Charles C. Myers Collection

One very tall palm tree stands apart in Rio de Janeiro’s botanical gardens, surrounded by a low fence and adjacent to a monument topped by a bust. Charles C. Myers attests that Rio de Janeiro’s botanical gardens are the finest in the world and have over 900 different kinds of palms and ferns.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This magnificent and stately palm tree is enclosed within a picket fence and also within that enclosure is erected a handsome monument in honor and memory of a Spanish explorer who planted this tree over 150 years ago. In this garden is also found many kinds of tropical fruit most of which has an undesirable flavor to those not accustomed to it. Even the bananas have a peculiar flavor for which you have to cultivate a taste before you will like the fruit. There is a small melon fruit called mamao which grows on large trees. This fruit grows on the main trunk of the tree where there are no branches, from 10 to 40 feet from the ground and in side, shape and color this fruit, from a short distance, resembles a live possum hanging by its tail from the trunk of the tree. I had the pleasure of picking some coffee berries from the bush while in this park. When ripe the coffee berries are red and very much resemble cranberries, both in size and color. Two grains of coffee in each berry.

Many inviting seats beneath the shade trees and bamboo hedges and one can hardly resist the temptation to rest a while and enjoy the surroundings, but not wishing to cultivate the acquaintance of the numerous lizards and other members of the reptile family, especially the snakes that often come down unexpectedly from the branches above, apparently to intimate to you that tresspassing [sic] is not invited—we pass on. We have heard of people that under certain conditions, seemed to see snakes, but I can vouch for the truth of the statement that, in the tropics you can see snakes from almost any position.

A lake in Rio de Janeiro lined with statues, and with a fountain in the middle. Palms and other trees line its banks, and a clocktower stands in the background. 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.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “We are now well within the straits and on March 2nd we reach Sandy Point or Punta Arenas which is just at the entrance to the narrow part of the straits and is the southernmost city in the world. Punta Arenas is a thriving city of about 20,000 population made up mostly of Spanish, French, Portugese [sic] and a few German people. It is one of the leading places in the world for furs and meat. You can get the finest kind of furs at almost your own price.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a view of a reservoir in the mountains near Rio de Janeiro, around which runs a walking path and fence. Palm trees stand further back from the water. 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

This postcard shows a panorama view of a portion of Punta Arenas. In the foreground is a park with wide paths where people walk, while the background has numerous buildings stretching into the distance.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here we see a panorama view of part of the city of Punta Arenas. It is summer time there and the people seem to think it is delightful weather, but after coming from the tropics we are glad to keep well wrapped up as it seems to be the coldest weather we ever saw.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a view of a parish church in Punta Arenas. A handwritten note on the back suggests Charles C. Myers saw the church on March 11, 1911.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A view of one of the churches of the city.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a panorama view of Punta Arenas, Chile. Several people relax on a hillside in the foreground, while the city stretches out to the ocean behind them in the background. Charles C. Myers provides some details about the city on the back of the card..

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Another panorama view of part of the city.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a view of a street with buildings on either side and a cobblestone road in Punta Arenas, Chile. Charles C. Myers notes that the street is well paved.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “One of the streets of the city which is well paved with rough cobblestones of various sizes.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing cows in a wooden corral with three men working on a tied-down cow, one is holding a branding iron. A man on horseback in the background. Charles C. Myers notes that the men are branding cattle in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Branding cattle on one of the ranches near the city.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a large flock of sheep with a building a fence in the background and four individuals, with one on horseback. Charles C. Myers notes it is a sheep ranch in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “On one of the sheep ranches in southern Chile.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing individuals near a runway filled with water and connected to a corral with sheep. Charles C. Myers notes that the setup is a “sheep-dip” in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is the process which they call dipping sheep. The sheep are corralled and then driven thru a gate single file and into a large deep trough of some chemical preparation where each sheep gets a good bath which prevents its having scab and other diseases harmful to the sheep family.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a panoramic view of several buildings. Charles C. Myers comments that it is a tannery near Punta Arenas, Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Panorama view of one of the tanneries of Punta Arenas.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a crowd around a group of international flags. Charles C. Myers comments that it is a celebration of the installation of the water works in Punta Arenas, Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Celebration of the opening of the public water works of the city in the fall of 1902 and as you see by the flags many nations were there represented.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a group of people in and around a car. Charles C. Myers notes that it is the only car in Punta Arenas, Chile, and is owned by the Water Works Company.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “only one automobile in the city and that is owned by the Electric Light and Power Co which is owned and controlled by United States Capital.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a landscape with horses with view looking across the waters of the Strait of Magellan near Punta Arenas, Chile. Snowcapped mountains visible in background. Charles C. Myers notes that it is one of the narrowest parts of the Strait.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A view of one of the small valleys near Punta Arenas and looking out across the Magellan Strait.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing three portraits of indigenous individuals. Charles C. Myers notes they live in the Magellan Strait area in Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A typical specimen of the cannibal indians that used to inhabit the islands of southern Chile and there are still a few of the (sic) to be found.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing two views of a narrow channel of water. Charles C. Myers notes that it is a view of the Strait of Magellan at the narrowest part.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Two views of the narrow part of the Magellan Straits.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a painting of the Strait of Magellan with mountains in the background and a ship on the water.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is only a painting of the straits, however it does not exaggerate the real beauty of the place. While the lower parts of the mountains are covered with a kind of brush which stays green the year round, the top of the mountain has always a blanket of snow. There is always a strong wind here and the sun seldom shines but when it does break forth for a few minutes the beautiful scenery is beyond description. There you see the high mountains on either side with the great claciers (sic) sliding down their slides. On the top the snow is pure white but farther down it looks a little dirty or grey like snow looks after laying in the ground for a long time, alittle farther down it has a yellowish cast while toward the bottom it has a green color as it is then clear and solid ice before it breaks off into the water as huge icebergs. After breaking off into the water during the summer time these icebergs break up and melt very rapidly and pieces of ice of all sizes may be seen floating in the water of the straits where the large ships often procure a fresh supply of ice.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a mountain with three horse riders in the foreground. Charles C. Myers notes that this is in the Andes Mountains.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is a view of the mountains along the straits at closer range and also at considerable height and it is here near the top of the mountains where there is perpetual snow and from here start the great rivers of ice thar (sic) are continually flowing down the mountain side. On March 6, we steamed out of the narrow straits and out into the Pacific Ocean. At this place the sea is always very rough and many persons experience a day or two of sea-sickness that they do not care to repeat. Going now toward the equator the weather is gradually getting warmer and on March 8th we laid away our overcoats but still wore our heavy clothing while visiting Chile although it was a little warm for it but hardly warm enough to appear in our thin summer clothing.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing buildings along a waterfront in Valparaiso, Chile. Charles C. Myers notes that the harbor is one of the deepest in the world.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “On Sat. March 11th we arrived in the harbor at Walparaiso [sic] Chile. This is not much of an horbor (sic) as it is only a small bay along the coast and open to the sea but is one of the deepest harbors in the world and the largest battleships may anchor real close the shore and in fact they are obliged to come close to shore or it is too deep to anchor. While in the vicinity of the Magellan Straits one of the many attractions was the great Albetross (sic) which is one of the most magnificent specimens of the bird family. It surpasses all other birds in power and gracefulness of flight. It glides rather than flies, scarcely ever flapping its wings, but staying in the air apparently without any exertion. This bird often measure 12 ft between the tip of its outspread wings. Here and appearing somewhat like a sea gull only having a long slim neck and the water when suddenly it would shoot down into the water like a stone and always come up with a fish in its bill.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing buildings on a hillside. Charles C. Myers notes that it is a scene of Valparaiso, Chile.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Valparaiso is in a way a picturesque town built on the side of the hills and cliffs and is the principal seaport of the west coast of South America.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection