Frank Scholten legacy

NINO holds the legacy of Frank Scholten, the author of the two volume publication “La Palestine illustrée” (1929, later editions in English, German, and Dutch). The volumes, “including references to passages illustrated in the Bible, the Talmud and the Koran”, were richly illustrated with photographs made by Scholten on his travels through the Middle East in 1920-1923.

In addition to his books, which have been incorporated into the NINO library, the legacy includes interesting and unpublished photographic material. The photographic collection was recently rediscovered by Dr M. Boom, curator of the National Museum for Art and History, Amsterdam. NINO wishes to eventually make the valuable collection accessible to interested parties. In cooperation with the Printroom of Leiden University, research into the magnitude and nature of the photographic collection has started, as a first step towards finding means and ways to make it accessible.

On Scholten’s death in 1942 a foundation was established to advance research into Palestinian and Syrian antiquities. The Frank Scholten Foundation currently supports the acquisition of publications in this field by the NINO library.