Archival Photographic Collections

Late Nineteenth– to Early Twentieth–Century Images

The Peabody Museum’s extensive photographic collection is a treasure trove of late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century photography, with more than 500,000 images from daguerreotypes to color, 35mm, and slide photography. Subjects include expeditions, indigenous peoples, and cultures spanning the globe. The photograph collection is generally considered to be one of the ten largest photographic archives documenting world cultures. The collection also includes photo documentation of the history of the Peabody Museum, its exhibitions, staff, and related archaeological expeditions and artifacts.

Collection Highlights

Follow the link to Frequently Requested Images or browse representative images from the following collections, which may be viewed at Peabody Museum Collections Online. Please use the links and information below to narrow your search.

Nineteenth-Century Indian Delegation to Washington, D.C.
	Little Crow: Che-tan-wa-ku-te-ma-na or "Hawk that Hunts Walking," 1810-1863 (left) and His Own Thunder: Wa-kin-yan-to wa, no date (right), Mdewakanton Dakota Nation. By Vannerson & Cohner (1857-1858) and Shindler (1867). PM 2004.1.125.22. Collections Online Related exhibit: Breaking the Silence: Nineteenth-Century Indian Delegations in Washington, D.C.

Carnegie Institute of Washington, Photographs, 1930s.
	N. Colonnade, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, May 6, 1927. PM 58-34-20_31367/. Collections Online

Images of the Peabody Museum Expedition to Copan, Honduras, 1891–1900.
	Child seated on Altar S, Copan, Honduras. PM 2004.24.242. Collections Online Related exhibit: Fragile Memories: Images of Archaeology and Community at Copan, 1891–1900.

The Marshall Family Expeditions to the Kalahari, 1950–1961.
	John Marshall with !Kung men and camera equipment, circa 1950–1955. PM 2001.29.254. Collections Online Related exhibit: Regarding the Kalahari: The Marshall Family and the Ju/Wasi

Nineteenth-Century Japanese Art Prints by Baron Raimond von Stillfried.
	Japanese samurai in colorful armor, albumen print with applied color, circa 1865–1875. PM 2003.1.2223.396. Collections Online Related exhibit: A Good Type: Tourism and the Science in Early Japanese Photographs

Field, Henry, Photographs of Marsh Arabs, Iraq, 1934.
	Portrait of three Marsh Arab children from the Khazal area, Iraq, 1934). 53-26-60/15921.297. Collections Online Related exhibit: Field Photography: The Marsh Arabs of Iraq, 1934

Wulsin, Frederick, Photographs from the Wulsin Expedition to China and Mongolia, 1923–1924.
	Merchant's family and young bride, May 1923. PM 56-55-60/15688.1. Collections Online Related exhibit: Portraits from China, 1923-1946: Photographers and their Subjects