The Buffalo Museum of Science

Presents

James Ogden's Photographs of Tibet

1905 - 1928

In conjunction with Community Outreach, Dalai Lama UB 2006, this Jacqueline Darakjy collection of  40 Ogden images will be on display in the Buffalo Museum of Science's Atrium Gallery from July 12th - November 15th, 2006 and is being represented by Mr. John Belletti.
Photo of James Ogden in Tibet.
James Ogden in Tibet.

A Short Biography of James Ogden's  Life

by Jacqueline Darakjy

James Clarence Ogden (1877-1929) born in Kentucky and received degrees in architecture and agriculture from Kentucky University.  In 1905, after joining a missionary group, James and his wife, Minnie decided to go to Asia.  They met with another missionary family, the Shelton’s in Shanghai.  Together the two families began a long and arduous journey to Tibet.  For months, they traveled by boat, horse, yak and finally on foot, to the small town of Batang in Eastern Tibet.

The Ogdens spent over twenty years in Tibet.  James designed and helped to build a school, a dispensary, an orphanage, a second larger school and a hospital.  He also created irrigation systems and planted fruit trees, all the while teaching Christianity.  Along with Dr. Albert Shelton, James C. Ogden served as a mediator for treaties and disputes that arose between the Chinese and Tibetans.  They enjoyed a measure of respect from both sides, which was exceptional for outsiders. 

Despite his busy schedule, James Ogden found time to document the lives of the people in this remote corner of the world. Their customs, rituals and manners are apparent in his work. His photographs capture with great sensitivity the day-to-day life in the village. During his travels in the surrounding region, equipped with his 5” x 7” large format camera, he documented the destruction of Lamaseries, art works, Tankas and Libraries due to pre-1905 Chinese invasions as well as a subsequent one in 1911. Mr. Ogden also took formal portraits of the Tibetan and Chinese officials in a series.

The man behind the lens was plagued by severe bouts of depression and nervous breakdowns. While on furlough in the United States he was hospitalized for his condition on several occasions, however the battle proved to be too great, and in August of 1929 he committed suicide. He was 52 years old.
Photo of Litang lamasery taken in 1910.
Photo of Litang lamasery taken in 1910.
Photo of James Ogden's Tibetan teacher and family.
James Ogden's Tibetan teacher and family.

James Ogden’s work exhibits an excellent technical and  artistic knowledge of photography as well as a surprising immediacy that draws the viewer into the lives of those in the photographs. His photographs captured the soul of Tibet and the trauma happening to its people. This is not a tourist’s view of Tibet, but a record of the deep bond between this man and his chosen people, of the love and acceptance that they shared for over twenty years.

In 1986, Jacqueline Darakjy recovered approximately 1000 negatives from his son Harold’s in Glendale, California. Harold had stored them under a sink in his garage having planned to discard them. Some were so badly water damaged that they could not be saved. For a period of 10 years, Jacqueline Darakjy cleaned and restored over 850 negatives, varying in size from 5”x7”to 2 ¼” x 3 ¼”.