About this Item
A collection of photographs, postcards, medicines, and personal artifacts belonging to Dr. William A. Backenstoe of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mamie Backenstoe of Windsor, New York, who worked as medical missionaries under the auspices of the Free Methodist Church of North America in Natal, South Africa and Portuguese Mozambique between 1903 and 1932. Collection contents: 1. Approximately 948 photographs relating directly to the Backenstoes time in Africa between 1903 and approximately 1932, including their journey from the United States, their travels in Africa, their homes and work in Inhambane, Edwaleni, and Izingolweni, and the communities within within which they lived and worked. Photographs vary significantly in size, from w 8.5 in x h 6.5 in to w 1.5 in x h 0.75 in. a. A photograph album dating from the early years of the Backenstoes time in South Africa, including 110 photographs with handwritten captions dated between 1902 and 1905. (Several photographs in this album appear to be gifts from other people, as the 1902 date suggests). Good-. Light rubbing to spine and corners of binding; binding splitting in several places; photographs and pages with at least light to light+ age-toning, but some photographs with significant age-toning. b. A photograph album dated 1906 with the dedication "To My Dear Mother / Wishing you a Merry / Christmas. / 1906," apparently dating from the Backenstoe s residence in Inhambane. The album contains 69 photographs with handwritten captions, mostly affixed to the pages of the album but with some loose photographs tucked between the leaves. Good+, with some minor wear and insect damage to album binding. Some photographs loose or loosening; all photographs and pages with light to light+ age-toning. c. A photograph album containing 84 photographs. The photos with dated inscriptions are largely from the years 1905-1908, but later photos have been tucked between the leaves of the album. Overall fair condition with individual pages in good and good+ condition. Moderate bumping and discoloration to binding, including a small white stain on rear cover and a small open tear to front upper edge near spine. The cord that originally held the album together is no longer affixed to the first five leaves, and only loosely affixed to subsequent leaves. Photographs in good to very good- condition. Most show light to light+ age-toning, but some with moderate or significant age-toning, creases to corners, small tears to edges, etc. d. A photograph album, undated, but containing images from the construction of the Ebenezer Hospital in Izingolweni in 1920 and 1921, as well as pictures of patients and staff at the hospital after it was completed. 127 photographs present in total, many having loosened from their pages or never having been formally placed in the album at all; some but not all of those still in their original positions in the album have captions, and some loose photos have text on their versos. Fair to good+; light+ discoloration and wear to spine and corners of binding; approximately half of the original pages in the album have been roughly cut out; photographs mostly with light or light+ age-toning, but some with moderate or substantial age-toning. e. An undated photograph album without captions containing 131 photographs which, except for the large image of the Ebenezer Hospital tucked between the front cover and the first leaf, seem to predate the Backenstoes time in Izingolweni. Good; light wear and discoloration to binding; some photos loose or loosening from their adhesive corners. Most photos with light or light+ age-toning; some with moderate or significant age-toning. One photo creased and partially torn at right edge, having been damaged during repeated opening and closings of the album over decades. Several other photos with creasing to corners. f. An undated photograph album containing 200 photographs without captions that appears to date to the Backenstoes early days in S. Seller Inventory # 1364853
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