Photographic Collections of Italian Colonialism (1861–1960)

About this research:

The data produced during the course of this project will be published on Zooniverse at the end of each campaign and will be accompanied by a quantitative report analyzing the type, volume, and flow of the data. The data will then be analyzed from a qualitative perspective. The primary objective of this second analysis will be to separate the informational content from the critical content (terminology, discussions, points considered “critical”).

“Informational content” will include any informative element (places, dates, people, objects, etc.) that is supported by verifiable sources. This means that contributors will be asked to mention the source from which the data originates (personal or family knowledge, publications, narratives, other photographs, etc.). For this purpose, please refer to our Guide.

At the end of the process, a final report will be published linking the quantitative data with the qualitative data. The report will include a presentation of the critical topics addressed in the open discussions developed by users. These topics will be further explored in workshops and forums open to users (both online and in person) to create a shared methodological platform. Finally, the verified informational content will be included in ISMEO’s cataloging and publishing platform.

What follows outlines the methodological and project framework within which this participatory cataloguing initiative is situated.

The photographic archive of the IsIAO Library originated from the merger of the photographic collections of the Italian Colonial Museum with those of the Italian Colonial Institute. Over the decades, as these institutions changed their names and nature, the collection eventually became part of the IsIAO’s holdings in 1995. Preserving a significant portion of the visual memory of Italian colonial history, it represents an invaluable historical and scientific resource. Its care is currently entrusted to the ISMEO association within the framework of two projects: the MIUR project “Studies and Research on the Cultures of Asia and Africa: Tradition and Continuity, Revitalization and Dissemination” (2017–2021) and the MUR project “History, Language, and Cultures of Asian and African Countries: Scientific Research, Promotion, and Enhancement” (2022–2026).

Condition of the Collection

The materials preserved in the photo archive include:

• Glass plates (negatives and positives)

• Negatives and slides

• Prints (some mounted on cardboard or wood)

• Microfilm

In some cases, these materials are accompanied by documentary items (e.g., reports, papers) that are particularly valuable as they are directly connected to the corresponding photographic collections.

The glass plates are stored in wooden or cardboard boxes. Some are numbered and accompanied by descriptions—generally one or two sheets indicating the plate number and a brief caption—though in many cases, descriptions and numbering do not correspond to the images themselves. Negatives and slides rarely come with information identifying their time or place.

Prints are stored in albums, folders, or drawers. Many can be traced to a specific provenance thanks to captions, stamps on the back, mounting on cardboard frames bearing headings, or inclusion in titled and dated albums. The folders, in particular, are arranged by geographical area (e.g., Libya, Somalia, Eritrea) and subject matter (e.g., agriculture, civil architecture, archaeology). Some photographic series, however, have retained their original order (e.g., trade fairs, official visits, personal collections).
Over past decades, curators—especially Dr. Palma—have worked to associate images as much as possible with geographic areas, individuals, and subjects. This effort resulted in a coherent arrangement for much of the material, though many items still lack proper descriptive information.

Finding Aids and Research Tools

The archive’s main weakness lies in its limited and incomplete research tools. Besides captions and numbering on individual items—when available—there exist a few partial and undated indexes and inventories, the correspondence between which and the existing materials is often unclear (as the numbering refers to earlier, now-lost arrangements).
The only near-complete descriptive work concerns the sections dedicated to Eritrea and Ethiopia: S. Palma, L'Africa nella collezione fotografica dell'IsIAO: il fondo Eritrea-Etiopia, Rome, Istituto italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente, 2005. This catalogue aligns with Dr. Palma’s reorganization work.

ISMEO’s Interventions

Since 2017, ISMEO has promoted initiatives for the reorganization, safeguarding, and valorization of the archive, including:

• Digitization of most materials relating to Eritrea and Ethiopia (now accessible through the BNCR Digital Library), previously described and catalogued by Dr. Silvana Palma (IsIAO, 2005);

• Logistical reorganization of the archive with the medium-term goal of describing the still uncatalogued sections (e.g., Libya, Somalia);

• Cataloguing of albums relating to Libya with the assistance of Prof. Federico Cresti.

• Cataloguing of the Somalian section (mix material and albums) of Dr. Lucas Orlando Iannuzzi.

Priorities

To date, the photo archive lacks a full inventory, list, or catalogue of its holdings. A comprehensive census of the collection—detailing at least:

The types and quantities of materials;

Their conservation status is the first and most urgent priority, as it underpins all future preservation and valorization efforts.
The second priority concerns the archival-level description of materials. This involves starting with general descriptive units (collection, series, subseries) and then progressively moving toward more detailed levels, ideally down to individual items. Such descriptions will provide both staff and researchers with a reliable navigation tool for the as-yet uncatalogued sections.
With this goal in mind, and ensuring methodological continuity with Dr. Palma’s earlier work, ISMEO collaborators have developed a database for the archival description of objects. This tool allows for flexible use and adaptation according to the specific requirements of different material types as cataloguing progresses.

Valorization and Visibility of the Collection

The final step will be the creation of a digital platform to ensure access to the digitized materials, make the collection’s structure explicit, highlight relationships among its items, and provide access to both existing and newly developed finding aids.