[Trip to Iran Photograph Album]

Description

Series[UMA-SRE-20140054] PHOTOGRAPHSAccession[2014.0038] GERMAINE GREER ARCHIVEIdentifierUMA-ITE-2014005400258Scope and ContentOne photographic album containing 36 black and white gelatin silver photographs [16.5cm x 21.5cm]. Photographs are mounted on black card and interleaved with embossed tissue paper. The album is made from either cardboard or stacked leather and the front and back covers are painted with intricate designs of gold and silver leaf and red leather and feature central images of the Palace of Ali Quapu, Isfahan (front cover) and Si-o-Seh Pol Bridge, Isfahan (back cover). It is bound with a red silk tassel. The album is a souvenir of Germaine Greer's trip to Iran in 1974. She visited Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan. Greer, Betty Friedan and Helvi Sipila, an assistant secretary general of the United Nations, were invited to Iran as guests of Her Imperial Highness Princess Ashraf Pahlavi and the Women's Organisation of Iran (WOI). The trip was a precursor to the UN’s International Women’s Year 1975. Princess Ashraf, the twin sister of the Shah, was in charge of the consultative committee that wrote the Draft World Plan of Action for the year. Mina Atabai (nee Schricker) who hosted Greer in 1974, says the album is about Isfahan. The first photographs show Greer arriving at Isfahan airport and being greeted by Mrs Mohi, director of the Womens Organisation of Iran (WOI) Isfahan branch (dark dress with patterns), Mrs Parvin Moyed-Sabett (white dress with patterns), member of the WOI board, Mina Atabai (sunglasses, pale skirt and shirt) and other Iranian people. The modernist brick building with women on the steps is a WOI center in Isfahan, the next few images show a dinner with Mr Motamedi, President of Isfahan University and Mrs Soraya Gangi is pictured here too. The remaining photos show Greer visiting Chehel Sotoun Palace and Shah Masque (Mosque), Isfahan, with Mina Atabai (in geometric pattern dress) and Mrs Moyed Sabeti (pale dress) and an unidentified man. The photos at the palace depict spectacular tapestries and renovation work, an exterior shot shows the women underneath a series of pillars. The mosque photographs show the women in front of exquisite tiled interiors and exteriors; Atabai and Sabeti often wear black sunglasses. Photographer unknown. Greer has written several essays about this trip and they can be found in the print series: 2014.0046.00085; 2014.0046.00087; 2014.0046.00183; 2014.0046.01035. Subjects: Women's Organisation of Iran; Betty Friedan; United Nations; International Women's Year; Princess Ashraf Pahlavi; Mina Atabai; Photograph albums.Access StatusAccess restrictions applyRequest TypeRequest unitUnit2014.0054 Unit 0015MenuBrowse digitised items | Available in the Reading Room

Provenance

CreatorGreer, GermaineRoleProvenance

Dates

Date1974

Description Control

Previous System ID2014.0054.00258

Characteristics

Genre/FormPhotograph albumsDimensions26 x 46 x 4cm

Relationships

Feature CollectionThe Germaine Greer Archive

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