Perry Monument, Kurihama, Japan [Site Index]
	For views of the monument on dedication day (July 14, 1901), Rear Admiral Frederick Rodgers, and the Admiral's Calling Card Book, click here (#1901081139). For views of the monument on or about dedication day (July 14, 1901) and the U.S.S. New York, click here (#1902060413). For other views of the monument on dedication day (July 14, 1901), click here (#1901081127). For views of the monument over the years, click here. For views of the monument and the monument park as of December, 2008, click here.

~~ Item No. 1901081139 ~~

Albumen Photographs

Admiral Rodgers and Dedication of the M.C. Perry Monument (#1901081139)
Albumen Photographs (5)	Calling Cards	Paper Lantern
This is a unit composed of: Five albumen photographs. Three relating to the dedication of the M. C. Perry monument in Kurihama, Japan on July 14, 1901 and two photographs of Rear Admiral Rodgers. 240+ calling cards (100+ are Japan related) with accompanying binder from Admiral Frederick Rodger's records. A paper lantern commemorating the M.C. Perry monument.

 
Condition. The photographs are in Good to Very Good condition. The first three have selected tinting added. The two of Admiral Rodgers are untinted. The mounts have edge and corner damage. The images themselves have occasional scraped areas. There is water staining but it is confined to the margins. There is a medium degree of loss of contrast. The fifth photograph (Admiral Rodgers has significant loss of the mount. It is the only one that does not have the K. Tamamura studio imprint, probably because that part of the mount has been broken off.

 
General Comment. All five of these photographs are sepia tone albumen photographs, The first three are hand tinted (color added by hand). These three photographs measure approximately 8 x 10 inches. The last two measure 5 x 8+ inches. They are all tipped to boards. The boards of the first three measure 16 1/2 x 13 7/8 in (42 x 32.5 cm). The boards for the fourth and fifth are much smaller (8 1/2 x 12 in and 7 x 10 in). The first four photographs bear the "K. Tamamura" - "Yokohama, Japan" imprint embossed into the board below the image. The K. Tamamura studio in Yokohama was famous for it's work in the Yokohama tourist trade photograph business. At this time Tamamura Kozaburo had just completed a massive project of supplying hand tinted photographs for the Brinkley Japan Described and Illustrated series (more information here.

Photographs Nos. 1-3 are of the dedication ceremony for the M.C. Perry monument which was conducted on July 14, 1901.

The first photograph shows a Japanese dignitary addressing the audience. The speaker is either Prime Minister Viscount Katsura or Baron Kaneko. Both dignitaries spoke but Viscount Katsura's address was the keynote address.

The second photograph shows the same scene but Rear Admiral Rodgers is the speaker.

The third photograph shows the same scene without an audience or speaker. In this photograph the areas for distinguished guests at the right and left are visible.

Photographs Nos. 4-5 are of Rear Admiral Frederick Rodgers. These two photographs are the same image. Admiral Rodgers was the grandson of Commodore M.C. Perry and the a key American representative at the dedication ceremony.

 
The dedication ceremony was the subject of an official report by the State Department. In the report the ceremony, as recorded in the Japan Times of July 16, 1901, was described in the terms below.

About 11 o'clock the good ship Hakuai Maru, with some 300 ladies and gentlemen, Japanese and foreign, from Tokyo and Yokohama, and which had started from the Yokohama pier, hove in sight of the beach. The anchor having been dropped soon after, landing by steam launches and steam-towed junks began. It was raining then, and the proceedings were, to say the least, tedious, even unpleasant. But good humor prevailed everywhere, and nothing failed to provoke merriment, which was indeed the supreme feature of the two hours' voyage, and which was now prolonged for another hour, during which time the landing was completed. From launches on to the pontoon, then between the staring and wondering crowds, the landing parties came to a big gate of evergreens, which was in the shape of a double cross one by the side of the other. Inside the gate they were most courteously received by Baron Kaneko, president of the Beiyu Kyokai, and other members of the association, who politely ushered them into the curtain-fenced inclosure. The inclosure must have measured at least 100 by 100 yards or so, and in the center, and somewhat to the rear, rose the object of the day's celebration, still veiled in a piece of light white cloth. On the right of the monument were seen Rear-Admiral Rodgers and his fellow officers, in full uniform, and other American officials, seated under a tent. Similarly to the left were the ministers of state, and high naval and army officers. Then, leaving a good-sized hollow square in the center, rows of tents formed the two sides where the guests were variously distributed, the foreigners being all housed in the tents next to that of the American officers; while fronting the monument, and with their backs to the entrance, a naval band took up their post, behind which two companies of marines from our warships formed guards.

A few minutes after 12, when the last man had taken his seat, Baron Kaneko appeared in a little improvised green bowered stage at the foot of the monument and announced the commencement of the ceremony. Then walking up to Admiral Rodgers he led that officer to the monument, from the top of which a white rope hung. In the midst of impressive silence the admiral gave a pull at the rope and down came the white veil, and there stood in full view a huge slab of granite with inscriptions in bright gold, cut deep into it and telling in seventeen Chinese characters, chosen and penned by Marquis Ito, what the stupendous rock pillar was for. The unveiling formed a signal for loud and enthusiastic applause which took some time to subside. Hardly had the hand-clapping ended when Baron Kaneko was again on the stage and began to read an address from a scroll of paper. But by this time the news of the unveiling had reached the United States and Japanese warships out in the sea, and they now commenced to fire salutes. While boom! boom! went on the guns, the Baron continued to read his speech, and the scene did not fail to make a most thrilling impression on the vast assembly. We give below a liberal translation of the baron's address. (See Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, with the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1901 at pages 379-384, more information here.

 
Photograph 1.. Viscount Katsura or Baron Kaneko address the assembled audience at the dedication ceremony.

Mounted Hand Tinted Albumen Photograph.
Mount: 16 1//2 x 13 7/8 in - Photograph: 10 x 8 in

 
Photograph 2.. Rear Admiral Rodgers addresses the audience at the dedication ceremony.

Mounted Hand tinted Albumen Photograph.
Mount: 16 1//2 x 13 7/8 in - Photograph: 10 x 8 in

 
Photograph 3.. General view of the monument and the speakers stand.

Mounted Hand Tinted Albumen Photograph.
Mount: 16 1//2 x 13 7/8 in - Photograph: 10 x 8 in

 
Photograph 4.. Rear Admiral Rodgers, Full Portrait in Navy Whites

Mounted Untinted Albumen Photograph.
Mount: 8 1/2 x 12 in - Photograph: 5 1/4 x 8 3/4 in

 
Photograph 5.. Rear Admiral Rodgers, Full Portrait in Navy Whites

Mounted Untinted Albumen Photograph.
Mount Damaged: 7 x 10 in - Photograph: 5 1/4 x 8 3/4 in
"From Fred Rodgers/ The Walden/ Riverside, Conn." labels on back