Old photographs, stamps and film · 1896–1960
Colonyandprotectorate
Many were made by colonial officials, missionaries and foreign visitors. Titles and descriptions come from the collections that hold them and can carry the attitudes and language of their time. We show them as historical records, not as endorsements. Dates, eras and categories were assigned automatically from those records and some will be wrong. If you or your family appear in a picture, you hold rights to one, a detail is wrong, or you think a picture should not be here, tell us through daverosetholley.com.
Photographs
All 293 →
The Cotton Tree, Bungalow Train 1910s
The Mountain Railway's 3.30 p.m. train waiting at Cotton Tree Station, photographed by Freetown's own Lisk-Carew Brothers studio.
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
The Lisk-Carew Bros. studio, Freetown 1938
Many of the city's early photographs and postcards were made here.
Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Market day on Sackville Street 1915
Sir Kenneth James Beatty · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Freetown rooftops 1915
Sir Kenneth James Beatty · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Kroo Town Road 1911
William H. Heard · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
A building on the waterfront c. 1911
CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Bai Bureh 1898
The Temne leader of the 1898 Hut Tax War, photographed as a prisoner by Lieutenant Arthur Greer of the West India Regiment.
Lieutenant Arthur Greer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Troops embarking at Freetown for Douala 1914
Agence Rol · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Outside the booking office 7 Nov 1942
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Near Rock Street 7 Nov 1942
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
A Freetown street in wartime 7 Nov 1942
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Cotton Tree Station 1915
The Mountain Railway's “Bungalow Train” at its city-centre station.
Sir Kenneth James Beatty · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Postcards
All 14 →
"Walls" Refreshment Bar, Charlotte Street c. 1905
From a postcard bought in Freetown in 1905.
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
The stores of Pickering & Berthoud c. 1905
From a postcard bought in Freetown in 1905.
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Congo Bridge, Mountain Railway 1910s
Lisk-Carew Brothers · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneHofstra2.3 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8 1915
Photograph: Alphonso Lisk-Carew · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP006 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf ( · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP008 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf ( · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP009 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP011 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf ( · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP012 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf ( · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP013 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf ( · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP014 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf ( · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeoneP015 1910s date QS:P,+1910-00-00T00:00:00Z/8
Lisk-Carew Brothers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Copyright Sierra Leone: photographs: 50 years after publication. See https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2011-08.pdf · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Maps
All 15 →
Plan of Free Town, Public Works Department 1911
Public Works Department, Sierra Leone · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Sierra Leone 1898 1898
E. de P. O'Kelly · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
(1899) Map of South Africa published 1899
Parks H.B. (?- 1936) ; Butcher, Charles Simpson; Lankford, John Anderson, (1874-1946) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
(1899) Map Sierra Leone and Liberia published 1899
Parks H.B. (?- 1936) ; Butcher, Charles Simpson; Lankford, John Anderson, (1874-1946) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Atlas of the French colonies: 27 map plates, explanatory text, alphabetical index / drawn up by order of the Ministry of the Colonies 1902 date QS:P571,+1902-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Original title: Atlas des colonies françaises : 27 planches de cartes, texte explicatif, index alphabétique / dressé par ordre du Ministère des Colonies par
Pelet, Paul (1849-1927). Auteur du texte · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Map of French West Africa / drawn by A. Meunier and E. Barralier, 1903; Ministry of the Colonies, geographical service 1904 date QS:P571,+1904-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
Original title: Carte de l'Afrique occidentale française / dressée par A. Meunier et E. Barralier, 1903 ; Ministère des colonies. Service géographique et de
Meunier, Alexandre (1870-19..? ; géographe). Cartographe Barralier, Emmanuel (18..-19..). Cartographe France. Service géographique des colonies. Cartographe · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Hazell's annual a cyclopædic record of men and topics of the day (1905) (14774799511) 1905
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
MandingoMap-1906 1906
by the author and J. W. Addison (not in copyright [2] ) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
MandingoMap-1906 with color 1906
by the author and J. W. Addison (not in copyright [2] ) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
FORBES(1910) 05 Map of Sierra Leone published 1910
Forbes, Edgar Allen (& Photographer) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Txu-pclmaps-oclc-8321160-bathurst (cropped six-gun-battery) 1910/1911
Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Togoland, 1914 2014-02-24 11:32:45
O'Neill, H. C. (Herbert Charles), 1879-1953 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Prints & paintings
Bumboats off Freetown 1941–42
Traders' boats alongside a convoy ship, drawn by the war artist Anthony Gross.
Anthony Gross · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Major Arnold's punitive expedition through Akpara 1897-01-01
Lieutenant Arthur Festing & Charles Joseph Staniland · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1910) 01 - A.M.E. Sierra Leone Annual Conference , West Africa published 1910
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1910) 02 - A.M.E. Missionary Society, Sierra Leone Annual Conference published 1910
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1910) 03 - A.M.E. Seminary, Freetown, Sierra Leone published 1910
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1910) 04 - A.M.E. Day School at Senduga, Sierra Leone published 1910
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1910) 05 - Choir New Zion A.M.E. Church, Freetown, Sierra Leone published 1910
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1910) William H. Heard, A.M.E. Bishop of West Africa published 1910
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1911) 03 E.T. Martyn published 1911
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1911) 04 H.M. Steady published 1911
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1911) 05 J.P. Richards published 1911
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
HEARD(1911) 08 I.E. Steady published 1911
Heard, William H. (William Henry), 1850-1937 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Objects & finds
All 14 →
Female Figure (Africa, West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende or Bullom style, unknown maker) early 1900s
Africa, West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende or Bullom style, unknown maker artist · Public domain (CC0) · Cleveland Museum of Art · Source ↗
Figure of cult of dead label QS:Len,"Figure of cult of dead" label QS:Lpl,"Figura kultu zmarłych" between 1900 and 1971 date QS:P571,+1950-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P
anonymous · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Handbook to the ethnographical collections (1910) (14783046642) 1910
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Sierra Leone, Mende, mask, before 1922, 01 2024-06-20 13:40:11
Original title: Sierra leone, mende, maschera, ante 1922, 01
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Sierra Leone, Mende, mask, before 1922, 02 2024-06-20 13:40:47
Original title: Sierra leone, mende, maschera, ante 1922, 02
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Alphonso Lisk-Carew Bundoo Girls, Sierra Leone before 1925 date QS:P,+1925-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1326,+1925-00
Alphonso Lisk-Carew · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeone Hofstra 010 1934
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeone Hofstra 013 between 1934 and 1936 date QS:P,+1934-00-00T00:00:00Z/8,P131
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeone Hofstra 016 between 1934 and 1936 date QS:P,+1934-00-00T00:00:00Z/8,P131
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeone Hofstra 086 between 1934 and 1936 date QS:P,+1934-00-00T00:00:00Z/8,P131
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeone Hofstra 149 between 1934 and 1936 date QS:P,+1934-00-00T00:00:00Z/8,P131
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
SierraLeone Hofstra 218 between 1934 and 1936 date QS:P,+1934-00-00T00:00:00Z/8,P131
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Stamps
Twopence-halfpenny, cancelled at Freetown 1896
Post of British Empire · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
One penny, cancelled at Freetown 1899
Post of British Empire · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
One pound, Edward VII 1903
De la Rue Ltd, London · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Five shillings, centenary of the abolition of slavery 1933
UK Government · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Coronation issue 1953
Her Majesty's Government · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
The Cotton Tree, Freetown, twopence 1956
British Government · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
A Bullom boat, one shilling 1956
British Government · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Cape Lighthouse, halfpenny 1956
British Government · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Whale Bay, York Village, sixpence 1956
British Government · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
1896ca 6d Sierra Leone unused Yv16Ab Mi22c SG37 purple-lake 1896
De la Rue Ltd, London · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
1903ca 2s Sierra Leone unused Yv59 SG83 1903
De la Rue Ltd, London · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
1903ca 5sh Sierra Leone unused Yv60 SG84 1903
De la Rue Ltd, London · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗
Coins
British West Africa penny 1936
Lamashtu2006 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗