Queen Emma of the Kingdom of Hawai'i

* Nearly 20,000 images of artworks the museum believes to be in the public domain are available to download on this site. Other images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. By using any of these images you agree to LACMA's Terms of Use.

Queen Emma of the Kingdom of Hawai'i

Kingdom of Hawai'i,O'ahu, Honolulu, Hawaiian, 1859
Photographs
Albumen silver print
Secondary support: 3 7/8 × 2 1/2 in. (9.84 × 6.35 cm)
Partial gift of Mark and Carolyn Blackburn and purchased with funds from LACMA's 50th Anniversary Gala and FIJI Water (M.2015.33.1338)
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

The book "The Queen's Medical Center" dates this photograph to circa 1859. A similar ambrotype was given to Lady Jane Franklin as a farewell gift in 1961....
The book "The Queen's Medical Center" dates this photograph to circa 1859. A similar ambrotype was given to Lady Jane Franklin as a farewell gift in 1961. It is not certain if H.L Chase was the original photographer since he did not travel to Hawai'i until 1862. (source, Bishop Museum). Princess Emma Kalanikaumakaʻamano Kaleleonālani Naʻea Rooke was was a royal member of the Kamehameha dynasty through her great grandfather, Prince Kealiʻimaikaʻi, a brother of King Kamehameha the Great. Princess Emma was selected by HM King Kamehameha III to be eligible for the Hawaiian throne and was sent to be groomed at the Chiefs' Children's School, where she lived and was educated with her cousin and future husband, Prince Alexander Liholiho (King Kamehameha IV) whom she married on June 19, 1856. On May 20, 1858 Emma gave birth to her only child, a son, Prince Albert Edward Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kamehameha. Queen Victoria was his god mother, and was given the name Albert Edward after her husband. Unfortunately, the young prince died at the age of four and a year later, her royal husband, King Kamehameha IV died in 1863. Queen Emma, who was dedicated to health care and education, with her husband, King Kamehameha IV, were the founders of The Queen's Medical Center, St. Andrews Priory, ʻIolani School and St. Andrews Cathedral. The Dowager Queen Emma In 1883, suffered the first of several small strokes and died two years later on April 25, 1885 at the age of 49, she left the bulk of her estate to the trust of the Queen's Hospital as well as some scholarships. On January 16, 1893 the Hawaiian Kingdom was invaded by United States marines which led to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian government the following day.
More...