{
  "id": 9557034,
  "title": "Historic glass plates offer vital record of Thailand’s history, culture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/historic-glass-plates-offer-vital-record-of-thailands-history-culture",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T12:54:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Khaosod English",
    "slug": "khaosod-english",
    "url": "https://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2026/09/24/historic-glass-plates-offer-vital-record-of-thailands-history-culture/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BANGKOK — Thailand's historic glass plate negatives and original photographs provide a visual record of the country's social, cultural and political history, Culture Minister Sabida Thaiseth declared on September 24th. The nation's photography journey began under King Rama III's reign when foreigners introduced the art form. King Rama IV commissioned a portrait of the monarch by a foreign photographer, which was sent to Queen Victoria as a symbol of friendship between Siam and Britain. The collection, encompassing glass plate negatives and original photographs from King Rama IV's to King Rama VII's reign, is safeguarded by the National Archives of Thailand. It comprises personal photographs donated by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, images of Kings Rama V and Rama VI, and materials from the Norasingha photographic studio. Subsequently, the collection was transferred to the National Archives, where it serves as a crucial resource for studying Thailand's photographic history.\n\nSabida explained that the photographs document historical events and shed light on Siamese society, culture, politics, and the nation's relationships with other countries during the era of Western colonial expansion in Asia. They also illustrate social conditions during World War I and the political, social, and cultural transformations that influenced Siam globally. The Vajirañāṇa Royal Library glass plate negatives and photographs collection was inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register on October 30th, 2017, acknowledging its historical importance. The Fine Arts Department and National Archives of Thailand preserve the delicate glass plates and photographs under controlled conditions to mitigate deterioration caused by their chemical composition and environmental changes. Since the original glass plates cannot be directly accessed by the public, the National Archives has digitized their contents, including photographic prints and digital files.\n\nThe National Archives collaborates with experts from diverse fields to meticulously document and identify the photographs, including Thongthong Chandransu, Peerasri Povatanongor, along with local government agencies and international scholars. The digital collection is accessible via the National Archives of Thailand's website, while selected photographs are featured in exhibitions, books, and public discussions. Sabida emphasized these endeavors to preserve Thailand's cultural heritage and render historical materials accessible to current and future generations.",
  "summary": "BANGKOK — Thailand’s historic glass plate negatives and original photographs offer a visual record of the country’s social, cultural and political history, Culture Minister Sabida Thaiseth said on 24 September. Sabida said photography was introduced to Thailand by foreigners during the reign of King Rama III. During the reign of King Rama IV, the monarch […] The post Historic glass plates offer…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}