Waiting for the Second Coming: The New Photographic Collection of the American Colony Archives

A significant photographic collection from the American Colony Archives in Jerusalem, depicting Biblical Palestine and local traditions, has been digitized and made accessible to the public. This collection, comprising 7,000 to 10,000 photographs—including the largest known set of albums produced by the Colony's photo department—offers a unique visual record of late 19th-century Jerusalem and its surroundings. The archives, housed in what is now the American Colony Hotel, document the transition of the utopian Christian community from a messianic sect to a thriving business, engaging in photography as one of its income-generating ventures. The images capture landscapes, biblical themes, and local life, including Bedouins and traditional costumes, providing valuable insights into the cultural and historical context of the region during that period.

Awad, N. (2015). Waiting for the Second Coming: The New Photographic Collection of the American Colony Archives. Jerusalem Quarterly, (61), 101. https://doi.org/10.70190/jq.i61.p101