Photograph, 170/14

Photograph | 170/14 | Luzon - Philippines

Lanna Park

I gravitated toward this image because of her facial expression, and military dress, but when looking at the catalog information, there is sparse context. This photo, dated to 1910, with only a brief description saying that this is a girl dressed in a US officer’s military coat from the 5th infantry of Vigan. This lack of context is a common theme of Filipino cultural artifacts shelved in the archives. She is now nameless, and can more easily be forgotten. Who was she? Why did they eternalize this moment while also erasing who she was? What leaves a lasting impression is the military uniform, representative of the US military's presence in the Philippines.

Courtesy of the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. To search the Arts & Cultures collections, please visit our online database here.