Detail, Travel Album: China and Japan, early 20th century, collodion print, Gift of Jerome Hanauer 1989.66.43

The album features over forty-nine photographs of mines, which supports the hypothesis that American geologist Noah Fields Drake compiled it while surveying sites in China. China's rich holdings of gold and other precious metals attracted immense global interest in its mines during this period of industrialization. The Chinese official Zhang Zhidong (1837-1909) wanted to modernize the country’s mining industry and invited foreign businesspeople to come to China. Drake, or those in similar positions, would have advised about the most productive sites for mining. 

The photograph on the left is the first of the album, which suggests it was important for the collector. Though blurry, it depicts a scene filled with mining tools, showcasing the industry Drake worked in. Another photograph portrays two workers, possibly standing in a recently dug trench or an explosion crater (explained by the smoke in the background). The front worker appears startled, suggesting the photo might have been taken candidly. A second worker is seen digging a water-filled hole. These images imply the collector was not just visiting mines but actively observing ongoing mining operations across China.