Fragments

During her time few women chose an active working life, and even fewer marketed themselves as writers and photographers. In her field Meyer can be considered a pioneer, and she was one of the first women in Norway to be a journalistic photographer.

Meyer regularly published articles and photographs in Aftenposten, Urd, Kristen ungdom, Hjemmet and Magasinet for alle along with much other work, including the books En kvinnes ferd til Persia [A Woman's Journey to Persia] (1930) and En kvinnes ferd gjennem India [A Woman's Journey through India] (1933). Across the good 30 years she was active she sent reportage from Norway, the other Nordic nations, various countries in Europe, Iran, Iraq, Syria, India, Mexico and Alaska—and the list goes on.

The archive resulting from her activities contains correspondence, articles, notes, documents and receipts, in addition to approximately 50,000 photographic objects taken on her many trips. All told the contents occupy 11 meters of archival shelving, but is it sufficient to tell the story of her life?

The exhibition builds on the museum's work with the archive. Varied narrative techniques are employed to investigate Meyer's legacy as a historical source.

Curator Hege Oulie, Preus Museum

Video (in Norwegian)

Det som ble igjen - fortellingen om Elisabeth Meyers arkiv from Preus museum on Vimeo.