The Postcard Collection of Edwin Jacques

Deutsch | Shqip

Albania in the 1930s

The American scholar and historian, Edwin E. Jacques (1908-1996), was a Baptist missionary who worked as a teacher in Korça from 1932 to 1940, where he began collecting material on Albanian history. He was in Rome in 1940 and then returned to the United States to obtain a master’s degree at Boston University in 1941 with a thesis on The Islamization of Albania under the Turks. He visited Albania again in 1986. Jacques’ major contribution to Albanian studies was his 700-page history of Albania, entitled The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present, Jefferson NC, 1995, which is the longest history of Albania ever written in English. While in Albania, Jacques assiduously collected postcards of the country. After his death, this material found its way into his archives at the Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary. We are grateful to David Hosaflook, director of the Institute for Albanian and Protestant Studies (IAPS), for having retrieved the collection and now made it available. The postcard collection is of greater interest that one would think because it presents rare views of the towns and cities of “Old Albania,” before the destruction caused by the Second World War and by the communist dictatorship (1944-1990). Over half of the scenes and objects shown in these postcards no longer exist.

Die Postkartensammlung des Edwin Jacques

English | Shqip

Albanien in den 1930er Jahren

Der amerikanische Gelehrte und Historiker, Edwin E. Jacques (1908-1996), war ein Baptisten- missionar, der in Korça in den Jahren 1932-1940 predigte. Seine Leidenschaft war albanische Geschichte und er begann Material dazu zu sammeln. Im Jahre 1940 befand er sich in Rom und kehrte von dort aus in die Vereinigten Staaten zurück, wo er im folgenden Jahre an der Universität von Boston mit der Arbeit The Islamization of Albania under the Turks (Der Islamisierung Albaniens unter den Türken) seinen Magister abschloss. Er besuchte Albanien erst wieder im Jahre 1986. Sein Hauptwerk ist eine 700-seitige Geschichte Albaniens: The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present (Die Albaner: eine ethnische Geschichte von prähistorischer Zeit zur Gegenwart), Jefferson NC, 1995, die bisher längste englischverfasste Geschichte Albaniens. Während seiner Zeit in Albanien sammelte Jacques auch Ansichtskarten des Landes. Nach seinem Tod befand sich die Sammlung als Teil seines Nachlasses im Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary. Wir sind David Hosaflook, dem Direktor des Institut für albanische und protestantische Studien (IAPS) dankbar, dass er die Sammlung aufgespürt und der Öffentlichkeit zur Verfügung gestellt hat. Die Postkartensammlung des Edwin Jacques ist von größerem Interesse als man meinen sollte, denn sie bewahrt genaue und teils seltene Städteansichten aus dem „Alten Albanien“ zur Zeit vor den Zerstörungen im Zweiten Weltkrieg und unter der kommunistischen Herrschaft (1944-1990). Über die Hälfte der in diesen Ansichtskarten festgehaltenen Objekte existieren nicht mehr.

Koleksioni i kartolinave i Edvin Xhejksit

(Edwin Jacques)

English | Deutsch

Shqipëria në vitet 1930

Historiani amerikan Edvin Xhejks (1908-1996) ishte misionar baptist i cili punoi si mësues në Korçë në vitet 1932-1940, ku filloi të grumbullonte materiale për historinë e Shqipërisë. Viti 1940 e gjeti në Romë. Më pas u kthye në Shtetet e Bashkuara ku u diplomua në Universitetin e Bostonit në vitin 1941, me tezën The Islamization of Albania under the Turks (Islamizimi i Shqipërisë në kohën e turqve). E vizitoi përsëri Shqipërinë edhe në vitin 1986. Ndihmesa kryesore albanologjike e Xhejksit ishte historia e tij 700-faqëshe e Shqipërisë me titullin: The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present, Jefferson NC 1995, shqip: Shqiptarët: Historia e popullit shqiptar nga lashtësia deri në ditët e sotme, Tiranë 2002 – historia më e gjatë e Shqipërisë e shkruar në gjuhën angleze. Kur ishte në Shqipëri, Xhejksi mblidhte pa pushim kartolina të vendit. Pas vdekjes së tij, kartolinat përfunduan në arkivin e tij personal në Seminarin Baptist Konservator të Denverit (Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary). I jemi mirënjohës David Hosaflook, drejtorit të Institutit për Studime Shqiptare dhe Protestante, i cili e gjeti koleksionin e kartolinave dhe e vuri atë në dispozicion të publikut. Ky koleksion kartolinash paraqet interes më të madh nga ç’mund të mendohet, sepse ofron pamje të sakta, si dhe disa pamje të rralla të “Shqipërisë së Vjetër”, para shkatërrimeve të Luftës së Dytë Botërore dhe të periudhës komuniste (1944-1990). Shumica e objekteve të fotografuara në këto kartolina nuk janë më.
Robert Elsie Early Photography in Albania
EJQ000: Edwin Jacques (1908-1996). EJQ001: Interior of the Fortress of Berat, Albania (n.b. this is actually probably a view of the interior of the fortress of Gjirokastra). EJQ002: View of the Osum River and part of the town of Berat, Albania. EJQ003: View of the centre of Berat, Albania. EJQ004: Bastion of the Venetian fortifications in Durrës, Albania. EJQ005: The beach at Durrës, Albania. EJQ006: The Grand Mosque of Durrës, Albania, built in 1938 and destroyed in good part by the communists on 6 February 1967. EJQ007: The Royal Palace of Durrës, Albania, built for King Zog in 1927 by ‘voluntary contributions’ from the merchants of the town. EJQ008: View of the bazaar of Elbasan, Albania. EJQ009: Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas in Elbasan, Albania. EJQ010: View of the olive oil factory in Elbasan, Albania. EJQ011: The Aga’s Mosque (Xhamia e Agait) in Elbasan, Albania. This mosque was built in 1660-1670, restored in 1935-1936, and demolished by the communists in 1970-1972. EJQ012: Gateway into the fortress of Elbasan, Albania. EJQ013: A market square in Elbasan, Albania. EJQ014: Views of the corn, vegetable and wool markets in Elbasan, Albania. EJQ015: View of the Muslim prayer field (namazgjah) in Elbasan, Albania. EJQ016: View of the old bazaar of Elbasan, Albania. EJQ017: Tahsin Hoxha Street in Elbasan, Albania. EJQ018: A shopping street in old Elbasan, Albania. EJQ019: View of the centre of Elbasan, Albania. EJQ020: The mineral baths (llixhat) south of Elbasan, Albania. EJQ021: Courtyard of the one-time Orthodox monastery of Saint John Vladimir at Shijon near Elbasan, Albania. EJQ022: Prefecture Building Street in Gjirokastra, Albania. EJQ023: The mid-19th century Teqe (Bektashi dervish lodge) of Sulejman Baba, also called the Teqe of Hajderije, on a hill near Gjirokastra, Albania. EJQ024: View of the town and fortress of Gjirokastra, Albania. EJQ025: View of the village of Dardha, near Korça, Albania. EJQ026: Shepherds in the mountains of Dardha near Korça, Albania. EJQ027: Military barracks near Korça, Albania. EJQ028: Zog Boulevard in Korça, Albania. EJQ029: Saint George’s Boulevard in Korça, Albania. EJQ030: The “Great Mosque” (r.), i.e. the Mosque of Iljaz bey Mirahor dating from 1494, in Korça, Albania. Coloured postcard. EJQ031: The industrial school and national lycée (secondary school) in Korça, Albania. EJQ032: The Thoma Turtulli Government Hospital in Korça, Albania – first view. EJQ033: The Thoma Turtulli Government Hospital in Korça, Albania – second view. EJQ034: A street in the old bazaar of Korça, Albania. EJQ035: The Thoma Turtulli Library in Korça, Albania. EJQ036: View of Korça, Albania. EJQ037: View of Korça, Albania, taken from the hill of Saint Thanas Church. EJQ038: View of Korça, Albania. Coloured postcard. EJQ039: Panoramic view of Korça, Albania. EJQ040: Various views of Korça, Albania. EJQ041: The Mosque of Iljaz bey Mirahor dating from 1494 and the clock tower in Korça, Albania – first view. EJQ042: The Mosque of Iljaz bey Mirahor dating from 1494, and the clock tower in Korça, Albania – second view. EJQ043: View of Kruja, Albania, taken from the fortress. EJQ044: View of the mosque and fortress of Kruja, Albania. EJQ045: The little port of Shëngjin (San Giovanni di Medua) in Albania. EJQ046: The old Franciscan Church of Our Saviour (Sancti Salvatoris) on the hilltop in Rubik (Mirdita) in Albania. EJQ047: View of Pogradec on Lake Ohrid, Albania. EJQ048: Boats on Lake Ohrid at Pogradec, Albania. EJQ049: Fishing boats on Lake Ohrid at Pogradec, Albania. EJQ050: View of the centre of Tirana, Albania, taken from the Et’hem Bey Mosque. EJQ051: Market day in Tirana, Albania. EJQ052: Aerial view of Tirana, Albania. EJQ053: Cadets in Tirana, Albania. EJQ054: View of November 28th Street in Tirana, Albania. Coloured postcard. EJQ055: Queen Mother Street (now Durrës Street) in Tirana, Albania. Coloured postcard. EJQ056: Celebration at night on Scanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania, in 1937 to mark the 25th anniversary of Albanian independence. EJQ057: Scanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania. EJQ058: The old Sulejman Pasha Mosque in Tirana, Albania. This mosque, dating from 1614, was heavily damaged in November 1944 and was torn down by the communists in 1967. EJQ059: The old Sulejman Pasha Mosque in Tirana. Albania – second view. EJQ060: The old Sulejman Pasha Mosque in Tirana. Albania – third view. EJQ061: Gypsy quarter in Tirana, Albania. EJQ062: The Mosque of Et’hem Bey, founded around 1791, in Tirana, Albania. EJQ063: The new market and the Mosque of Mahmud Aga Kokonozi, built around 1750, in Tirana, Albania. EJQ063: Porto Palermo and the fortress of Ali Pasha on the southern coast of Albania. jquery image lightboxby VisualLightBox.com v6.1