Duke University has has just
put online a collection of 5,000 photos shot in China between 1917 and 1932. They were taken by Sidney D. Gamble, heir to part of the Procter & Gamble fortune, who according to
the Duke news release was "a sociologist, China scholar and avid amateur photographer."
The photos (that I've seen) vary in artistic quality, but some are great and all are evocative. The most amazing part is that they're searchable. You enter a place name, like Guangzhou, or a keyword, like temple or rice or funeral, and the relevant pictures immediately come up. I'd use one as an illustration, but I'm not sure of the propriety of doing so. You can check them out for yourself
here.
Well done Duke, Sidney Gamble, and P&G. And thanks to Michael Ham of
Later On for the tip.
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2008/07/wonderful-online-treasure-trove-of-old-photos-of-china/8129/