Historical Objects

Interface in English. Content in English or other languages.
Digitized collections from the Library of Congress, includes manuscripts, books, photos, maps, audio recordings, and more. Strongest between the 17th and 21st centuries. Content dating back to B.C.E.
Open Access.

The Library of Congress' digitized collection of more than 900,000 different images of different types from 1600 to the present (some earlier) from across the world. US emphasis.

This collection of more than 700 prints and photographs come predominately from Japan and China with some Korean sources from the 20th century. Includes some maps and illustrated sources from the 18th century.

There are the extensive and distinctive portfolios of work created by diplomat and politician Fu Bingchang (傅秉 常 1895-1965) and by George Warren Swire (1883-1949). Then there are two sets of materials that came from contacts with the descendants of men who served in the Chinese Maritime Customs Service, and in the Shanghai Municipal Police.

Photographer Li Zhensheng had a unique view of China’s Cultural Revolution—a chaotic period of purging and punishment that began on May 16, 1966, and lasted in different phases until Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong’s death 10 years later.

Abilene Christian University (1,765 records); Basel Mission (30,262 records); Bibliothèque du Défap (11,018 records) ...

This collection of more than 700 prints and photographs come predominately from Japan and China with some Korean sources from the 20th century. Includes some maps and illustrated sources from the 18th century.

Isaacy Leroy Shaver (1893-1984) was a Methodist clergyman and missionary to Japan from the 1920s to the 1960s. The collection includes sermons, correspondence, photographs, printed material and published works related to Shaver's missionary work in Japan and Idaho. The material ranges in date from 1893-1982. Partially digitized.

毎日フォトバンク More than 330,000 images from Bakumatsu to present. Interface in Japanese.

The University of Michigan database of images from Indonesia includes more than 500 documents predominately from the late 1990s.

The photographs were taken chiefly by scholar Claire Holt (1901-1970) during her visits to Indonesia in 1930-38, 1955-57 and 1969 to visually document the plastic and performing arts for her research.

The biggest part of the image collection consists of photographs. Around 1890 the KITLV started collecting photographs for the purpose of documenting the image of the Dutch East and West Indies in all their facets, such as landscapes, town views, architecture, and life under indigenous and Dutch rule and so forth.

This collection contains digitized images, including photographs and slides, that librarians, scholars, and other subject specialists have deemed important to these fields of study will be added to the collection on an ongoing basis. Photographs from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Texts (includes letters, interviews, gazettes, some government reports) from the 20th century.

More than 4,500 images depicting Indonesia under Dutch control between the 1940s and 1950s. Images focus on daily life, environment, and more.

The biggest part of the image collection consists of photographs. Around 1890 the KITLV started collecting photographs for the purpose of documenting the image of the Dutch East and West Indies in all their facets, such as landscapes, town views, architecture, and life under indigenous and Dutch rule and so forth.

This collection contains digitized images, including photographs and slides, that librarians, scholars, and other subject specialists have deemed important to these fields of study will be added to the collection on an ongoing basis. Photographs from the late 19th and 20th centuries. Texts (includes letters, interviews, gazettes, some government reports) from the 20th century.