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Archive record · Historical photographs & visual records

Eva L. R. Meyerowitz Photographs

circa 1936 - circa 1937

Africa; Abomey (Benin); Umahahya (Nigeria); Techiman (Ghana); Benin; Ghana; Nigeria

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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art. Visual details below describe the original material.

This collection measures 0.5 cubic feet and consists of negatives and photographs taken by Eva L.R. Meyerowitz in Abomey, Republic of Benin; Umahahya, Nigeria; and Techiman, Ghana. Peoples depicted include the Akan, Fon, Konkomba, and Tallensi. Subjects include artisans; artwork and objects that were originally displyed in King Bezu's palace in Abomey, including sculptures, staffs, applique cloth, and bas-reliefs; blacksmiths; dancing; a Legba shrine; markets, including one in Bohicon, Nigeria; potters; priests and priestesses at Abomey; and vernacular architeture. Individuals depicted include two wives of King Behanzin, Prince Justin Aho, and the only surviving Dahomey Amazon women warriors who had fought against the French in 1894.

Collection
Eva L. R. Meyerowitz Photographs
Catalog date
circa 1936 - circa 1937
Recorded places
Africa; Abomey (Benin); Umahahya (Nigeria); Techiman (Ghana); Benin; Ghana; Nigeria
Cataloged creator or photographer
Meyerowitz, Eva L. R. (Eva Lewin Richter), 1899-1994; Meyerowitz, Herbert Vladimir, 1900-1945
Recorded subjects
Tallensi (African people); Akan (African people)
Format and extent
88 Negatives (photographic) (black and white, 35 mm); 268 Copy negatives (black and white, 35 mm)
About this record

This is a catalog record for historical archival material, not a biography. Catalog wording reflects the source record. Metadata reuse does not grant permission to reproduce restricted photographs or documents.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-20

Catalog reference: EEPA.1987-009

Collection: Eva L. R. Meyerowitz Photographs

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