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Casimir Zagourski African postcards

 Collection
Call Number: MS 1573
Scope and Contents

The collection consists of approximately 250 postcards made from photographs taken by Casimir Zagourski in Africa between 1924 and 1941, which formed a part of his overall project, L'Afrique Qui Disparait (Disappearing Africa). The photos are set in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formally known as Belgian Congo), Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Kenya, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Congo Brazzaville. The postcards depict a variety of aspects of everyday life in these different settings, including housing styles and traditional grave sites of the Belgian Congo, Bakumu dancers, and Bongelima dignitaries. He also highlighted the beautification marks of the Gombe, the Bwaka, the Banza, and the Bapende of the Belgian Congo. Zagourski also focused on women at work, depicting them carrying goods home from market, collecting firewood, taking care of children, and preparing meals. Digital facsimiles of postcards in this collection, accompanied by more detailed descriptions, are available in the Manuscripts and Archives Digital Image Database (MADID) from the Manuscripts and Archives web site.

Language of Materials

Captions on verso of postcards are in French and English.

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from the African Collection Curator, 2002, 2004, and 2013. Transferred from the African Postcard Collection (MS 1575), 2003 and 2007.

Associated Materials

African Collection, MS 605; Pamphlet Collection, MS 1351; African Postcard Collection, MS 1575. Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.

Dates
1924-1941
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Related Names
Zagourski, Casimir Ostoja, 1880-1941
Language of Materials
English