Archival Significance

The Willis Bell Photographic Archive (c.1957-1978) represents an important period in Ghanaian history and cultural heritage during the country's formative post-independence years. It chronicles political figures and events, modernization and industrialization processes, and ceremonial and daily life in both rural and urban contexts. One of few remaining professional photographers' archives from this period in Ghana—and the only one of an expatriate photographer—Bell's collection is significant for research on local and global photographic practice, challenging prevalent ideas about the role of Western photographers in Africa during the 20th century that often align them with colonial regimes and imperialist attitudes. It is also important for African history, and the humanities more broadly, as Ghana, the first country in West Africa to achieve independence from colonial rule in 1957, played an important role in global civil rights, democratic, socialist, and Pan-African movements during the 1950s-70s.

The collection consists of over 40,000 photographic negatives mostly in medium-format (6x6cm) and 35mm formats, and original prints in various sizes. Together, these provide critical context for Bell's working process, while capturing the scope and variety of his work in a compelling record of the country and its people. Bell's case is unique, in that he and his archive never left Ghana, and the collection has been held at his Accra studio to the present day. Taken within the first two decades of Ghana's national independence, the collection is a rare and invaluable resource for a wide range of international scholars, artists, and students, as well as lay audiences. Within its broad scope can be found portraiture, landscapes, cultural events, and architectural projects as well as advertising, fine art, and illustrative photography.

Upon his passing in 1999, Bell gifted his collection to Mmofra Foundation, a Ghanaian civic organization dedicated to cultural enrichment for youth. The Willis Bell Archive has now been almost entirely cleaned, organized, digitized, cataloged, and rehoused in archival-safe storage materials, thanks to a decades-long effort involving the many institutions and individuals recognized in the Credits section of this website. Most recently (2022-2025), generous funding from the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities and the Modern Endangered Archive Program of the Arcadia Foundation gave a significant impetus to this process. Each phase of the restoration has increased local conservation capacity through rigorous training of young people who find the materials inspiring and exciting to work with. As a stand-alone project under the auspices of Mmofra Foundation, The Willis Bell Photographic Archive now actively contributes to visual heritage practice in Africa.