• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.36-63
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• 2020

Percival Lowell took photographs of 80s during his stay in Korea in the winter of 1883 and 1884. The photographs are the first in the history of Korea and contain various and precious information about Korea of the day. As such, they could be used for purposes of studying late 19th century Chosōn society. The 61 photographs that are archived in Boston Museum of Fine Art were catalogued by National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and have been posted online with incorrect explanations by Boston Museum of Fine Art. The explanations have been composed and revised at least four times on the basis of Lowell's writings and archivists' understandings of Korea. However these explanations contain many errors regarding the content of the photographs, yet have been cited by researchers and books concerning the history of Korea. I examined the explanations, analyzed Lowell's writings and diplomatic documents, and confirmed the locations where the photographs were taken. Accordingly, I suggest improved explanations of the photographs to prevent misuse of the Boston Museum of Fine Art's online archive. Lowell's photographs of Chosōn have very high historical value and could be used in various cultural fields because of their various contents and high definition. However, they belong to America and are not cared for sufficiently. Therefore, I suggest that high definition digital scans and prints of the photographs be generated for the sake of overseas Korean cultural heritage collection.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.60
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• pp.239-281
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• 2019

Percival Lowell was the first foreigner who came into Korea with a camera in 1883 and left about 80 of photographic materials. The materials have not been studied even though all of them are the only and first in the history of Korea. Most of the materials archived by Putnam Collection Center in America are offered on-line with wrong explanations and referred by writers and researchers. So that I studied the contents of the photographic materials and suggest corrected explanations to the Center.