A rare and important collection of CDVs, with numerous portraits of royal and notable Hawaiian women including a rare image of Bernice Pauahi Bishop and two seemingly-unpublished photographs of Eveline Townsend Wilson, as well as portraits of early American and European settlers to the island.

There are two portraits of Eveline Melita Kaopaokalanikilioulani Townsend Wilson. Wilson was an attendant and close confidante to Queen Liliʻuokalani. She was voluntarily imprisoned with the Queen and was one of the few people with whom she was allowed to interact. In one of the photographs, Wilson is posed with her mother, Harriet Harriet Kapakulani Kekahililaniohawaiiloa Blanchard Townsend.

Women of the Hawaiian royal family are also represented in the album include rare, beautifully-printed early portraits of Bernice Pauahii Bishop, Queen Liliʻuokalani, Queen Emma and Princess Likelike. There are three images of Caroline “Carrie” Poor who composed the song “Ahe Lau Makani, Gentle Breezes, Waltz Song No. 3” with Queen Lili’uokalani in 1868. In one of these portraits, Poor is posed with Charlotte Holmes Lelepoki Davis King and there is also a portrait of Davis by herself. The Brickwood family is represented with portraits of Carrie, Emma and Louisa Brickwood.

There are two photographs of Goddfried Frederick Wundenberg, among the first German settlers on Kauai. In one photo, he is seen with his wife, Ann Moorea Henry. For a time Wundenberg ran Wyllie's sugar plantation at Hanalei, where he also served as tax assessor. Later he moved to Honolulu where he managed the finances of the Kingdom and served in the Hawaiian Guard and as Postmaster General.

Also pictured are Wundenberg’s two daughters, Josephine Wunderberg King and Anna Wundenberg Wright. Both daughters were creative times. While in Hanalei, Anna penned a manuscript called “The Hanalei Valley” and Josephine sketched the area, and later published a memoir, “Reminiscences of Hanalei, Kauai,” in 1917. The Wundenberg’s were apparently quite close with the royal family. According to the Kauai Historical Society, Queen Emma once participated in a Pillow fight with the Wundenberg children. There is a photograph of the two Wunderberg children alongside Julia Johnson, who was a member of the Waioli Mission in Hanalei.

There are other photographs of identified and unidentified persons, as well several images related to traditional Hawaiian cultures and customs, including a group shot of several men in traditional warrior costumes; two images of women dressed in Holokus; a photo of a poi feast; two photographs of paintings; and more.

Most of the photographs were taken by the early photographer H.L. Chase, though a few were produced by the firm Crabbe and Meek.

Overall, a rich and important collection of 19th-century photographs.

SCANS OF ENTIRE COLLECTION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.