Collection of Philippine hemp fiber industry photographs

After the Philippines became a colony of the United States in 1898, Manila hemp became the nation's most important export item, making up 72% of the nation's total export value. The material was widely used for making rope, twine, paper, bags, shoes, hats, dresses, and other everyday commodities. The collection includes 36 loose photographs. These include images of Filipino workers cultivating, transporting, and processing fibers from hemp plants. Also included are photographs of Filipino and presumably, American workers operating and posing with hemp processing machinery. Other photographs include industrial machines for breaking and spinning fibers, ships for transporting, Henequen plants and Manila trees, Manila hemp fibers hung for drying, Manila hemp seeds, and an image of a native Philippine shelter.