RARE COLLECTION OF BRITISH COLONIAL PICTURES MADE PUBLIC BY THE U.K. NATIONAL ARCHIVE
The National Archive, UK, is making public an amazing collection of historical pictures from the colonization era. I was struck by the quality and to be fair the level of investment that took place in Africa some 60 years ago. The pictures are revealing.
The images depicts an idyllic environment, where order reigns, perfectly reflecting the “civilizing mission” of the colonial master or new colonial master in the case of Cameroon after Germany lost the WWI altogether with its colonies. You can read more about the collection and enjoy the images as I have at the National Archive. If you are a museum, individual collector, historian or just an amateur eager to use or own copies of originals, the Archive will accommodate your needs.
Below is my selection. The pictures were all taken in Cameroon in the 50’s. They represent in order the business sector, Education, administration and democracy.
Timber Exploitation in Anglophone Cameroon - 1950's
Students of a local religious school walk to church near by -1950's
Public meeting between the colonial master and the local population-1950's
Residence of the British colonial governor in Buea, Cameroon, - 1950's
A man and his son are reading voting instructions - 1950's
