The Hajj: An Amazing Collection of 19th/20th Century Photos from the US Library of Congress

Compiled by MALIK MERCHANT
(Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah and Simergphotos)

THE PILGRIMS’ JOURNEY TO MECCA

Between 1900 – 1920. To Sinai via the Red Sea, Tor, and Wady Hebran. Mecca pilgrims on deck a ship. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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Between 1900 – 1920. Hajj pilgrims on train for Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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ca. 1910: Camel caravan of pilgrims to Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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ca. 1903, December 14. Soldiers and dignitaries after leaving Damascus, Syria, for the Hajj seen carrying the Mahmal (the Holy Carpet) or the emblem of the Ottoman Emperor. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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1914. A view of a caravan of dignitaries and soldiers with the palaquin (Mahmal) in Medinna’s al-Manakha Square on its way to Mecca for the Hajj. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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ca. 1910. Camels and tents of pilgrims, Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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1889. The tents of pilgrims during the Hajj near the tomb of Sittana Meymunah, one of the wives of the Prophet Muḥammad on the outskirts of Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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1889. A close-up of the tomb of Sittana Meymunah, one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad on the outskirts of Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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ca. 1910. Bird’s-eye view of tent city outside Kaaba. US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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ca. 1900. Caravan of Persian pilgrims to Mecca at Jaffa, Palestine. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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1889: Pilgrims with camels and livestock gathered at a rest station near ʻArafah east of Mecca, during the Hajj. Pilgrims are wearing ihram clothing. After gathering at ʻArafah, pilgrims proceeded to Mina for the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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1916. An encampment of pilgrims on the plains near ‘Arafat, Jabal, Saudi Arabia.

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MECCA AND THE KAABA

1889. View of the city of Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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1889. The printing house in Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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ca. 1910. Bird’s-eye of Kaaba with Mecca in background. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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ca. 1910. The Kaaba. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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1916. Bab Ali, gate of the al-Masjid al-Ḥaram, Mecca, from the east. Photo: US Library of Congress.

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ca. 1910. Bird’s-eye view of uncrowded Kaaba. Photo: US Library of Congress/G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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ca. 1910. Bird’s-eye view of Kaaba crowded with pilgrims. Photo: US Library of Congress / G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

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Between 1909 and 1919. Muslim Pilgrims at the Kaaba in holy city of Mecca. Photo: US Library of Congress.

Date posted: August 7, 2019.

Before leaving this website, please click Table of Contents for links to superb photo pieces on a wide range of subjects.

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The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. Also, plenty of material from its holdings is provided on-line at  https://www.loc.gov.

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