Four young male drummers. Text on frontside reads:"War Drums, Ashanti."
Item number on recto: "N⁰ 10."
Printed text on verso reads: "Copyright of Methodist Book Depots, Cape Coase, Gold Coast; This is a real photograph; Printed in Great Britain."
Stamp box reads: "H."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-19-03
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
A man carving a wooden stool. Text on verso reads: "Carving An Ashanti Stool." and "C.B.C. Box 3285, Accra - Ghana."
Items EEPA GH-04-02 and EEPA GH-04-03 are duplicate postcards.
Message, address, and postmarked postage stamp on verso.
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-04-02
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Postcard image of a group of four Ashanti men bearing swords on the West Coast of Africa. Printed in Great Britain. Original caption reads, "Sword Bearers, Ashinti." Original Text on reverse reads: "This is the time for everyone to stand together, and hold firm! - The Prime Minister."
Item number on recto: "N⁰ 59."
Additional printed text on verso reads: "Copyright of Methodist Book Depots, Cape Coase, Gold Coast; This is a real photograph; Printed in Great Britain."
Stamp box reads: "1d. Stamp if with only sender's name and address and 5 words conventional greeting; G."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-20-05
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Numbering Peculiarities Note:
Verso labelled with former accession number format: A1995-1-44. Additional accession number on verso: EEPA 1985-140307.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
A large gathering of people. Text on frontside reads: "The Ashantis on the Palaver ground[,] the worship of Abriwah (fetish), 20th Aug. 1908." Text on verso reads: "Photographed and published by J. Vitta, Tarquah,West Africa." Stamp and two postmarks on verso. Postmarks dated April 6, 1912. Handwritten address and message dated "4/4/12" on verso.
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-23-03
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Numbering Peculiarities Note:
Verso labelled with former accession number format: A1995-1-49. Additional accession number on verso: EEPA 1985-140318.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
A man carving a wooden stool. Text on verso reads: "Carving An Ashanti Stool." and "C.B.C. Box 3285, Accra - Ghana."
Items EEPA GH-04-02 and EEPA GH-04-03 are duplicate postcards.
Stamp box reads: "A. C. P. 004."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-04-03
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Numbering Peculiarities Note:
Verso labelled with former accession number format: A1995-8-6. Additional accession number on verso: EEPA 1985-140319.02.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
An artist's depiction of people engaged in playing a game and other activities. Caption on recto reads: "Ashantee Village - The Natives Playing Games." Additional text on recto reads: "Phototypie Pierre Coltman, Paris."
Stamp and postmark on verso. Handwritten address on verso. Handwritten message on frontside.
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-21-01
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Numbering Peculiarities Note:
Verso labelled with former accession number format: A1995-13-111. Additional accession number on verso: EEPA 1985-140323.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Postcard illustration of a Thomas B. Freeman before the Court of the King of Ashanti in 1839. Accompanying text on reverse reads: "'In January, 1839, Freeman made a journey to Kumassi...After a tedious march...he reached his goal and was received by the king in barbaric state. The Court, on rising, defiled past its guest in a procession lasting a full hour-and-a-half. For some days the visitor was confined to his apartments, as his Majesty 'was aware that Europeans did not like to see human sacrifices'! All day long the muffled death-drums beat, and Freeman watched from the courtyard of his lodging the vultures wheeling over the city of blood.'"
Additional printed text on verso reads: "Published by Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, 24, Bishopsgate, E.C.; Postcard Series 'R' (6 designs) Printed in Great Britain."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-15-03
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Numbering Peculiarities Note:
Verso labelled with former accession number format: A1995-23-10. Additional accession number on verso: EEPA 1985-140310.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Printed caption on recto reads: "Assembly of Ashanti Chiefs."
Item number on recto: "N⁰89."
Printed text on verso reads: "'Let us all strive without failling in faith or in duty.' - The Prime Minister."
Additional printed text on verso reads: "Copyright of Methodist Book Depots, Cape Coast, Gold Coast; This is a real photograph; Printed in Great Britain."
Stamp box reads: "1d. Stamp if with only sender's name and address and 5 words conventional greeting; G."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-15-07
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Printed caption on recto reads: "Ashantee Village - A corner of the kitchen."
Additional printed text on recto reads: "Phototypie Pierre Coltman. Paris."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-12-03
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Printed caption on verso reads: "Ashanti Royal Carried."
Additional printed text on verso reads: "Film Base, Box 4246, Accra."
Local Numbers:
EEPA GH-15-10
General:
Title source: Postcard caption.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Man leads children in a discussion about cities in West Africa and African culture, including African dance and African drumming. Children participate in a dance and singing lessons. Man also explains how the African talking drum is constructed and how the Yoruba language was reproduced using the talking drum, and shows an example of the Kente cloth of the Ashanti in Ghana. African drumming in the background throughout recording.
Workshop, including music and dance. Part of ACM Education Department Programs Audiovisual Records 1967-2008. Transcribed from physical asset: Percir Borde. Undated.
Local Numbers:
ACMA AV003488-2
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Some items are not accessible due to obsolete format and playback machinery restrictions. Please contact the archivist at acmarchives@si.edu.
Photoraphs made and collected by Alexis B. McMullen documenting peoples and culture in West Africa. The images created by McMullen and Captain D. B. McCloskey depict ceremonies at Kibib honoring Ofori Atta, a chief in the Central Province of the Gold Coast; a dance to the god of the sea at Teshi; and fishing boats and equipment. Additionally, the collection contains photographic postcards collected by McMullen and made by Casimir Zagourski, Leopoldville, and Methodist Book Depots, Cape Coast. These show African "types," a Bwake female circumcision ceremony, scarification (cicatrization), African animals (including giraffes, elephants, and a hippopotamus), agriculture, dances, and musical instruments. Depicted West African peoples include the Ashanti, Bangala, Banziri, Hausa, Kuba, Kumu, Mangbetu, Mputu and Tutsi.
Biographical/Historical note:
Colonel Alexis B. McMullen participated in American aviation activities for about 50 years. During World War II, he was the commanding officer of a United States Air Corps Air Transport Command (ATC) base in Accra, Ghana (then the Gold Coast).
Local Call Number(s):
NAA Photo Lot 90-14
Location of Other Archival Materials:
The National Air and Space Museum Archives Division holds the Colonel Alexis B. McMullen Collection, 1915-1983, documenting McMullen's aviation career and interests.
Additional Zagourski photographs can be found in the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives in EEPA 1987-0024 and the EEPA Postcard Collection.
Photo Lot 90-14, Colonel Alexis B. McMullen photograph and postcard collection relating to West Africa, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
The Historic Engravings collection is comprised of 154 pages of engravings, dating from 1747 to circa 1905. The engravings depict subject matter related to Africa and Africans.
Scope and Contents:
The Historic Engravings collection consists of 154 pages of engravings, dating from 1747 to circa 1905, with the bulk created in the second half of the nineteenth century. Many of the engravings were completed for publication in leading nineteenth-century newspapers, including the Illustrated London News and Harper's Weekly.
Numerous engravings depict scenes from expeditions, including the Dr. Livingstone (Central and South Africa), Baker (Central Africa), and Stanley expeditions. Topics illustrated include agriculture, ceremonies, city and town views, ships, animals, battles, domestic scenes, diamond mines, and fashions. Represented peoples include the Khoikoi, Abyssinian, Ashanti, Griquas, Khoikoi, Ndebele, and Zulu. Finally, the engravings depict such wide-ranging locations as Abyssinia, Annesley Bay, Chupanga, Dahomey, Gondokoro, Hadoda Pass, Hamhamo Spring, Keiskamma Gorge, Mount Kilimanjaro, Kongone River, Lake Tanganyika, Limpopo River, Matabili [now Zimbabwe], Morocco, Nigeria, the Red Sea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tekonda Pass, Ujiji, Umizimkulu Waterfall, Zambesi Delta, and Zanzibar, among others.
Arrangement:
Series one and two are arranged by publisher name and filed chronologically thereafter. Series 3 is arranged alphabetically by expedition leader name, and series 4 is organized by accession number.
Series 1: Illustrated London News, 1851-1901 (51 items; Map Case Drawer M1, 9 folders)
Series 2: Harper's Weekly, 1867-1905 (19 items; Map Case Drawer M1, 4 folders)
Series 3: Expedition Leaders, Bankes to Smith, circa 1800s-circa 1904 (51 items; Map Case Drawer M1, 11 folders)
Series 4: Other/Unidentified, 1747-circa 1905 (33 items; Map Case Drawer M1, 5 folders)
Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
