#PB64
Ca. 1920s
25 loose gelatin silver photographs, each ca. 15 x 9.5 cm (5 ¾ x 3 ¾ in). All images captioned in negative. A few photos mildly faded, but overall a very good collection of interesting photos.
A collection of photographs showing El Salvador in the 1920s. The photographs were likely taken during the shore leave of several American sailors, possibly serving on the USS Holland.
The photographs show the “liberty landing” at La Union, the “National Military Band” of El Salvador, and US Navy servicemen with likely Salvadorian soldiers. Several photographs are of the train station servicing San Miguel, a major center in eastern El Salvador. The railway the station was on was operated by International Railways of Central America (IRCA), an American company which owned and operated railways in El Salvador and Guatemala. It was later nationalized in El Salvador in 1975 (FENASAL/FENADESAL). Also included are photographs of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Plaza Gerardo Barrios in San Salvador, and a church in La Union.
There are also several scenes of life in El Salvador. They include snapshots of oxen-drawn transports in the streets, “orphans” walking to school, and “natives scrambling for pennies.” Other photographs also include a baseball game and environs of San Salvador.
Overall, an interesting collection showing El Salvador in the 1920s.
