Alfred John Tattersall
Encyclopedia
Alfred John Tattersall was a New Zealand
photographer
who lived in Samoa
for most of his life and contributed a significant collection of images of the Pacific Island country and its peoples during the colonial
era. Tattersall lived in Samoa from 1886 to 1951, including the volatile era when Britain
, Germany
and the United States
were vying for control of the Samoa Islands. Many of his photographs are significant in the history of Samoa
and covered eras such as German Samoa
(1900 - 1914) followed by the country's administration under New Zealand
which saw the rise of the pro-independence Mau movement
.
Tattersall went to Samoa in 1886 to be an assistant in the photography studio of British photographer, John Davis. This was the era of colonial photography in the South Pacific when the tropical landscapes and indigenous
people provided 'continual fascination' for foreign photographers.
In 1891, another New Zealander, Thomas Andrew
joined Davis and Tattersall. In 1903, Tattersall took over the business when Davis died.Postcards
were a popular part of his business which distributed the images around the world. Apart from landmark historical events, Tattersall also photographed hundreds of landscape scenery and studio portraits of Samoans posing in traditional attire.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
photographer
who lived in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
for most of his life and contributed a significant collection of images of the Pacific Island country and its peoples during the colonial
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
era. Tattersall lived in Samoa from 1886 to 1951, including the volatile era when Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were vying for control of the Samoa Islands. Many of his photographs are significant in the history of Samoa
History of Samoa
-Myths:According to legend, Samoa shares the common Polynesian ancestor of Tagaloa; according to many legends, Samoa was Tagaloa's first creation...
and covered eras such as German Samoa
German Samoa
German Samoa was a German protectorate from 1900 to 1914, consisting of the islands of Upolu, Savai'i, Apolima and Manono, now wholly within the independent state Samoa, formerly Western Samoa...
(1900 - 1914) followed by the country's administration under New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
which saw the rise of the pro-independence Mau movement
Mau movement
The Mau was a non-violent movement for Samoan independence from colonial rule during the early 1900s. The word 'Mau' means 'opinion' or 'testimony' denoting 'firm strength' in Samoan...
.
Tattersall went to Samoa in 1886 to be an assistant in the photography studio of British photographer, John Davis. This was the era of colonial photography in the South Pacific when the tropical landscapes and indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
people provided 'continual fascination' for foreign photographers.
In 1891, another New Zealander, Thomas Andrew
Thomas Andrew (photographer)
Thomas Andrew was a New Zealand photographer who lived in Samoa from 1891 until his death in 1939.Andrew took photographs that are of significant historical and cultural value including the recording on camera of key events in Samoa's colonial era such as the Mau movement, the volcanic eruption of...
joined Davis and Tattersall. In 1903, Tattersall took over the business when Davis died.Postcards
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
were a popular part of his business which distributed the images around the world. Apart from landmark historical events, Tattersall also photographed hundreds of landscape scenery and studio portraits of Samoans posing in traditional attire.