Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing six individuals confined to wooden cages as a form of punishment of criminals in China. Charles C. Myers describes the methods used.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Showing one way the Chinese punish criminals. The prisoner is placed in this frame and standing on a pile of bricks. He is left there many days and each day a brick is taken from under his feet until at last he is left hanging by his head and left there to die of starvation or strangle.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a Chinese woman sitting in a rickshaw being pulled by a Chinese man. Dragon motifs are visible in the top corners. Charles C. Myers comments on Chinese women’s use of rickshaws.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Chinese Rickshaw, similar to Japanese Rick-i-sha and used the same. In addition to this the Chinese use the sedan chair, which is a sort of chair with poles attached to it so as two or four men can carry it. This sort of a chair is used to carry fashionable women to their places of worship as their feet are so small and deformed by the use of wooden shoes that they can walk but very little. But for facial expression, I saw some Chinese women that were very good looking all except their eyes.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a building, the Ten Thousand Rock Temple, built amongst rocks on the mountainside in Amoy (Xiamen), China. Charles C. Myers describes the scene.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Another “rocky place” showing another of the Chinese Temples and the scenery on the mountain side. The mountains of southern China are seemingly only a pile of huge rocks. While climbing along the mountain side one day I saw what seemed to be a hole in the of a big rock far up on the mountain side, after climbing up to investigate I found that the inside of the rock was dug out and that a Chinaman and his family lived in that peculiar place. Everyplace where there is room among the mountains there is a grave. The Chinese bury their dead in a standing position so as to take up little room and it is well that they do for all spare places in China seem to be taken up with graves.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing an individual supervising an ox as it pulls a machine for crushing sugar cane. Charles C. Myer notes the limited scale of sugar production.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Showing a Chinese mill for crushing sugar cane, a large stone rolled on a pivot by an ox to pull it.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a Buddhist Temple next to a large rock formation. Charles C. Myers comments on the prevalence of rocky formations in the mountains surrounding Amoy (Xiamen), China.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Showing another of the Chinese Temples and a section of the Mts.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard depicts the battleship USS Delaware, the ship that Charles C. Myers sailed on while serving in the United States Navy.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Perhaps it would not be improper for me, at this time, to briefly reply to the many questions that have been put to me concerning life in the naval service. Many and in fact most persons have an erroneous idea as to the conditions as they exist at the present time and are inclined to judge all men by a few that may sometimes be seen under the influence of liquor. Life on one of our great battleships is not all one of pleasure I assure you, but it is one of strict military discipline that cannot help but be beneficial to all men under its influence. Any of our great modern dreadnaughts [sic] may be likened to a small city–a floating city all by itself having a population of about one thousand men.

Here we see the United States Ship Delaware, which during her short life of less that [sic] two years, has carried the stars and stripes to more countries and with greater honor and distinction than any other battleship in the whole world, and I feel honored, Ladies and Gentlemen, that during her remarkable career, my home was on board the Delaware and that I was enrolled as one of the men who had taken that pledge of honor and stood ready at all times to sacrifice his life if need be for the protection of the flag of our country. The Delaware was by far the largest and mightiest battleship in the world until within the last few months when the Florida and the Utah were put into commission, and now they are only a few feet longer than the Delaware and from a distance do not in any way look superior to the mighty Delaware which at the present time holds the worlds record for honor, distinction and efficiency and is the only battleship in existence that has made two trips across the Atlantic without replenishing her coal supply and still have enough fuel left to make a third trip if necessary. she can stow away over 2600 tons of coal at one time besides several hundred tons of oil fuel.

This postcard shows a view of Rio de Janeiro’s wide central avenue, with lampposts running down the middle and sides of the street. Carriages run down the middle of the boulevard while people walk both on the sides and in the middle of the street.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Another view on Cantral Ave. which is the principal boulevard and for a short boulevard is one of the most beautiful in the world. This street in [sic] only about a half mile long but is 108 ft wide and has a surface smooth as a floor. There is no street car line on this street and it is lined on either side by the finest buildings in the city. This is quite an automobile promenade. One marked feature in the building of this street as well as other streets in the city, is the use of rounded corners, the building line being marked on a curve of considerable radius. This adds a beauty and dignity to the architecture of the buildings and a grace to the appearance of the streets that is lacking in our cities of the United States. Another odd but charming feature seen in not many cities of the world is the side walks made of Mosaic work of black and white stone laid out in many geometrical figures and designs. This indeed has a beautiful appearance especially when viewed from a distance on an elevation. Nearby on this same street. not shown in this picture, is the National Library Bldg. said to be the finest in S. America. The origin of this library was due to the flight of King Joao 6th of Portugal, to Brazil in 1807. This library has over 130,000 volumns [sic] and a collection of over 25,000 very rare medals and over 100,000 very valuble [sic] engravings. The average monthly attendence [sic] at this library is about 3,300 readers.

About a block to the south from this theatre bldg is a noted hospital of Spanish origin which ows [sic] its existence to the Jesuit Priests of the 16th century. it was 30 years under construction, still in good preserve and can accommodate about 1200 patients at one time.

A view of the zoological gardens in Rio de Janeiro’s Republic Square. A number of swans swim in the pond of water, while other birds stand along the shoreline. Paths lined with lights run along the water’s bank. Charles C. Myers says that this is one of “several beautiful parks of the city.”

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A corner in the zoological gardens. This is an interesting place to visit as her you see a collection of animals and birds like you see no place else in the whole world.”

This postcard shows a view of a drainage canal, which the card titles “Mangrove Avenue.” Charles C. Myers notes that he was near this place on February 19, 1911 while riding around Rio de Janeiro in an automobile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here we see one of the drainage ways of the city, in other words it is an open sewerway, but under the very sanitary conditions of the city there seems to be no serious objection to this open water way and in fact it seems to add to the attractiveness of the locality and it is a pleasand [sic] drive down this long and shady lane beneath those majestic palms.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a street lined with palm trees in Rio de Janeiro. A figure walks with a small animal in the middle of the street. Charles C. Myers adds, in a comment, that he feels that the many palm trees add to the city’s beauty.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Another one of the fine driveways, along the shady lane leading to the residence of the President of Brazil.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a view of a palm tree-lined street in Rio de Janeiro. Many carriages drive down the road. A wide path with frequent benches runs parallel to the road, with people both resting on the benches and walking down the path. This postcard was created by gluing a photograph to the front of a different postcard, as indicated by a crossed-out description on the back.

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Creation Date

1911

Postcard of a view of a park in Rio de Janeiro. Large plants and trees grow alongside a calm body of water, while buildings are partially blocked behind trees.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “In another one of the beautiful parks of the city where you see many kinds of palm trees, many kinds of ferns, banana trees, century plant and others to [sic] numerous to mention, and also many kinds of insects and reptiles whose acquaintance you will not want to cultivate. Now perhaps we just as well know of a few of the disadvantages of these beautiful tropical countries as we go along. i presume many of you will will [sic] quite agree with me as to liking insects and reptiles best when they are farthest away, however not many kinds of the tropical insect and reptile family are poisonous, not so many as you would think. Lizards of all kinds abound there but perhaps the one to be avoided most is the white lizard. One of these little fellows crawled across the hand of one of our party when we were enjoying ourselves in the park one day and where the lizzard [sic] touched his hand it seemed to exude some sort of a liquid which caused his hand to be very sore and painful for a month or more. Mosquitoes are also very troublesome there at times and they are very large, honestly a great many of them would weigh a pound–but it would no doubt take a great many to weigh a pound.

The story is told of the captains of a couple of small sailing vessels that recently went up a river toward the interior of Brazil. When the second ship was going up the river they met the first one coming down the river and the captain called to the other, “And how did you find the mosquitoes up the river?” when the first captain replied, “I say sir they are very bad up there, a drove of them come along and eat the sales all off my ship.” “Ah yes,” says the other captain, “That must have been the same drove we met coming down the river for they all had canvass breeches on.”

This postcard shows a view of one of Rio de Janeiro’s many parks. Tall trees are reflected in the still water.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A view of another one of the parks in the city. In this park you will not see many palm trees–mostly the eucalyptus or gum tree.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows the cog-wheel railway leading up Mount Corcovado outside Rio de Janeiro. Charles C. Myers adds the detail that Mount Corcovado stands 2,300 ft high, and overlooks the city’s harbor.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This shows the car track as we get near the end of our ride. here we see no weeds in waste places but instead we see beautiful ferns and flowers, certainly an ideal place for one who likes the study of botany.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard has two views of peddlers as they appear in Rio de Janeiro. One man carries a very large pack on his back, while another draws a cart stocked with bottles behind him.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here are a couple more. One has a wine cart with all kinds of wine and other beverages while the other has short pieces of sugar cane which the natives are very fond of chewing for the juice.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a wide view over a manicured lawn dotted with trees and shrubs. A lake stands in the background. While the view looks like a park, Charles C. Myers instead says that it is a normal view from a suburb of Rio de Janeiro.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is a section of one of the parks and recreation grounds in the outskirts of the city. Also there is a ball ground that is not shown in this picture.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Twelve Brazilian stamps adorn this postcard, showing figures from Brazilian history on most of them. On the back of the card, Charles C. Myers records the conversion between Brazilian reis and American dollars and cents for the various stamps.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “We see here Brazilian postage stamps of various denominations. #1 is a stamp of 10 reis which equals about three tenths of a cent. #2 is 20 reis or six tenths of a cent. #3 is worth 1 1/2 cents–#4 is worth three cents–#5 is worth six cents–#6 is worth nine cents–#7 is worth 12¢–#8 is worth 15¢–#9 is worth 21¢–10 is worth 30¢–#11 is worth 60¢ and #12 is worth $1.50

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a streetcar line running between a stand of palm trees on one side and power lines on the other. Charles C. Myers specifies that this view is along the street in front of the botanical gardens in Rio de Janeiro.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here we are, our car now stoping [sic] at the main entrance to the Botanical gardens which is the finest in the world and a visit to these wonderful gardens is one of pleasure and appreciation and one never to be forgotten and one really should have several days to spare when visiting this place as it is same as trying to see everything on the worlds fair grounds all in one day.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a view of a fountain standing before a double line of palm trees in Rio de Janeiro’s botanical gardens. Charles C. Myers is of the opinion that these gardens are the finest in the world.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Soon after entering these natural gardens we arrive at the central fountain and there the lovers of nature cannot help but appreciate beyond the expression of words, the wonderful scenery that is here before them with the stately fern covered mountains as a background.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This photograph shows a variety of palm trees and bushes lining the paths of Rio de Janeiro’s botanical gardens.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “In this garden there are over 900 kinds of palms and ferns and seemingly as many other tropical productions.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection