Russian refugees in Cyprus and Turkey
This collection, containing 51 black and white photographs some of them printed on postcard paper, documents the daily life of Russian refugees, children in particular, while interred at refugee camps in both Cyprus and Turkey (Proti island) during 1920 - 1921 as a result of the Russian Revolution of 1917.
In 1920, about 1,546 Russians arrived in Cyprus at Famagusta, and were put up in the ex-WWI camp at Caraolos. Some died within a few months. Others chose to leave for Serbia and Bulgaria where they had relatives. The rest stayed in Cyprus despite the eagerness of the British Government to move them out. Smaller groups followed those already here. Some came from the island of Proti, near Constantinople where they first arrived while escaping from Russia.
The photos focus mainly on organized lessons for children, including reading, writing, crafts, exercise, as well as, recreational activities like playing games in the garden or trips to the beach. Adults are shown either caring for children, participating in crafts or engaged in other skilled activities such as sewing, carpentry and shoe repair. A number of photos depict large groups of both girl and boy scouts, in uniform, along with their scout leaders.
The images that comprise the online collection were reproduced from the original black and white prints. The titles were taken from inscriptions in the album when available. Where no inscriptions were available the titles were generated by the cataloguer describing the depicted subject.
CVAR holds digital reproductions of the originals and manages the copyright(s) of this digital collection.
Infant school of U.R.T. on the isle of Proty, “Recreation”
1920 – 1921
Little bathers on the isle of Proty
1920 – 1921
A group of children from the Infant school of U.R.T. On the isle of Proty
1920 – 1921
Children on stairs
1920 – 1921
A calligraphy lesson in the Infant school of U.R.T. on the isle of Proty
1920 – 1921
The library – reading room of U.R.T. On the isle of Proty
1920 – 1921
Row of children
1920 – 1921
Children running around
1920 – 1921
Infant school on the isle of Proty of the U.R.T.
1920 – 1921
Infant school on the isle of Proty of the U.R.T.
1920 – 1921
The isle of Proty, A sea-bath
1920 – 1921
The isle of Proty, A sea-bath
1920 – 1921
Russian refugees in Cyprus and Turkey
1920 – 1921
The sun-bath on the isle of Proty
1920 – 1921
The camp of Russian refugees on the isle of Proty
1920 – 1921
Boy and girl scouts
1920 – 1921
Children doing handicrafts
1920 – 1921
Large refugee tent
1920 – 1921
Group outside tent
1920 – 1921
Reading under a tree
1920 – 1921
Couple in front of tent
1920 – 1921
People under awning with sewing machine
1920 – 1921
Russian refugees in Cyprus and Turkey
1920 – 1921
Carpenters
1920 – 1921