Humphrey Winterton visits Northwestern

British collector Humphrey Winterton visited Northwestern University Library on October 1 to view the collection of East African photographs he recently sold to the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies.

Mr. Winterton was visiting his daughter in Washington, D.C. when he decided to make a quick trip to Northwestern. He spent about 3 hours talking with David Easterbrook and David Bishop and touring the conservation lab. He viewed the collection in the Africana library, learned about conservation work on the photographs, and spoke with David Bishop about how researchers are using the collection. He also reviewed the web site created for the photographs and learned of plans for its expansion.

Mr. Winterton was impressed with University Library's handling and care of the collection. He was pleased to hear that the photographs have been made available to both scholars and faculty for innovative undergraduate teaching. Many of Mr. Winterton's books and manuscripts were sold at auction by Sotheby's shortly after Northwestern acquired the Humphrey Winterton Collection of East African Photographs. While these materials were sold to different buyers, the photograph collection remains intact at University Library.

The Humphrey Winterton Collection of East African Photographs provides a remarkable view of cultural and social life throughout East Africa between 1860 and 1960. Assembled over a 40-year period, the photographs record the dramatic changes in East Africa brought about by British and German colonization. There are 77 albums (6,500 photographs) in the collection.