picture postcards
Madagascar
Mauritius
Madagascar
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
27 Postcards
Binder 1
4 x 6 inches
between 1900 and 1909
Perrot, Tamatave, Madagascar
1.1
Archival Resource Key
circa 1900-circa 1909
Scope and Contents
Photographer Perrot's studio was located in Tamatave, Madagascar.
Femmes Malgaches récoltant le riz
EEPA 2003-001-0001
Archival Resource Key
1
Femmes Malgaches pilant le riz
EEPA.2003-001-0002
Archival Resource Key
1
Femmes Betsimisaraka tressant unde Natte
EEPA.2003-001-0003
Archival Resource Key
1
Montée des rapides de l'Ivondroo
EEPA.2003-001-0004
Archival Resource Key
1
Famille Hová
EEPA.2003-001-0005
Archival Resource Key
1
Cascade d'Ivondroo
EEPA.2003-001-0006
Archival Resource Key
1
Vue d'Amboditonono, près Tamatave Marchand de Poulets
EEPA.2003.001.0007
Archival Resource Key
Descente des rapides de l'Ivondroo
EEPA.2003-001-0008
Archival Resource Key
1
Majunga & Nossi-Bé
1.2
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
Binder 1
4 x 6 inches
between 1900 and 1909
Scope and Contents
An Edition de la Compagnie Francaise de Madagascar
Hell-Ville Nossi - Bé. Allée des Cocotiers
EEPA.2003-001-0009
Archival Resource Key
1
Goulamhoussen, Charifou, Diégo-Suarez
1.3
Archival Resource Key
18 Postcards
4 x 6 inches
between 1900 and 1909
Scope and Contents
All of the postcards in this subseries were published by Goulamhoussen and depict the location Diégo-Suarex
Village Indigène, Fête a l'arrivée du Général
EEPA.2003-001-0010
Archival Resource Key
1
Groupe de Femmes Malgaches
EEPA.2003-001-0011
Archival Resource Key
Vue de Diégo-Suarez
EEPA.2003-001-0012
Archival Resource Key
Village Indigène - Attendant l'arrivée du Général
EEPA.2003-001-0013
Archival Resource Key
Femme de chef indigène
EEPA.2003-001-0014
Archival Resource Key
La Mère et les filles
EEPA.2003-001-0015
Archival Resource Key
Rade d'Antsirine
EEPA.2003-001-0016
Archival Resource Key
Toilettes Malgaches
EEPA.2003-001-0017
Archival Resource Key
Une Coiffure à la mode
EEPA.2003-001-0018
Archival Resource Key
Une Beauté
EEPA.2003-001-0019
Archival Resource Key
Vue générale d'Antsirane
EEPA.2003-001-0020
Archival Resource Key
Le Cap Diego
EEPA 2003-001-0021
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
1
Le Dimanche, Sortie de la Messe
EEPA 2003-001-0022
Archival Resource Key
1
Group de Femmes Indigenes
EEPA 2003-001-0023
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
between 1900 and 1909
1
Service de la Poste d'Antsirane au Camp d'Ambre
EEPA 2003-001-0024
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
between 1900 and 1909
1
Pretes pour le Bal
EEPA 2003-001-0025
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
between 1900 and 1909
1
A la Fontaine
EEPA 2003-001-0026
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
between 1900 and 1909
1
Vue d'Antsirane
EEPA 2003-001-0027
Archival Resource Key
1 Postcard
between 1900 and 1909
1
Mauritius
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
11 Postcards
Binder 1
4 x 6 inches
between 1900 and 1909
Scope and Contents
All of the postcards in this series were published by Audisson et Vidal, located in Mauritius
Entrée de la Grande Riviere
EEPA.2003-001-0028
Archival Resource Key
Moka - Cascade du Réduit
EEPA.2003-001-0029
Archival Resource Key
Port-Louis. Tombeau du général Malartic
EEPA.2003-001-0030
Archival Resource Key
Moka - Le Réduit
EEPA.2003-001-0031
Archival Resource Key
Port-Louis - Jardin de la Compagnie - Statue de l'Epinay
EEPA.2003-001-0032
Archival Resource Key
Jardin Botanique Pamplemousses - Bassin de Farquhar
EEPA.2003-001-0033
Archival Resource Key
Cascade de Chamarel
EEPA.2003-001-0034
Archival Resource Key
Savanne. Baie du Cap
EEPA.2003-001-0035
Archival Resource Key
Port-Louis - Place du Theatre
EEPA.2003-001-0036
Archival Resource Key
Notre Dame de Lourdes - Rose Hill
EEPA.2003-001-0037
Archival Resource Key
Antsirane
EEPA.2003-001-0038
Archival Resource Key
Seychelles
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
11 Postcards
Binder 1
4 x 6 inches
between 1900 and 1909
Scope and Contents
All postcards in this series were published by S. Ohashi, in the Seychelles
Creole Girls, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0039
Archival Resource Key
Coco-de-Mer, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0040
Archival Resource Key
The Coc-de-mer Valley, Anse Marie Louise, Praslin Island
EEPA 2003-001-0041
Archival Resource Key
Port Victoria
EEPA 2003-001-0042
Archival Resource Key
The Victoria Chauséé, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0043
Archival Resource Key
The Port and Marine Office, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0044
Archival Resource Key
Vanilla
EEPA 2003-001-0045
Archival Resource Key
King Premph of Ashanti and Followers (Political Prisoners)
EEPA 2003-001-0046
Archival Resource Key
St. Paul's Church of England, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0047
Archival Resource Key
Denis Island Lighthouse, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0048
Archival Resource Key
Creole Musical Instrument and Player, Mahé
EEPA 2003-001-0049
Archival Resource Key