Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. - Images of Muslims and Christian missionaries working among them in Western China in the 1920s and 1930s form the core of Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.’s collection.

Images of Muslims and Christian missionaries working among them in Western China in the 1920s and 1930s form the core of Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.’s collection.Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Men and boys praying in a mosque 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Play acting at the Honan Mosque Hankow On roof of mosque 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

A Shantung mosque 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Weichow Ningsia Ishmael Mohammed President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

The real rulers of Tsinghai A descendent of the Tanguts 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

The old mosque Old sect Wuchang Hupeh The mimbar 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

The Yellow River at work Mr Griebenow in background is 6 4 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Minor ablutions Honan Mosque Hankow 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Two Moslem girls 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

On the road to Lanchow Our major domo 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Lanchow Kansu The Lanchow Field 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Sian The Great East Mosque 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Lanchow to Shincheng Opium harvest 12 times the revenue of another plant Scraping the poppie 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Peiping (Mosque interior Mihrab) 1934 35 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Leaving Shunhwa A study in cantilever bridges 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Lanchow and beyond A Taoist temple Note irrigation ditch in foreground 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Pientu Monastry 1932 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Crossing the T ao River A flour mill The current does the work 1933 President and Fellows of Harvard College - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. | - Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr.

Over 1,000 photos of Muslims and Christian missionaries working among them in Western China in the 1920s and 1930s form the core of this collection. The Harvard-Yenching Library collection, which also includes books, broadsides, posters and other items, captures a record of buildings, inscriptions, and Muslim culture lost to wars and the Cultural Revolution.

The collection was the gift of The Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. (1900-1985), an American Episcopal priest who worked for many years as a missionary to Muslims in Western China. Pickens and his wife, Elizabeth Zwemer Pickens, were missionaries working with the China Inland Mission and they had an interest in Hui (Han Chinese Muslims). In 1933 and in 1936, Claude and Elizabeth Pickens, and other missionaries, undertook surveys of Hui, Tibetan and other groups in Western China.

More information:

• library.harvard.edu

• hpcbristol.net