PORTRAIT OF A “HINDU GIRL” IN TRINIDAD

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This vintage photo postcard features a “Hindu Girl” posing against a wooden fence on the island of Trinidad. The jungle can be seen in the background. One might ask, “What is a Hindu Girl doing in Trinidad?” The island of Trinidad is about seven miles off the coast of Venezuela. It is associated with the island of Tobago. Research revealed that the island of Trinidad is ethnically and religiously diverse. It is sometimes known as the “Rainbow Island”. Currently, over 18 percent of the population are Hindus. The Hindu religion is the second most prevalent religion in Trinidad. Hindus arrived in Trinidad in 1845. They came to Trinidad when the British government gave permission to the colonists on the island to import indentured labor from India to work on the island’s estates. During the second half of the 1800’s Trinidad’s population growth came primarily from Indian laborers. In 1871, there were over 27,000 Indians on the two islands. By 1911, the Indian population on the islands was nearly 111,00. This vintage portrait postcard is in very good condition. It is an “undivided” postcard revealing that it was likely published before 1907.   SOLD

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Published in: on January 29, 2019 at 10:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TRAVELERS FROM INDIA VISIT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

INDIANTEMPLE_0003This cabinet card portrait features four Indian men posing for their portrait at the Holland studio in Boston, Massachusetts. These visitors are wearing their traditional clothing, including turbans. At least one of the men is barefoot. One of the men is holding a paper while another is holding a book. Could it be a prayer book? These men may be Sikhs. The previous owner of this photograph suggested that the seated men are Sikhs and the other two men are Burmese attendants. Hopefully, someone from the cabinet card gallery’s vast unpaid research department will be able to specify the ethnicity of the subjects of this photograph. It is is interesting to note that the photographer’s studio is located on Temple Place. Could there be a Hindu temple nearby? The photographer of this terrific image is Henry F. Holland (1853?-1911?). He entered the world of Boston photography when he became a partner with George P. Roberts in 1886. Their studio was located at 10 Temple Place (the same address as this image). The partners designed their own back drops and their studio was a great success; at one time employing 25 people. The gallery was advertised as “the finest studio in New England” and Holland’s business motto was “Realism in Photography”. Apparently Holland should have practiced realism in business because the gallery eventually went bankrupt. Speculation is that a poor investment in a printing business led to the collapse of Holland’s studio. His partner, Mr. Roberts, left the firm in 1888, two years before the bankruptcy. Holland was buoyant and by 1891 had established a new photography studio called “Ye Holland Studio” which he opened on Washington Street in Boston. He soon left the studio for his son’s Tom and C. E. to manage. Holland than entered business in another field for which he had much passion. He formed the Freeman-Holland Company and became involved in the electricity business. He became the local general manager of the National Electrical Manufacturing Company. He also combined his interest photography and technology by becoming a photographer of industrial equipment.

Published in: on April 27, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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