The Historical Photographs of China (HPC) project’s primary goal is to make historical photographs of China more accessible to scholars and the general public by accepting media from mostly private collections and publishing them. The HPC project also pursues collaboration with both institutions and individuals around the world to expand its collections and share knowledge. Another goal of theirs is to preserve and share historical photographs of China, which they accomplish by digitizing, cataloging, and publishing these original images. The project aims to create a comprehensive resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in the history of China. It engages with and serves this community of individuals by providing complete and free access to its database of historical photographs and related resources.
The HPC project aligns with the digital humanities’ goal of preserving and protecting cultural data by digitizing and archiving historical photographs of China. Due to their age and environmental conditions, these photographs are fragile and at risk of deterioration. By digitizing them, the project ensures their long-term preservation and accessibility for research, while also protecting them from damage or loss due to natural disasters. The HPC project also contributes to the digital humanities’ goal of analyzing cultural data by providing scholars and the public with access to historical photographs of China. These photographs offer a unique visual record of China’s culture, society, and history during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The project’s efforts to digitize and catalog these photographs make them more accessible to scholars and the public, enabling them to analyze and interpret the materials. Consequently, researchers can explore the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of China’s past, providing new insights into the country’s history.
