BANGKOK, Thailand – Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised has made clear the historical and cultural value of Thailand’s glass plate negatives and original photographs, which document the country from the reign of King Rama IV through King Rama VII. Preserved by the National Archives of Thailand, the collection provides primary visual evidence of historical events, everyday life, social change, and the development of photography. The collection includes photographs of King Rama V, King Rama VI, and HRH Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, as well as materials from the Chaya Norasingh photographic studio. Originally kept at the Vajirayana Library, the images document Siam’s society, culture, politics, and international relations during a period of major domestic and global change.
The Vajirayana Library Collection of Glass Plate Negatives and Original Prints was inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2017. The photographs offer valuable documentary evidence for research into Thailand’s history, including social reforms, relations with the wider world, and developments surrounding the First World War. The Ministry of Culture, through the Fine Arts Department and National Archives, continues to conserve the fragile originals under controlled environmental conditions. It is also expanding public access through digital platforms, exhibitions, and publications while reducing unnecessary handling of the physical materials, helping safeguard the collection for research, education, and future generations. (NNT)
