Kuser Asiatic [Pheasant] Expedition glass plate negatives, circa 1910-1911

These records consist of approximately 895 glass plate negatives from the Kuser Asiatic Expedition. Undertaken by William Beebe between 1909-1911, the expedition’s purpose was to collect written and visual data on the ecology of the Phasianidae, a family of birds that includes pheasants, junglefowl, and peafowl. These glass negatives were among that visual data; their primary focus is on the local flora and the wide range of environs that pheasants occupy. Although the majority of the negatives are landscapes, they also include some images of local people. The negatives are credited to Beebe; however, it is likely that Mary Blair, his first wife, who accompanied him on the expedition, took some of them, particularly the ones that feature Beebe. 249 glass plate negatives have been digitized and are accessible from links within the series.