Philippine-American War stereographs, 1898-1905 and undated

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Summary

Abstract:
Collection comprises 176 commercially-produced stereograph cards dating from 1898-1905, depicting scenes from the Philippine Islands during the Philippine-American War, with a few taken in the U.S. of the embarkation and return of troops. Almost all are in black-and-white, with a few in color. The large majority convey the preparations, armed conflicts, and aftermath of the war, with scenes of battlegrounds including Angeles, Luzon, Malabon, Pasay, Pasig,Taquig, Tarlac, and San Pedro Macati. Other war-related images feature military personnel, officers, troop movements, encampments, hospitals, ruins, dead soldiers, allied native troops, prisons and prisoners. In addition, there are two groups, Places and People, which feature views of ordinary citizens and their dwellings, and places such as markets, bridges, railway stations, rivers, and buildings in Dagupan, Manila, Malabon, Pasay, Pasig, and San Pedro Macati. Almost all the stereographs bear captions, dates, and the names of the publishers, chiefly Underwood & Underwood (New York), C.H. Graves (Philadelphia), Keystone View Company (Pa.), and George W. Griffith (Griffith & Griffith, Philadelphia). Some have the names of individuals, possibly the photographers.
Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet (176 items)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.10080

Background

Scope and content:

Collection comprises 176 commercially-produced card stereographs dating from 1898-1905, depicting scenes from the Philippine Islands during the Philippine-American War. Almost all are in black-and-white, with a few in color. The large majority convey the preparations, armed conflicts, and aftermath of the war, with scenes of battlegrounds including Angeles, Luzon, Malabon, Pasay, Pasig,Taquig, Tarlac, and San Pedro Macati. There is at least one card from Camp Meade, and a note on one card depicting a battle in the Philippines indicates the collector felt it may have been posed in a U.S. military camp setting. One card was published with a few paragraphs of war narrative on the back. The cards measure 3.5x7 inches.

There are also many other war-related images of personnel, officers, troop movements, encampments, ruins, dead soldiers, prisoners, and insurgents. Along with these are stereographs with views of ordinary citizens and their dwellings, as well as places such as street markets, houses, bridges, railway stations, and buildings in Dagupan, Manila, Malabon, Pasay, Pasig, and San Pedro Macati.

Among the 144 images in the War-Related Series, Embarkment subdivision, are thirteen scenes taken in 1898 of regiments and troops boarding ships in the U.S. A few are marked as being taken in San Francisco. Some feature dramatic scenes with such titles as "Soldiers and their sweethearts on the eve of departure," and "Troops for Manila - last man climbing aboard." There are also scenes of U.S. soldiers returning home in 1902. Other groups into which the series has been arranged include battles (40 views), encampments (13), military drills (14), insurgents (23), military and civilian hospitals (9), prisons and prisoners (6), and other war-related scenes (14) such as the building of military railroad supply lines, and native buffalo hauling water to the front.

In addition, there are two smaller groups, Places and People. The Places Series features 22 cards depicting locations such as headquarters for military leaders; city and town streets; citizens' houses - some thatched; notable buildings, including the "Insurgent House of Congress" in flames; railway stations; St. Ignatius Church, Manila; battlements and the U.S. flag; and ruins. there are views of Manila, the Pasig River, and a train derailment on a bridge in Luzon. There are often groups of people, including civilians and military men, in these images. The last two cards in the Places series are in color. There are ten views In the People Series, chiefly group shots of military personnel and Filipinos, but with a few images of individuals, one of whom is Major General Henry W. Lawton. One card is captioned "Filipino police - once insurgents, now faithful servants of Uncle Sam." The last two cards in this series are in color.

Almost all the stereograph cards bear captions and the names of commercial publishers; names appearing most often include Underwood & Underwood (New York), C.H. Graves (Philadelphia), Keystone Views (Pa.), and George W. Griffith (Griffith & Griffith, Philadelphia). Most are dated with the year. Some carry the names of individuals, possibly the photographers.

Biographical / historical:

The Philippine-American War was fought from February 1899 to April 1902 between the Philippine and the U.S. armies, following the annexation of the Philippine Islands at the end of the Spanish-American War. It officially ended in July 1902. The conflict is also known in the United States as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection.

Acquisition information:
The Philippine-American War card stereographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a transfer from the Duke Libraries general collections in 2012.
Processing information:

Processed by: Levi Crews and Paula Jeannet, January 2014 Encoded by Paula Jeannet, January 2014 Accessions described in this finding aid: 2014-0028

Arrangement:

Arranged in three groupings: War-Related Scenes (subdivided into Battles, Drills, Embarkments, Encampments, Hospitals, Insurgents, Prisons and Prisoners, and Other); Places; and People.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Philippine-American War card stereographs, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.