Joseph Conrad photograph album of his Polish relatives, circa 1857-circa 1892

Physical description:
The album measures approximately 8 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches and is covered with black Moroccan leather with ivory bands, and once had a side clasp, of which only the hinges remain. It was designed to hold cartes-de-visite photographs: each album page hosts two slots which are open at the top to allow for items to be inserted or removed. There some slots where there are no photographs. At some unknown time, numbers were written on the back of each photo. Empty slots result in numbering gaps. The current photograph identifiers are based on these numbers. Some of the bracket notations and names in pencil added later on the backs have been found to be incorrect; current descriptions in this collection guide reflect new information and identifications.
Scope and content:

This cartes-de-visite album contains 43 albumen photographs dated from about 1857 to 1889, 41 of which are studio portraits of Korzeniowski and Bobrowski friends and family, all taken before Joseph (Korzeniowsky) Conrad left his homeland and settled in England.

Language:
Polish
Biographical / historical:
The origination date and provenance of this photo album is uncertain. Joseph Conrad's relative Tadeusz Bobrowski reported that Joseph's mother and father carried an album with them into exile, and this may be the album that ended up among Conrad's most treasured possessions. Jessie Conrad stated that Conrad's album traveled the world with him, and one of his letters from the Congo directly references placing a photo "in my album" to view often (see Maryla Bobrowsksa Tyszkowa, photos 26 and 45.) Jessie Conrad wrote in 1926 that Joseph Conrad called his photograph album "the graveyard" and did not want any new photos to be placed within it.
Processing information:

For easier identification, the album pages have been numbered by library staff and the page numbers added to each photograph's description in this collection guide.

Alternative form available:

The Joseph Conrad photograph album and its contents have been digitized by library staff; the digital images are available through this collection guide or on the Duke Libraries Digital Collections website.

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Collection restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Use & permissions:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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