The web site is culmination of a four-year project to recover, conserve, digitize and publish the Tubman photographs online in cooperation with the Indiana University Digital Library Program and with the support of the British Library’s Endangered Archives Programme and the Title VI National Resource Centers for Africa, administered by CRL.

William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman (1895-1971) was Liberia’s longest-serving president, in office from 1944 to 1971. During his presidency, Tubman traveled extensively, visiting many African countries both before and after independence, Haiti, Trinidad and other Caribbean countries, the United States and many European countries. In turn, Liberia received frequent return visits by heads of state and other high-ranking officials from many countries.

The Tubman Photography Collection contains over 5,500 photographs documenting many official functions during the Tubman presidency, such as state visits, dedications, formal receptions and inaugurations. Tubman family members appear in their official capacity in many of the photographs and the collection includes some family photographs, as well. Most photographs were taken by Liberian government photographers or the press agencies of other governments.

Though a great deal of effort has already been invested in gathering information about the people and events depicted in photographs, many are not fully described. Indiana University Liberian Collections would appreciate assistance with identification, and encourages any corrections or comments about the photographs, as well. Contact information is provided below each image in the collection.

The Tubman Presidential Papers, a collection of documents from Tubman’s presidency, are also available on Indiana University’s Archives Online website at
http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/findingaids/lcp/VAB6923.