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Primary sourcePhotographc. 1891-1893

Queen Liliuokalani's Staff Portrait

James J. Williams · c. 1891-1893

A studio photograph of officials who served on Queen Liliuokalani's royal staff during her reign.

These men served as Liliuokalani's royal staff during her reign, shown here in a formal studio portrait.

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Sepia-toned studio portrait of four men in formal military and court dress against a painted backdrop. Three stand and one is seated in front, holding a sword. The photographer's name and Honolulu appear on the mount below.
James J. Williams, Queen Liliuokalani's staff, c. 1891-1893.

About this source

What it is

A sepia-toned studio photograph by James J. Williams, taken between about 1891 and 1893, showing four men in formal military and court dress: Col. James Harbottle Boyd, Col. John Dominis Holt, Chamberlain James William Robertson, and Col. Henry Franz Bertelmann, seated and holding a sword.

Why it matters

This photograph documents the officials who served Queen Liliuokalani during her reign from 1891 to 1893, giving insight into the structure and personnel of the Hawaiian monarchy's royal household in its final years.

Look closer

  • What do the uniforms and poses tell you about the formality of royal service?
  • Why might a photographer be commissioned to record the queen's staff?
  • What does this image leave out about the queen herself and her relationship with these men?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Queen Liliʻuokalani on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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