William Hesketh Leverhulme Solomon Islands photograph album, circa 1906-1910

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Summary

Creator:
Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, Viscount, 1851-1925
Abstract:
William Hesketh Lever was the First Viscount Leverhulme, and founder of the international firm, Lever Brothers. This bound photograph album belonging to Lord Leverhulme is entitled Solomon Islands Views, and contains 98 black-and-white photographs, chiefly measuring 6x8 inches, that illustrate the beginnings of the Lever Brothers Pacific plantations operations from about 1906-1910. Images include company buildings, plantations at various stages of development, local inhabitants and dwellings, other cultivated crops, flora and fauna, and steamships. Among the place names listed are Rendova, Pepesala and Guadalcanal. Notable persons found among the images include the Resident Commissioner of the Islands at the time, missionary J.F. Goldie, and various Lever officers.
Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet
1 Volume
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00808

Background

Scope and content:

This handsomely bound photograph album belonging to Lord Leverhulme is entitled "Solomon Islands Views", and contains 98 black-and-white photographs that illustrate the beginnings of the Lever Brothers Pacific plantations operations. Images include buildings, plantations at various stages of development, local inhabitants, and steamships. Among the place names listed are Rendova, Pepesala and Guadalcanal. Persons whose photographic portraits are found among the images are the Resident Commissioner of the Islands, missionary J.F. Goldie, and various Lever officers. The photographs illustrate the beginnings of the Lever Brothers' Pacific Plantations operations in the Solomon Islands. The views include buildings and other installations, coconut plantations in various stages of development, lumbering, native housing, local populace, local workers in various tasks, local and inter-island shipping, colonial and company officials, local chiefs, company and government headquarters, ocean steamships, steam powered agricultural equipment, copra, local flora and fauna, and the cultivation of peanuts, rubber, and sweet potatoes.

Place names listed for the photographs are: Rendova, West Bay, Erickson's Island, Pepesala, Guadalcanal, KayIan, Ufa, Banika, Tulagi, Gavatu, Lunga, Kokoon, Pampa, Kaukau, Aola, and Stanmore River. Persons in the photographs include: Charles Morris Woodford, Resident Commissioner of the Islands, 1896 to 1914, and Mrs. Woodford; Mrs. Tillotson, wife of Lord Leverhulme's nephew, John Lever Tillotson (d. 1915) who was his senior colleague on the board; Fred Wernham, an expert in tropical plantation work who was closely identified with developments in the Solomon Islands; Joseph Meek, who first journeyed to the Islands in 1905 to assess prospects there; Methodist missionary J. F. Goldie, translator of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John into Roviana; and a number of others whose names can be found in the list of the pictures.

The black-and-white photographs, emulsion-paper prints, typically measure 6x8 inches in size. Several photographs are dated 1906, but most are undated. The buildings and headquarters of the company appear well developed. That suggests that 1906 is too early a date, since Mr. Meek's initial visit to the Solomons was in 1905. Most of the pictures probably date some years after 1906, but before 1914 when Commissioner Woodford left the islands. Other factors suggest that the dates range from 1906 to 1910.

Biographical / historical:

William Hesketh Lever, First Viscount Leverhulme (1851-1925), British soap manufacturer, was the founder of the well-known firm of Lever Brothers whose operations became international during his lifetime. One of Lever Brothers' major international investments was in the Solomon Islands. In 1905 the company sent Joseph Meek, chairman of Lever Brothers Australian Company, to Lever, prospect through the Pacific islands and the Straits Settlements. They selected the Solomon Islands and eventually acquired 300,000 acres. The company began coconut planting on a considerable scale, forming for this purpose an associated company called Levers' Pacific Plantations, Ltd.

Acquisition information:
The William Hesketh Leverhulme Solomon Islands photograph album was acquired by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library at an unknown date.
Processing information:

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff.

Encoded by Paula Jeannet and Elizabeth Shesko, May 2013

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], William Hesketh Leverhulme Solomon Islands photograph album, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.