Author Archives: Robert Bickers

Who took the photographs?

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Robert Bickers

Our collections are generally identified with a single individual, in most cases the woman or man who lived and worked in China, and who provides the current owner’s family link to China. In some cases we can certainly state with … Continue reading →

Posted in Family photography, History of photography in China, Photographers | 2 Comments

Magical pagodas

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Robert Bickers

A guest blog from Dr Tehyun Ma: This rather magical photo, taken by postal official Oliver Hulme around the turn of the century, is one of my favourites. Looking at the structure, which was probably in the vicinity of Hebei, … Continue reading →

Posted in Digitisation | Comments Off on Magical pagodas

Introducing two new photographers

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Robert Bickers

The ‘Historical Photographs of China’ team was very pleased to be invited by the Arts & Humanities Research Council to contribute a set of images to its recently launched Online Gallery. We decided to use the opportunity to showcase a … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere on the net, Photographers | Comments Off on Introducing two new photographers

D is for …. Duke

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Robert Bickers

The Duke of Connaught, to be precise: Prince Arthur, Queen Victoria’s seventh child (and third son). Connaught served as Commander in Chief of the British Army in Bengal in 1886-90. As was increasingly common in the later nineteenth century, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Alphabet China | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on D is for …. Duke

On display in Chongqing

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Robert Bickers

The project sometimes takes legs, and on 14 June at Chongqing Tiandi, British Deputy Consul-General Benedict Mann opened a new exhibition of project photographs, ‘Picturing China 1870-1950: Photographs from British Collections’, “1870—1950：英国收藏的中国影像”. This collaboration with the communications team in Chongqing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Exhibition | Tagged , | Comments Off on On display in Chongqing

E is for … ebay (and eouch)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Robert Bickers

For a change this post is about photographs that have been lost. A recent sale on Ebay of some materials found during a house clearance in southwestern England, left traces online of what seems to be a historically interesting voyage … Continue reading →

Posted in Alphabet China, Elsewhere on the net, Photographers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on E is for … ebay (and eouch)

Smiles and coracles, 1938

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Robert Bickers

This snapshot of (I think) some boatside begging, was taken or acquired by Edgar Taylor, who served in the British Royal Navy, and was possibly taken at Hankow (Hankou, Wuhan) on the Yangzi. We do not know much about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Digitisation, Elsewhere on the net, Photograph of the day | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Smiles and coracles, 1938

Graduation!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Robert Bickers

The University of Bristol this week held its first graduation cemeremony in China. Two hundred students attended the ceremony in Beijing, and it is planned that this event will be held every two years. To mark the occasion here is … Continue reading →

Posted in Digitisation, Photograph of the day | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Graduation!

Volunteers

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Robert Bickers

It is 170 years ago this week that the Shanghai Volunteer Corps was first established. The SVC, as it was known, became a fixture of life in the International Settlement in the city from 1870-1942, and I have blogged a … Continue reading →

Posted in Digitisation | Comments Off on Volunteers

Last years of the comprador/e

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Robert Bickers

The latest Wikileaks release has some interesting China material. My eye was caught by a practical note dated 24 March 1973 from the US Consulate in Hong Kong to the State Department, forwarding practical information about “administrative and other procedures … Continue reading →

Posted in Digitisation, Photograph of the day | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment