The collection holds mostly photographs of the Theravada Buddhist world of Laos and Luang Prabang, taken by monks or Buddhist laypeople from 1919 to 2004. The subject matter includes images of Buddha statues, Buddhist ceremonies, monastery/architecture, meditation, group portraits of laypeople with and without monks, group and individual portraits of monks, photographs of Phra Saysamout Chotiko and Phra Bounthan Pounyakamo, and three documents relating to Phra Saysamout Chotiko. There is much material showing the construction, inauguration and use of the sacred stupa Phra That Khong Santi Chedi built by Phra Saysamout Chotiko. Other photographs relate to the survival of meditation practice in Luang Prabang after 1975. The photographs were collected while the main contributors lived as a Buddhist monks and abbots at Vat Pa Phon Pao, Luang Prabang.
345 items. Scans and digital photography.
Original material consists of: silver gelatine DOP prints, chromogenic prints, texts/documents. Some prints may be reproductions of earlier images.
Annotations and inscriptions: Lao, Pali (Tham script), French, Khmer, Thai.
