This collection of photographs documents the burgeoning economic development of many countries throughout the world in the first third of the 20th Century. Industrialized countries (for example, Germany, France, Great Britain) as well as less industrialized countries (for example, China, Netherlands East Indies, Costa Rica) are represented. The extent of United States export markets is well-documented also; the popularity of U.S. automobiles, agricultural equipment and other items is extensively documented in this series.
The images in this series were collected by the Editorial Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce (BFDC) for use in its weekly publication Commerce Reports. This publication highlighted issues and important stories regarding U.S. and foreign trade. Photographs were sent to the BFDC by trade representatives and commercial attaches on official business in foreign countries; for several years, the BFDC issued trade representatives cameras and film with which to record examples of indigenous economic activity in the countries they visited.
The wide variety of economic activities undertaken by countries is documented in this series. Included are images of agriculture, textile manufacturing, heavy industries such as mining, factories and power plants, handicrafts, food harvesting and marketing, railways and mass transit, ports and shipping, construction of roads and buildings, and financial institutions. In addition, photographs survey the natural features and resources of each country, as well as cultural and historical events and monuments.
Photographs of interest in this series include many views of celebrities in their motor vehicles. These include former German Crown Prince Wilhelm on his Indian motorcycle (folder 75E), the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) in his car (folder 94H), racer Malcolm Campbell (folder 95A), and aviators Amelia Earhart (folder 94H) and Charles Lindbergh (folder 98B).
Other photographs of interest include the tomb of Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen (folder 30C), construction of the White Star liners Titanic and Olympic (folder 95C), the opening of an 80-year old can of beef, found at the site of the 1845 Franklin Northwest Passage Expedition (folder 94E), and several views of victims of a Nationalist bombing of Lerida, Spain during the Spanish Civil War (folder 90B).
Nearly all photographs contain captions. Most also include citations noting their use in a particular issue of Commerce Reports, with dates.
There are a handful of original negatives (mostly glass plates).
NOTE: Country names reflect their status as of the mid-1930's; therefore, many countries retain their colonial names. For example, Netherlands East Indies is used, instead of Indonesia. Be aware of this when searching for a particular country.
