Historic Photographs of Batangas, Early American Era
In this page are photographs taken early during the American colonial era in the Province of Batangas. These were recently (mid-2025) made available at the digital library of the United States National Archives and Research Administration (NARA).
Typical of many historic pictures available at the NARA digital library, the labels are brief and offer little in terms of information — through no fault of NARA and in most likelihood because the takers and/or compilers of the photographs failed to adequately label them when compiling them into albums.
Hence, the labels we include below each photograph are also inevitably brief and quoted verbatim from the NARA itself. All the photographs were labeled as having been taken in “Batangas,” but whether the province or the town (presently city) of Batangas is not stated. The reader will please note than the dates given in the captions are from the time when the copy was made, unless indicated, and not when the photographs were taken.
One photo showing a man standing before a robusta coffee plant is, naturally, presumed to have been taken in the now-city of Lipa.
1. Batangas Cavalry Headquarters
Original NARA caption: Cavalry hdqrs. in Batangas P.I. on right. A and D troops were quartered in convent in background. Copy from printed loaned by Major R.W. Grow, Off Ch of Cav. 4/17/37.
2. Rebusta Coffee Plant
Original NARA caption: Coffee plant, robusta variety. Batangas Province, P.I. 1927. Copy originally made by S.C. Photo. Laboratory, for Bureau of Insular Affairs, from their prints.
3. Col. Wells Watching Guard Mount
Original NARA caption: Col. Wells watching guard mount at "Batangas," P.I. about 1900. Copy from print from the personal collection of Maj. Gen. George van Horn Mosely. 8-26-37.
4. Troops Fording River in Batangas
Original NARA caption: Fording river on edge of "Batangas" — P.I. about 1900. Copy from print from the personal collection of Maj. Gen. George van Horn Mosely. 8-26-37.
5. Pack Train at Batangas
Original NARA caption: Pack train at "Batangas," P.I. about 1900. Copy from print from the personal collection of Maj. Gen. George van Horn Mosley. 8-26-37.
6. Troops Looking over a Graveyard
Original NARA caption: Troopers looking over graveyard at Batangas, P.I. Copy from print loaned by Major Gen. R.W. Grow, Off Ch of Cavalry. 4/17/37.
7. View of Batangas Plaza
Original NARA caption: View of "Batangas Plaza," P.I. about 1900. Copy from print from the personal collection of Maj. Gen. George van Horn Mosely. 8-26-37.