Historical Photographs of China

All Collections

Richard Family Collection

The Richard Family Collection consists of an album and some loose prints. The album was compiled by Eleanor (Ella) Isabella Hillier (née Richard). Eleanor Hillier (1879-1963) was the eldest daughter of the Welsh Baptist missionary to China, Timothy Richard (1845-1919), and Mary Martin. Ella Hillier spoke and read Chinese, was a teacher, and trained as secretary. The early photographs were taken before Eleanor’s marriage to the banker Guy Hillier on 19 December 1919, in Hong Kong. The couple lived in Beijing until Guy Hillier’s death in 1924. See also the Hillier Collection. Only a selection from the Richard Family Collection is currently live on HPC, refs: EH01, EH-s and FD-s. Part of this collection (HPC ref FD-s) is held in Special Collections, University of Bristol Library, ref DM2840.

Watching Allied troops at British Legation, Beijing

Watching Allied troops at British Legation, Beijing

Harold Ivan Harding, on a houseboat

Harold Ivan Harding, on a houseboat

An unidentified large building

An unidentified large building

An unidentified couple in a living room

An unidentified couple in a living room

A man and a woman wearing fancy dress

A man and a woman wearing fancy dress

Harold Ivan Harding, with ponies and two men holding the reins, Kashgar

Harold Ivan Harding, with ponies and two men holding the reins, Kashgar

Senior staff including Guy Hillier, HSBC bank, Beijing

Senior staff including Guy Hillier, HSBC bank, Beijing

Rapprochement Anglo-Belge - Florence Harding, Alan Tuson and Maurice Scott

Rapprochement Anglo-Belge - Florence Harding, Alan Tuson and Maurice Scott

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, with Rudolf Buck, Shanghai

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, with Rudolf Buck, Shanghai

Rudolf Buck and part of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai

Rudolf Buck and part of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai

Timothy Richard with daughters and family, posed on a monument

Timothy Richard with daughters and family, posed on a monument

Silhouette of a soldier bayonetting a man

Silhouette of a soldier bayonetting a man

Crowd on jetty to bid farewell to the 46 - ss 'Arcadia', Bund, Shanghai

Crowd on jetty to bid farewell to the 46 - ss 'Arcadia', Bund, Shanghai

Guy Hillier's car, with bullet holes sustained during the Manchu restoration attempt, Beijing

Guy Hillier's car, with bullet holes sustained during the Manchu restoration attempt, Beijing

Guy Hillier's car, with bullet holes sustained during the Manchu restoration attempt, Beijing

Guy Hillier's car, with bullet holes sustained during the Manchu restoration attempt, Beijing

Road accident - a car crashed into a wall, Beijing

Road accident - a car crashed into a wall, Beijing

The American Marine Band at the British Legation, Armistice Day 1918

The American Marine Band at the British Legation, Armistice Day 1918

American Marine Band leaving the British Legation, Beijing, Armistice Day 1918

American Marine Band leaving the British Legation, Beijing, Armistice Day 1918

Allied diplomats at the British Legation, Beijing, on Armistice Day 1918

Allied diplomats at the British Legation, Beijing, on Armistice Day 1918

Allied diplomats at the British Legation, Beijing, on Armistice Day 1918

Allied diplomats at the British Legation, Beijing, on Armistice Day 1918

Allied troops on British Legation lawn, Beijing

Allied troops on British Legation lawn, Beijing

Watching Allied troops at British Legation, Beijing

Watching Allied troops at British Legation, Beijing

Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

The Indian Troops, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

The Indian Troops, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

President Hsü Shi Chang, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

President Hsü Shi Chang, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

President Hsü Shi Chang reading his speech, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

President Hsü Shi Chang reading his speech, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

Captain Clayton Jones carrying Portuguese colours, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

Captain Clayton Jones carrying Portuguese colours, Review of Allied Troops, Forbidden City, Beijing

Indian officers with their flag at the Allied Review, Forbidden City, Beijing

Indian officers with their flag at the Allied Review, Forbidden City, Beijing

Sir John Jordan and Florence Harding, Allied Review, Forbidden City, Beijing

Sir John Jordan and Florence Harding, Allied Review, Forbidden City, Beijing

Guy and Ella Hillier, and others, sitting out in the winter sun, Balizhuang near Beijing

Guy and Ella Hillier, and others, sitting out in the winter sun, Balizhuang near Beijing

'The Mollusc' performed in the British Legation Theatre, for War Funds, Beijing

'The Mollusc' performed in the British Legation Theatre, for War Funds, Beijing

E.C. Pearce, Chairman of the SMC, talking with Sir John Jordan on his departure

E.C. Pearce, Chairman of the SMC, talking with Sir John Jordan on his departure

Margaret Dixon saying goodbye to Sir John Jordan, Shanghai

Margaret Dixon saying goodbye to Sir John Jordan, Shanghai

Sir Beilby Alston and others, British Legation, Beijing

Sir Beilby Alston and others, British Legation, Beijing

Gladys Denham and Eleanor Hillier sketching maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba) trees near the pagoda at Balizhuang, Beijing

Gladys Denham and Eleanor Hillier sketching maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba) trees near the pagoda at Balizhuang, Beijing

Balizhuang pagoda and maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba) trees, Beijing

Balizhuang pagoda and maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba) trees, Beijing

Funeral of Auguste Boppe, French Minister and Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Beijing

Funeral of Auguste Boppe, French Minister and Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Beijing

Funeral of Auguste Boppe, French Minister and Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Beijing

Funeral of Auguste Boppe, French Minister and Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Beijing

Funeral of Auguste Boppe, French Minister and Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Beijing

Funeral of Auguste Boppe, French Minister and Doyen of Diplomatic Corps, Beijing

Madame Boppe at the grave side of Auguste Boppe, Beijing

Madame Boppe at the grave side of Auguste Boppe, Beijing