Miscellaneous postcards of India

Miscellaneous postcards of India
Ms. Coll. 1204
Finding aid prepared by Clémence Scouten.
Last updated on May 11, 2016.
University of Pennsylvania, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
2016 May 9
Miscellaneous postcards of India
Table of Contents
Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3
Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Administrative Information........................................................................................................................... 5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7
Missionary post cards.............................................................................................................................. 7
Military cards........................................................................................................................................... 8
Travel and scenery...................................................................................................................................8
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Miscellaneous postcards of India
Summary Information
Repository
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare
Books and Manuscripts
Title
Miscellaneous postcards of India
Call number
Ms. Coll. 1204
Date
circa 1880s-1920s
Extent
0.4 linear foot (1 box)
Language
English
Language Note
Printed captions and identification in French, German, Italian, and
English.
Abstract
This collection consists of post cards of India, the bulk of which document
missionary work in India and Sri Lanka during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries.
Cite as:
Miscellaneous postcards of India, circa 1880s-1920s, Ms. Coll. 1204, Kislak Center for Special
Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania
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Miscellaneous postcards of India
Biography/History
Traces of Christian churches or missions in India date back to the Apostolic Age and early Christianity.
By the late 1800s, many countries and Christian sects had established churches or missions in various
regions in India. Europeans sent not only their religious ambassadors to India, but also their armies,
merchants, explorers, and tourists.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of post cards of India, in particular images documenting missionary work,
the British Army, and tourism. The bulk of this collection consists of more than 180 post cards whose
subject is missionary work in India and Sri Lanka in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These post
cards are primarily from Belgian and French religious organizations, though there are also examples
of German, Italian and English missions. All the post cards, save for a few in Asia and Africa, are
of missionaries at work in India and Sri Lanka. For the most part, the post cards all come from the
following religious orders: Les Capucins français aux Indes (Paris, France), working in Rajputana;
Catéchistes-Missionnaires de Marie-Immaculée (France), working in Bangalore, Kumbakonam, Nagpore;
Congrégation des Filles de la Croix de Liége (Belgium), working in Bombay, Anand; Chanoinesses
– Missionnaires de Saint-Augustin (Héverlé-lez-Louvain, Belgium); Congrégation de Saint-Joseph
de Cluny (21, rue Méchain, Paris, France), working in Tindivanam, Pondichery; Franciscaines de
Sainte-Marie-des-Anges (France); Jésuites Missionnaires (Lyon, France); Le dernier du prêtre indien
(Louvain, Belgium); Lievenspenning voor Indische Priesters (Leuven, Belgium); L’istituto Delle Missioni
Estere di Milano (Italy); Missionnaires Oblats de Marie-Immaculée (Paris, France); Missions des Pères
Capucins (Antwerp, Beligium), working in Punjab; Mission des PP. Carmes Déchaussés (France or
Belgium); Mission des Religieuses Ursulines de Thildonck (Belgium), working in Bengale; Missiën
der Paters Oblaten in Ceylon (Belgium); Mission du Maduré (France); Missionnaires de St. Augustin
(Belgium); Missions Etrangères de Paris (France); Missions Salésiennes (France); Œuvre de Stain-PierreApôtre (Paris and Lyon, France), working in Verapoly; and Propagation de la Foie (France). The post
cards include images of orphanages, children taking lessons, various daily activities at the missions
or orphanages, farming scenes, preaching scenes, sisters with their charges, group shots of families or
villages, photos of famine victims, and some landscapes. Almost all are black and white though a few are
colorized. Many of the cards include a fundraising appeal.
The military post cards consist almost entirely of cards published by the National Army Museum
(Camberley). These cards depict British and Indian military officers as painted by Major A. C. Lovett,
possibly around 1910. Groups pictured include the 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers; 2nd King Edward's
Own Gurkha Rifles (Sirmoor Rifles); 3rd Sappers and Miners; 4th Gurkha Rifles; 6th Gurkha Rifles;
10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse); 12th Cavalry; 14th Murray's Jat Lancers;
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Miscellaneous postcards of India
15th Ludhiana Sikhs; 18th King George's Own Lancers; 26th King George's Own Light Cavalry;
27th Light Calvary; 39th Garhwal Rifles; 45th Rattray's Sikhs; 125th Napier's Rifles; 127th Queen
Mary's Own Baluch Light Infantry; Baluch Horse, Scinde Hours, Jacob's Horse; Bikaner Ganga Risala;
Carnatic Infantry (representatives from 6 regiments pictured); Corps Present at the Siege and Assault
of Delhi, 11857 (representatives of 14 regiments pictured); Dogras (representatives from 5 regiments
pictured); Former "Hyderabad Contingent" Cavalry; Frontier Force; Governor-General's Bodyguard;
Imperial Service Troops (representatives from 15 regiments pictured); Indian Artillery (No. 31 Mountain
Battery); Indian Cavalry (representatives from 7 regiments pictured); Pioneer Regiments (representatives
from 11 regiments pictured); Punjab Frontier Force; Punjab Regiments (representatives from 14
regiments pictured); Rajput Regiments (representatives from 6 regiments pictured); Rajputana Infantry
(representatives from 7 regiments pictured); and Queen's Own Corps of Guides (Lumsden's). It is possible
that these were painted to document the uniforms and many of Lovett's prints were published in Indian
Army Uniforms Under the British from the 18th century to 1947 by W.Y. Carman ( Call no.: UC485.I4
C3 1961). Lovett also served as the illustrator for The Armies of India, by G. MacMunn ( Call no.:
UA842 .M225 1980). There is also one photo postcard of the 101 Company Royal Garrison Artillery at
Attock, which was a fort located in the Punjab on the left bank of Indus.
The final group of postcards appears to be more tourism-centered and consists largely of landscapes and
buildings, some of which are unidentified. Post cards that are identified document Kirkee, including the
Factory Barrack, the railway bridge, the railway station, and the Wesleyan Church. There is also one
postcard identified as Bund Tomb Poona. Several postcards document Indians working, including a fuel
seller and a group working in a river; an unidentified dam; and an unidentified building. This group also
contains an unidentified portrait of a woman, a photograph of an individual who is being whipped, and a
letter addressed to "Son" from S.W. Wagstaff in which he mentions postcards.
Administrative Information
University of Pennsylvania, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
2016 May 9
Finding aid prepared by Clémence Scouten.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of
Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the
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Miscellaneous postcards of India
holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books
and Manuscripts.
Source of Acquisition
Multiple purchases, 2004-2010.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
• Great Britain. Army.
• India. Army.
Form/Genre(s)
• Photographs
• Postcards
Geographic Name(s)
• India--History--British occupation, 1765-1947--Photographs
• India--Photographs
Personal Name(s)
• Lovett, Alfred Crowdy, 1862-1919
Subject(s)
• Military
• Missionaries
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Miscellaneous postcards of India
Missionary post cards
Collection Inventory
Missionary post cards, 1920-1963 (Bulk, 1920-1930) .
Box
Folder
Various orders, Asia and Africa, undated.
1
1
Various orders, Belgian, undated.
1
2
Various orders, English and unknown, undated.
1
3
Various orders, French, undated.
1
4
Various orders, Italian and German, 1920's.
1
5
Various orders, Sri Lanka, circa 1926.
1
6
Les Capucins français aux Indes, undated.
1
7
Catéchistes Missionnaires de la Marie-Immaculée, circa 1925.
1
8
Congrégation des filles de la Croix de Liége, circa 1924.
1
9
Congrégation de St. Joseph de Cluny, undated.
1
10
Franciscaines de Ste-Marie-des-Anges, 1935-1937.
1
11
Jésuites Missionnaires, undated.
1
12
Le dernier du Pretre Indien, 1925.
1
13
Lievenspenning voor Indische Priesters, 1932-1945.
1
14
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Miscellaneous postcards of India
Military cards
Missions des Pères Capucins, undated.
1
15
Mission des PP. Carmes Déchausés, circa 1930.
1
16
Mission des Religieuses Ursulines, 1923-1926.
1
17
Mission du Maduré, circa 1934.
1
18
Missionnaires de St. Augustin, 1934-1947.
1
19
Missions Etrangères de Paris, circa 1928.
1
20
Missions Salésiennes, undated.
1
21
Œuvre de St. Pierre Apôtre, circa 1954.
1
22
Propagation de la Foie, undated.
1
23
Box
Folder
1
24
Box
Folder
1
25
Military cards, circa 1910.
Travel and scenery, undated.
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