Lost & Found: Davis Collection

This collection includes rare photographs taken by U.S. Consul Leslie Davis, who was stationed in Ottoman Turkey between 1914 and 1917. It includes ethnographic photos of everyday life in and around Kharpert (Harput), where Davis was based. Davis was an eyewitness of the Armenian Genocide who wrote a key report to the U.S. State Department about the massacres he saw. He was also an avid photographer. While some of his photographs are in the public domain, most have been hidden for decades. The story of how these images came to light is as fascinating as the photos themselves. 

An exhibition on Davis’ journey and his photographs, will be announced in 2022. Until then, a small sample of the collection is shown here.