Developmental Idealism Imagery

The images presented on these pages portray individuals, families, communities, social organizations, and cultural and historical symbols from a range of societies around the world. Our images include historical portrayals from the artists of Europe in the 1500s and 1600s and from the photographers of America in the late 1800s. We also include recent photos from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. We portray several different slices of family and community life: wedding celebrations; village festivals; family agriculture; widowhood; courtship; the birth of children; grandparenting; caring for sick children; religious worship; and museum displays. We also portray some of the forces for social change, including schools, technological innovations, family planning programs, Christian churches, international organizations, revolutionary movements, and new consumption aspirations. Finally, we picture interviewers collecting information about the lives and ideas of families and individuals.