Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Congo (Brazzaville) photographs, EEPA 1999-004, between 1900-1905

Summary

Collection ID:
EEPA.1999-004
Dates:
between 1900-1905
Languages:
Undetermined
.
Physical Description:
35 Negatives (photographic)
black & white
6 x 7 cm.
354 Photographic prints
silver gelatin (1 box)
black & white
7 x 8 cm. or smaller.
Repository:
Container:
353
1
The album was compiled by Eugene Brusseaux, a French colonial, very likely a merchant, who lived, worked and traveled in the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic (then Afrique Equatoriale Francaise), and in northern Cameroon (then German colony of Kamerun). The images may well have been taken by Brusseaux himself. Mr. de Strycker acquired the album, which previously belonged to Professor Verneau of the Musee de L'Homme, Paris, in a sale from Professor Verneau of the Musee de l'Homme, Paris. The album shows the classic arrangement of many similar colonial albums, depicting Brusseaux's voyage from France to Libreville in Gabon, and Matadi on the mouth of the Congo River. From there Brusseaux took the railroad to Leopoldville (Kinshasa) and traveled on the Brazzaville. He continued on the Congo River to Balobo and Kounda, then over land towards the Sangha River, through Bonga and Loboko to M'Bako on the Sangha River and to Ouesso, now on the border of the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. From Ouesso, he continued on to Nola, Carnot and Baboua. He then visited Kounde, and crossed into German territory, moving on the Ngaoundere. This is where the album ends. The photographs depict some of the Belgian and French colonial cities. There are excellent images of transportation in Matadi. Brazzaville is the topic of many good architectural photographs. A very interesting set shows the Catholic Mission of Brazzaville in 1901 and 1904 with a unique interior shot of the cathedral. Further inland, the photographs of colonial settlements focus on trading posts, such as Bonga, Kadei, Carnot and Baboma. Many photographs show Africans, indigenous architecture, and celebrations. They focus on the Pomo, the Pande, the Baya (Baja in German writing), and Hausa and Fulbe. Images from Baboma, Kounde and Ngaoundere show indigenous Fulbe architecture, including a series of the Lamido's palace at Ngaoundere, and Fulbe kings, retainers and women. One set depicts women with Fulbe style coiffures of extraordinary complexity (wigs).

Arrangement note

Arrangement note
Images indexed by negative number.

Administration

Author
Paul Wood
Custodial History note
Purchased, 1999. Conserved through a preservation grant funded by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee, 2006.

Using the Collection

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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Libreville (Gabon) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Central African Republic Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cameroon Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kinshasa (Congo) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Congo (Brazzaville) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographic prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ngbandi (African people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pomo (African people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brazzaville (Congo) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Africa Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gbaya (African people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hausa (African people) Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brusseaux, Eugene Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
National Museum of African Art
P.O. Box 37012
MRC 708
Washington, DC 20013-7012
elisofonarchives@si.edu