Egypt in Montana

Hearst Free Library ~ in Anaconda ~ 19th Century Photos of Egypt

The Hearst Free Library in Anaconda houses some rare antique photos of Egyptian sites in the middle of the 19th century by Adolphe Braun [1811-1877]. The framed photos are hung high throughout the library. Phoebe Hearst donated the library to Montana and she sponsored some excavations in Egypt. Did she contribute these photos of Egypt also?

These snapshots of those old photos were taken with a Sony Mavica digital camera while Spencer Wolney and Donna Hyora were doing WOW computer training at the Hearst Free Library in Anaconda in 2000. The library staff kindly let me climb ladders to get closer. The angles were difficult, nonetheless, and the marvelous arched windows cast bright reflections on the glass. I took extreme liberties with graphic manipulation of those snaps to provide a plausible representation of what was there. The poor quality of the reproductions is all the more reason to go see them in person.

The Island of Philae with the Ptolemaic Temple of Isis before the temples were moved to escape the flooding from the High Dam

Trajan's kiosk, built by the Roman emperor, as it stood on the island of Philae before its rescue to higher ground on the island of Agilkia.

The great sphinx at Gizeh was still partially buried under desert sand in this 19th century photo.

19th century Giza scene with veiled Egyptian women in the foreground, the pyramids, palm trees, and mud brick housing in the background. The library's arched window reflections overlay an aquaduct-like dimension.

The Temple of Horus at Edfu

Ptolemy III Euergetes' southern gate, now called the Bab el-Amara, to the Karnak temple complex—with remnants of the sphinx lined approach

A colorful painting of Egyptians in 19th century Cairo—artist unidentified, but undoubtedly from the 19th century also. The archway in this image is part of the painting, not a reflection. I didn't note whether this was a print or an original.

Please email me if you have some better photos or information to share. If somebody can zero in on the brass plaque on the painting I'd love to set the record straight. the end