Around midday on September 1, 1923, Japan experienced its most devastating earthquake. It is estimated that over 110,000 persons died around the Tokyo metropolitan area, and 90 percent of the buildings in Yokohama were damaged or destroyed. As a witness to this devastation, William Dana Reynolds and his family arrived in Yokohama Bay eight days after the earthquake occurred. Reynolds elected to make his way through the area, and he compiled a photographic record of what he saw during his time there. Brown University has digitized this album and a number of other primary and secondary resources for use by historians and the general public. First-time visitors should read over the "About" section, and then read a few of the very fine historical essays on the disaster and the Reynolds family contained in the "History" section. Of course, visitors should not miss looking over the actual digitized materials, which are contained in the "Browse" area. Here they will find the complete 1923 photographic album created by Reynolds, supplemented by brochures, newspaper clippings, and postcards.
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