Empire: World History 320. Photos That Shook The World: Exposing Leopold in The Congo
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Dec 30, 2025 Discover the inspiring story of Alice Seely Harris, a photographer who dared to expose the brutalities of King Leopold II in the Congo. With her Kodak Box Brownie, she captured haunting images of atrocities, turning photographic evidence into a powerful weapon for reform. Explore her relentless efforts to smuggle these images back to Britain, rallying support against colonial horrors. Despite her monumental impact, learn how history has largely forgotten her contributions, overshadowed by her husband's political success.
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Determined Missionary Journey
- Alice Seely Harris persisted seven years to be sent to the Congo and married quickly so she could go as a missionary.
- She arrived in 1898, pregnant, and began work at Ikau near the Llonga River with her husband John Hobbis Harris.
The Parcel That Sparked Action
- A grieving man named Nisala brought Alice a parcel containing a tiny child's foot and hand after overseers killed his family.
- Alice photographed the severed limbs with her Kodak Box Brownie and that image began her campaign.
Box Brownie Democratized Evidence
- The Kodak Box Brownie democratized photography by making it cheap, portable, and easy to use.
- Its accessibility enabled ordinary people like Alice to document atrocities in remote places.
