This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
This small collection consists primarily of photographs taken by Moore dating around 1922-1923. While the majority of the photographs are of the refugees, there are some of the visiting personages. A small amount of documents are held in the collection as well.
Series I: Documents, 1923-1924
Series I holds several documents concerning William S. Moore's time in Greece. There are a couple of newspaper clippings covering his work in the region. The Order of the Savior is also in this series.
Series II: Photographs, 1922-1923
The photographs are primarily of refugee families and their camps. There are also photographs of dignitaries, most notably Henry Morgenthau Sr. and the political leader of Greece, Elefthérios Venizélos. Also included are photographs of the landscape and purchased postcards portraying events that had occurred during the exodus. This series has been arranged alphabetically by topic.
This collection is arranged in two series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William S. Moore Photograph Collection; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
The Department of Classics. The Program in Hellenic Studies at Columbia University has an online essay with scans of some of the Photographs.
No accruals expected
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
2008-2009-M56: Source of acquisition--David Moore. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2009/01/08.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed Lea Osborne 2006 January.
2009-03-25 File created.
2009-05-01 xml document instance created by Lea Osborne.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
In 1923, William Scoville Moore accompanied U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau Sr. on a trip to Greece. The United Nations had recently loaned the country money in order to help resettle the many immigrants pouring in from various areas within the country. Once there, Moore and Englishman named Colonel Owen were responsible for overseeing the use and disbursement of the loan. Moore and Owen traveled extensively throughout the country in order to fully understand the depth of the situation. According to news sources, Moore was documenting the trip visually as well as taking notes as a means of drawing attention to the catastrophe.
Moore's photographs offer insight into the humanitarian crisis that was developing in the region; however, they document not just the suffering of the refugees, but the efforts of the displaced peoples to maintain dignity in the face of aversion. For his work, administered through the Morgenthau Settlement Commission and the American Near East Relief, Moore was awarded the Order of the Savior by decree of the Greek Cabinet. This award was the first granted by the new Republican Government of Greece.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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