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Cochin
| Title |
Cochin |
| Reference |
GBR/0115/Y3022PPP-YYY |
| Creator |
McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker |
| Covering Dates |
circa 1928-circa 1939 |
| Extent and Medium |
1640 images in 10 albums; Generally in good condition. |
| Repository |
Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library |
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| Content and context |
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Alan Campbell McKay was born on 7 August 1904. He first went to Cochin in 1928, having previously served in Ceylon. In a photograph album dated 1931 he described himself in the following way: 'Alan Campbell McKay, a Scotsman. Assistant-Accountant, National Bank of India, Ltd., Colombo, Nuwara Eliya and Cochin. Assistant District Commissioner of Boy Scouts, British Cochin. Hon. Badge Secretary, Boy Scouts District Association, British Cochin. Honorary Secretary, Cochin Golf Club. Member, Cochin Club Library Committee. Sports: golf, cricket, walking and motor-cycling. Hobbies: Reading, writing, photography. Collecting brassware and Eastern curios. Failings: Over-talkativeness, argumentativeness - and some'. He remained in banking until his retirement, and died in December 1984.
A collection of albums containing photographs, the majority taken by A.C. McKay but some by R.V. Kamath and by professional photographers.
The collection consists of photographs mostly 85 x 60 mm, but with occasional enlargements, carefully mounted in large albums and described in some detail in clear white writing on the black leaves. Each album is numbered on the spine, and clearly formed part of a larger collection than has been received.
McKay was a prolific photographer, and these albums reflect his interests - sailing, golf, travels at weekends along lagoons and by road into the interior, Scouting, and social life. He also took an interest in the way of life of the people and from time to time grouped material together under one subject. In view of the substantial size of this collection and the detailed descriptions provided in the albums, individual listing has not been attempted, but photographs are noted under broad subjects. In a number of cases enlargements are stuck in the same album as the originals, and it is probable that there was also some duplication when he gathered material on the same subject together. No attempt has been made to identify such duplicates. Though the final album does not relate to India, it has been kept, and listed, with the rest of the McKay collection for convenience.
The collection was given by Bertram Rota Ltd. in April 1986.
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Access and Use
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Please cite as Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Cochin, Y3022PPP-YYY |
| Further information |
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Indexed
This collection level description was entered by SG using information from the original typescript catalogue.
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| Index Terms |
| Africa |
| Asia |
| Australia |
| Egypt |
| Europe |
| France |
| India |
| Indonesia |
| Italy |
| Malay Archipelago |
| Malaysia |
| New Zealand |
| Oceania |
| Singapore |
| Yemen |
| McKay, Alan Campbell (1904-1984) banker |
| RCS/Y3022PPP-YYY contains: |
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Y3022PPP
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The return East and Cochin, Sept 7 - December 1928. An album with the following annotation by McKay: 'Containing my photographic record of my return to the East and a miscellany of snaps of my new station - Cochin. September 7th to December 1928'.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
240 images in 1 album. |
7 Sep. 1928-Dec. 1928 |
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Y3022QQQ
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Cochin February - April 1929. An album with the following annotation by McKay: 'Cochin Album No. 3. Continuing my Lagoon Adventures and picturing happy days and jolly friends in Cochin. A record I can never forget. February-April 1929'.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
227 images in 1 album. |
Feb. 1929-Apr. 1929 |
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Y3022RRR
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Cochin, April - November 1929.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
138 images in 1 album. |
Apr. 1929-Nov. 1929 |
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Y3022SSS
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Cochin, December 1929 - April 1930. An album with the following annotation by McKay: 'This album is largely educational, containing short and - unfortunately - incomplete records of the Coir and Paddy industries. It also deals with the peregrinations of a banker - Calicut, Alleppey, Trichur, Alwaye, Mundakayam, Peermade and other places. Above all it tells of happy days and of good companions'.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
139 images in 1 album. |
Dec. 1929-Apr. 1930 |
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Y3022TTT
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Cochin, July 1930 - March 1931. An album with the following annotation by McKay: 'The Villain of the Piece. Alan Campbell McKay, a Scotsman. Assistant-Accountant, National Bank of India, Ltd., Colombo, Nuwara Eliya and Cochin. Assistant District Commissioner of Boy Scouts, British Cochin. Hon. Badge Secretary, Boy Scouts District Association, British Cochin. Honorary Secretary, Cochin Golf Club. Member, Cochin Club Library Committee. Sports: golf, cricket, walking and motor-cycling. Hobbies: Reading, writing, photography. Collecting brassware and Eastern curios. Failings: Over-talkativeness, argumentativeness - and some'.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
152 images in 1 album. |
July 1930-Mar. 1931 |
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Y3022UUU
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Cochin. April - December 1931. An album with the following annotation by McKay: 'As my stay in Cochin lengthens I use my camera less and less, but in nine months I manage to fill yet another album. This one sees the introduction of Scouting snaps, as I make my bow as a Scout again, after several crowded years. As will be seen I have continued my wanderings over much of Southern India, and renewed acquaintanceship with many old friends'.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
185 images in 1 file. |
Apr. 1931-Dec. 1931 |
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Y3022VVV
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Cochin 1932-1933.
Creator: McKay, Alan Campbell, 1904-1984, banker (?).
155 images in 1 album. |
1932–1933 |
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Y3022WWW
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Cochin and Travancore [i.e. Kerala]: photographs by R.V. Kamath. An album with the following annotation by McKay: 'Containing photos of Cochin and Travancore States taken by my companion on many outings - R.V. kamath. Interesting illustrations of the life, customs and industries of the people of the Malabar Coast'.
Creator: Kamath, R V, fl 1928-1929.
117 images in 1 album. |
circa 1928-circa 1929 |
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Y3022XXX
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Cochin 1929-1932: Professional snapshots. Though described (somewhat ambiguously) as 'Professional snapshots', these are of varied quality, and McKay's note in the section 61-100 indicates, there is at least some amateur work. All photographs relate to Cochin unless otherwise indicated.
Creator: Various.
118 images in 1 album. |
circa 1929-circa 1932 |
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Y3022YYY
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Professional snapshots. Malaya - Java [i.e. Jawa] - Bali - New Zealand. February - May 1939. This relates to a later stage in McKay's career than any of the other albums. Apart from its serial number 20, it is marked on the cover 'Album No 4' possibly of a collection of professional photographs made by McKay.
Creator: Various.
169 images in 1 album. |
Feb. 1939-May 1939 |
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