Gorgeous Images From Over 40 years Ago Captured In Small Area Of Northern India Amongst The Himalayas
Dr Alice Kandell is an American photographer, art collector and daughter of Leonard S Kandell (developer / investor in Manhattan Real Estate) who worked for a long period of time in Sikkim, India.
During this period, between 1965 and 1979, she captured around 15,000 color slides and black and white photographs, all by traveling extensively through a small country Sikkim, at that time. Yes, Sikkim was a separate kingdom at that time til 1975, not a state in India as it is now!
The pictures taken are from the lost Kingdom of Sikkim, that Dr Kandell has magnificently captured and preserved through her photographs.
Title: [Lamas blowing gyalings at temple door]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1971]; Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30900 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Sikkimese Nepali girl]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1971]; Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver.; Summary: Photograph shows a Nepalese girl, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, smiling, wearing necklace, earrings and nose ornaments, in Sikkim. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30899 (digital file from original item) Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Bhutia couple drinking millet beer from a straw on their house terrace in Western Sikkim; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30904 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Young woman with a small child on her back, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979] Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30934 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: GCRP in Sikkim; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver; Summary: Photograph shows children seated at table outdoors, using “teaching machines” (record players and headphones), Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30932 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Kiranti woman cooking at the hearth in her house, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1971]; Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30913 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
About Dr. Kandell's Work
Dr. Kandell’s first visit to Sikkim was to attend the coronation ceremony of her close friend Hope Cooke in 1965, who became the first American- born Queen by marrying the King of Sikkim.
The King requested Dr. Kandell to document the cultures of Sikkim to show how he along with his wife were improving the education and local businesses of the community in Sikkim, so this is how this project of Dr Kandell started.
While also working towards her Doctorate degree in child psychology at Harvard University and trying to set up a career in New York, Dr. Kandell came back to visit Sikkim several times.
Since the political issues between India and Sikkim worsened with Sikkim eventually becoming the 22nd state in India in 1975, Dr. Kandell had to end her photography projects during the early 1970s.
The last event that she photographed in Sikkim was the wedding of Princess Yangchen Dolma in 1979, which was Dr. Kandell’s final trip to Sikkim as well.
Title: [Portrait of photographer Alice Kandell, standing, half-length, with camera]; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30901 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Alice Kandell with villager and horse, Sikkim]; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30122 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
The collection you see here, are photographs from Sikkim that portray the life of the people and the beautiful landscape of a Kingdom high up in the Himalayan Mountains. Dr. Kandell captured these photographs in order to document a vanishing culture and to accomplish this, she had to travel up into the mountains to meet farmers and traders who let her photograph their families.
During this time, Dr. Kandell attended Buddhist ceremonies and was especially enthralled by the music and dances there. She had special permissions to photograph the Buddhist monks, Lamas and various ceremonies that took place during that time.
She also documented the life of the farmers and the workers in canning factories and craft industries in Sikkim.
Dr Kandell being a college friend of Queen Hope Cooke had the added advantage of being able to photograph the gorgeous Royal Palace, their family and also the children at school. Quite a privlage you might say!?
Title: Palace Guards; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1965 April.; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Summary: Photograph shows palace guards playing drums during the coronation ceremonies for Palden Thondup Namgyal, King of Sikkim, Gangtok, Sikkim.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30799 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: [Hope Cooke, Queen of Sikkim, seated, three-quarter length portrait, facing left]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1971 May]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30180 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Royal procession, King, Queen & court, Sikkim; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1971 May]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows Palden Thondup Namgyal, King of Sikkim, and Hope Cooke, Queen of Sikkim, in brocaded dress, walking to the Tsuklakhang Main Temple (Palace Temple) for the King's birthday celebration, Gangtok, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30164 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Princess Hope & Queen Hope in the palace, Sikkim; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1971 May]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30795 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Coronation 1965, the King & Queen; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1965 [April]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows the newly-crowned King Palden Thondup Namgyal and Queen Hope Cooke walking in procession, Gangtok, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30226 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Coronation 1965, Queen accepts traditional white scarf; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1965 [April]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30221 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Coronation 1965, the King on throne; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1965 [April]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows King Palden Thondup Namgyal at his coronation, Gangtok, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30219 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Royal family looks on during coronation ceremony of Palden Thondup Namgyal and Hope Cooke, Gangtok, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1965 April]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30218 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Looking through the photographs, you can see that pictures from the villages show the remarkable landscape of Sikkim and of the people from the mountains of Kanchenjunga, the Ralang Hot Springs, the Gangtok Bazaar and Singhik & Lachung.
There are pictures of people from various ethnic groups like Nepalese, Bhutia, Kiranti and Lepcha.
Also available in this beautiful collection are some really wonderful photographs capturing really important aspects of the culture like ceremonies, jewelry, carpets, coronations and weddings.
In 2010, Dr. Kandell dedicated her rights for these photographs to the public domain by giving away the photographs to the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.
Alice has also authored two books that were published in 1971
Mountain top Kingdom: Sikkim (with text by Charlotte Salisbury)
Sikkim: The Hidden Kingdom – A book for children
She also wrote articles for
Redbook
Holiday
Scholastic
The Saturday Evening Post
Dr. Kandell’s photographs of Sikkim were exhibited at the Camera Club of New York at that time in 1971. When talking about the photographs, Dr. Kandell said,
“I tried to use my camera to communicate the warmth and openness of the people of Sikkim. I wanted to capture the beauty that is everywhere.”
There was another exhibition of her photos in 1975 at the Asia Society in New York.
Dr. Kandell had that connection with Sikkim and its people and was greatly inspired by her experience that led her to put together a collection that contained Buddhist art and religious objects. She always kept in touch with the Sikkimese people and the artifacts are now at the Smithsonian Institution.
In 2010, Dr. Kandell along with Hope Cooke did a webcast about their work in Sikkim called “A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim.” And in 2011, she donated some of her Tibet art collection to the Arthur M Sackler Gallery and some to the Library of Congress.
What you see below is some of the photographs from the stunning collection made during her many visits to the mountain top Kingdom of Sikkim. You can see what a strong connection she had with the people, culture and the kingdom through these beautifully documented photographs that hold a wealth of invaluable information.
Most importantly you get to see a totally different Sikkim at that time that now is sadly lost.
Title: [Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, the 16th Karmapa Lama, seated, with a monk, at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ds-04113 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Altar with butter lamps, butter paste offerings (torma) and images to be burned at the end of New Year's ceremony in the palace monastery, Gangtok, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-31644 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Wood carver, Lachung monastery, Sikkim] Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979] Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-31646 (digital file from original) Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Man putting apples into basket which is on a girl's back, Lachung, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30858 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Children in plastic raincoats; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows headman of village, Pipon, with group of children and a horse, Lachung, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30759 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Jorbu family; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1971 May]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Summary: Photograph shows the mother, father and children of the Jorbu family, seated outside their home, Lachung, Sikkim.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30853 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Market, Gangtok, Sikkim; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1969 Jan.]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30884 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: Selling spices on leaves in Bazaar; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1970 Jan.; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows spices at the bazaar, Gangtok, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30788 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: [Nepalese woman wearing purple headscarf and nose ring, holding baby, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30783 (digital file from original item); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [People carrying wood on their backs as they walk along a mountain road, Lachung, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1965 April; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm.; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30822 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Mahakala masked dancers entering the New Year's ceremony, Gangtok, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 February; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30197 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Sikkimese boy painting a mask; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30157 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Family of sick girl with Poh, a shaman, during a religious ritual to heal the child]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May.; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30141 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Top of Rumtek Monastery's roof, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30146 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Jamyang Khyentse, full-length portrait, standing, mountains in background, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 February; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30162 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Tsongmo Lake, along the Nathu La pass, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1965 December; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30136 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [People herding yaks along a mountain path to higher grazing land, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30126 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Shinglay Lama and grandchildren sit in haystack near Singhik,Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30128 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Two brothers and horse, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30123 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Primula flowers at Pemayangtse in western Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30105 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Waterfall, typical of Sikkim; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [between 1965 and 1979]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30101 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Woman and boy, members of the Jorbu family, farming in a field next to a fence, Lachung, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1971 May]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30857 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: Lachung weaving; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows woman weaving on loom outdoors as a man watches, Lachung, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30760 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: [Three women standing, with farming implements in field, Lachung, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1970 Jan; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30838 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Nepalese woman working with blue dyed wool, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30797 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Rice terraces during dry season, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30792 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: Sikkim: religious ceremony, monks burn effigy of evil; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: [1969 January]; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30869 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: Playing lute; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1970 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Summary: Photograph shows a monk, seated on a wall, playing a lute, Rumtek, Sikkim; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30791 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.Title: Musician lama during ceremonial dances using cymbals; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30873 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
Title: [Rainbow in the mountains of Lachung, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1971 May; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30228 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Monks parade down the mountain to perform religious sacrifice, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30210 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Lamas praying as they walk down the mountain to perform religious sacrifice, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30209 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Masked clowns entertaining crowd at the New Year's ceremony, Gangtok, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30205 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication. Title: [Masked Black Hat dancer at New Year's ceremony, Gangtok, Sikkim]; Creator(s): Kandell, Alice S., photographer; Date Created/Published: 1969 January; Medium: 1 slide : color ; 35mm; Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-30203 (digital file from original); Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
I did move around Sikkim for 25 days in Nov. 1981. I still recall those lovely days. So, looking at the pictures Dr. Alice Kandell took is a great pleasure. She did a very good job. I shall go to Sikkim forth coming March to see how the things are now.
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I did move around Sikkim for 25 days in Nov. 1981. I still recall those lovely days. So, looking at the pictures Dr. Alice Kandell took is a great pleasure. She did a very good job. I shall go to Sikkim forth coming March to see how the things are now.