Skip to main content

Image / Schoolgirls in Bamum with Miss Wuhrmann

Have a question about this item?

Item information. View source record on contributor's website.

Title
Schoolgirls in Bamum with Miss Wuhrmann
Schülerinnen aus Bamum mit Fräul. Wuhrmann
Creator
Wuhrmann, Anna (Ms)
Date Created and/or Issued
1911/1915
Publication Information
University of Southern California. Libraries
Contributing Institution
University of Southern California Digital Library
Collection
International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960
Rights Information
All the images (photographic and non-photographic) made available in this collection are the property of the Basel Mission and are managed by mission 21. mission 21 / Basel Mission claim copyright on the images in their possession and require those publishing any of the images--both individuals and organisations--to pay a user's/copyright fee.
Contact the Archives of mission21 at address mentioned or at info@bmpix.org.
info@bmarchives.org
mission21
mission21, Missionsstrasse 21, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland, tel. (+41 61 260 22 42), fax (+4161 260 22 68)
Description
Note: "Schülerinnen Gruppe m. Frl. Wuhrmann. Die Mädchenschule in Bamum war in 3 Klassen eingeteilt. Die zweite Klasse, auf diesem Bildchen festgehalten, war eine überaus intelligente Schar. Im Bilde recht [sic!] sind zwei junge Mädchen mit europäischer Tracht. Die kleinere von beiden, Ruth mit Namen, ist Eigentum der Mission. Sie stammt aus der Gegend von Banjo und wurde dort von durchreisenden Haussas gestohlen. Damals war Ruth noch sehr klein, wohl kaum 3 Jahre alt. Sie musste nun mit den Leuten, die sie gestohlen hatten, im Lande umherziehen und Nacht für Nacht ihren Peinigern das wärmende Feuer unterhalten. Auf ihrer Reise zur Küste kamen die Händler in Gegenden, die von Europäern bewohnt waren, und in Bamenda schlug für die kleine Gestohlene endlich die Befreiungsstunde. Tiefe Nacht hatte sich auf Bamum gelegt, und tiefer Schlaf auf die Menschen. Die kleine Ruth sass schlaftrunken am knisternden Feuerlein und warf ab und zu einen fast neidischen Blick auf 'ihre Herren', die, den Wänden des Hauses entlang liegend, fest und schnarchend schliefen. Plötzlich steht im Häuslein drin ein weisser hochgewachsener Mann. Der frühe Spaziergänger, ein höherer Beamter, ist durch den roten Schein angelockt worden und erfährt nun die ganze traurige Geschichte der kleinen Dulderin. Nun haben ihre Leiden ein Ende, sie wird den Leuten weggenommen und kommt, weil der Beamte unverheiratet ist, als liebes 'Geschenk' auf die Missionsstation. Da geht es dem kleinen Mägdlein nun gut. Es lebt auf. Es wird gross und entwickelt sich prächtig. Es besucht die Schule und gehört in seiner Klasse zu den Intelligentesten. Es ist eines von denen, die dem Lehrer in jeder Beziehung viel Freude machen!" (Wuhrmann, A., 1917. Beschreibung zu den Lichtbildern aus Bamum. E-30-0,6).
Note translation: "Group of schoolgirls with Miss Wuhrmann, The Girls' School in Bamum was divided into three classes. The second class, which we see on the photograph, was altogether an intelligent group. In the picture on the right are two young girls in European costume. The smaller of the two is called Ruth. She belongs to the Mission. She comes from the area of Banjo and was stolen by Hausas who were travelling through. Ruth was very small at that time - scarcely three years old. She was forced to travel around with the people who had stolen her, and every night keep the fire alight for those who were causing her so much pain. On their journey to the coast the traders came into regions in which there are Europeans living, and in Bamenda at last the hour of liberation came for the little stolen girl. In the middle of the night everyone was fast asleep, except for little Ruth, who sat sleepily by the fire, looking every now and again enviously at "her masters", who lay along the walls of the house, fast asleep, snoring. Suddenly a tall white man stood in the little house. This high official, going for a very early morning walk, had been attracted to the red light of the fire, and heard now the sad, sad story of the little girl who had suffered so much. But now her sufferings are over. She is taken away from those people, and because the official is not married she comes to the mission station as a very lovely gift. She now has a good time. She becomes livelier. She grows and developes beautifully. She goes to school and belongs in her class to the group of the most intelligent. She is one of those who gives her teacher much joy, in every respect. (A. Wuhrmann 1917, Commentaries on Slides from Bamum, E-30-0,6).
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, gelatin-silver
8.4 x 11.1 cm.
Identifier
impa-m28603 [Legacy record ID]
impa-abmpix-3775
http://doi.org/10.25549/impa-m28603
http://thumbnails.digitallibrary.usc.edu/impa-abmpix-3775.jpg
Subject
Wuhrmann, Anna (Ms)
Belfry
Group
Mission school
Missionary f
Pupil f
Teacher f
Textile pattern
Women's wear
Time Period
1911/1915
Place
Bamum
Foumban
Source
E-30.28.047 [Reference number]
Relation
Cameroon. Grasslands. Bamum. 1. The missionaries' journeys to Bamum, 2. Mission station and mission buildings, 3. Missionaries, missionary families, and house-servants, 4. Schools for boys, 5. Schools for girls
Historical Photographs from the Basel Mission
International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960
impa-m15099; impa-m17103
mission 21 / Basel Mission

About the collections in Calisphere

Learn more about the collections in Calisphere. View our statement on digital primary resources.

Copyright, permissions, and use

If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.

Share your story

Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.

Explore related content on Calisphere: