Inventory
The Collection
- Bethany, Bethlehem: Nearly half of these 81 images depicting landscapes, architecture, and people were purchased from the American Colony Photographers VESTER & Co., Jerusalem, Palestine.
- Central Highlands: A majority of these 208 images were purchased from the American Colony Photographers and Keystone Company or were reproduced from unidentified previously published printed works.
- Coast, Phoenicia, Galilee: These 97 images include views of locations in Galilee and the coastal region including Acco, Ashdod-Ashkelon, Damascus, Gaza, Jaffa, and others.
- Dolmens, Jerash, Ghassuls, the Negeb, Arabah, Tainat, Ugarit: Many of these 89 images illustrate landscapes, architecture, and artifacts from these areas.
- Egypt: Most of these 74 images depicting Egyptian artifacts and architecture were reproduced from previously published printed works.
- Flora, Personalities, Customs: These 194 images include vegetation of the region and native people and customs of some ethnographic interest.
- Inscriptions: These slides were not digitized because most of the images were reproduced from previously published printed works and not original photography.
- Jerusalem: These 480 images represent the largest group. Images include architecture, people, aerial views of the city, and landscapes.
- Khorsobad, Hittites, Persia: These slides were not digitized because most of the images were reproduced from previously published printed works and not original photography.
- Maps: These slides were not digitized because most of the images were reproduced from previously published printed works and not original photography.
- Maps, Arts & Crafts, Dragons, Tree Designs: These slides were not digitized because most of the images were reproduced from previously published printed works and not original photography.
- Mesopotamia, Babylon, Ur, Hari, Reliefs: These 54 images include many photographs of artifacts reproduced from previously published printed works.
- Old Testament Manuscripts & Historical Bibles: While at Oberlin, Dr. May taught a wide variety of courses ranging in topic from in-depth examinations of individual books of the Bible to the religious practices of Ancient Israel and Biblical archaeology. These 72 images depict Old Testament manuscripts and historical Bibles that appear to have been reproduced from unidentified previously published printed works.
- Petra: These 72 images include maps, architecture, and topography.
- Sea of Galilee: These 253 images include many beautiful hand-tinted slides.
- Synagogue, Wadi Mughara, Megiddo: During the 1930s, as a graduate fellow, May was part of the University of Chicago archaeological expedition to Megiddo in Palestine. He worked as epigrapher and recorder between 1931 and 1934. A majority of these 92 images depict locations near Mt. Gilboa, Wadi Mughara, and Mount Carmel.
- Taanach: These 11 images include landscapes and photographs of artifacts. The images that were not reproduced from previously published printed works were probably taken by Dr. May during his time in the 1930s as epigrapher and recorder.
- Temple-Synagogue: These 71 images include models, exteriors, and interiors of synagogues and temples.
- Ugarit: Many of these 122 illustrations and photographs of artifacts appear to have been reproduced from previously published printed works.
- Unidentified & Miscellaneous: These 11 images include unidentified locations and structures. Several slides in this category were not digitized because they did not fit the scope of the collection.
- Wilderness of Judah, Jericho, Jordan, Dead Sea: Many of these 188 images depicting landscapes, architecture, people, and artifacts were purchased from American Colony Photographers or reproduced from previously published printed works.
- Writing, Writing Materials: Many of these 76 images of ancient writing and writing materials were reproduced from unidentified previously published printed works.
- Negatives: These 297 images were taken by Mrs. Helen May during trips to Palestine in the 1930s and are part of the Herbert G. May Papers RG 30/46, Series XI Photographs in the Oberlin College Archives.
Speacial thanks to: Jeffrey A. Blakely, Katherine (Kate) Lansky, Marsha Bansberg, Cecilia Robinson, and Ed Vermue, 2010.