Rum Distillery, Sugar Cane Plantation Photo Album and Archive.

[c. 1920]

Photo album, with 46 original black and white photographs (14x8cm) mounted, and an additional 37 loose photographs (various sizes, but most 8.5x6.5cm or 11x7cm). We've been unable to identify the distillery and sugar cane plantation, although some pictures indicate U.S.M. on barrels or train cars. It's our best guess the the plantation is in India or East Asia, based on the vegetation, and images of the workers, perhaps United Sugar Mills, or Ugar Sugar. The date of 1920 is indicated on the first two photographs in the album, although the lettering is partially obscured, and the date could be 1926 or 1928. The album documents the changeover of the distillery from steam powered to electric powered equipment. New buildings, crushers, demolition of the old smokestacks and construction of the new. Some ceremonial photos are included also, indicating inspection of the trains and the factory. Each photo is accompanied by a short handwritten description on the facing page. The final two photographs in the album, both labeled "Ambulance Outside Club" are lacking, but otherwise it is complete and in near fine condition. The additional photos depict the workers' housing, workers in the field, the offices, train cars and locomotives, a train accident, more equipment, and rum in barrels for shipment. Images of the workers, who appear African, South Asian and South East Asian in origin, show them at work and at rest, floating on a river, and working with oxen. An unusual survival.