THIS IS THE FIRST OF 18 WEB PAGES housing the US State Department's historic collection of 179 photographs on the November 1928 Nicaraguan elections (actually 171 at present; eight were missing).  Most of these 179 photographs have never been published before now.  All express the colonial-imperial lens through which US policymakers and policy implementers saw Nicaragua and its people — and of course, themselves.  None can be read outside these broader contexts of empire.  Many can also be fruitfully read for what they reveal about Nicaraguan social realities of the era.  (photo:  detail of No. 40, "Residence of General Chamorro, Managua")

The 1928 elections offer a fertile field for study.  The evidence suggests that this electoral process, and the elections of 1932 (also USA-supervised) were the freest & fairest in all Nicaraguan history up to that point.  I would argue until 1984.  Others would say 1990.  Whatever the case, all observers would agree that the 1928 elections had complex origins, comprised a complex process, and bequeathed complex and ambiguous legacies — and, that this collection of photographs offers a remarkable visual record of one of the most consequential and revealing electoral processes in Nicaraguan history.   

The transcribed 7-page typed inventory of all 179 photos in the collection is presented immediately below, followed by the first 10 photos.  These high-resolution (600 dpi) JPEG scans of the originals are in most cases presented in multiple cropped details.

INVENTORY OF U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT PHOTOS ON THE NOVEMBER 1928 ELECTION

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS
(NUMBERED IN ORDER OF INSERTION IN SUPPLEMENT)

1.  President Adolfo Díaz of Nicaragua.
2.  Hon. Charles C. Eberhardt, American Minister to Nicaragua.
3.  Brigadier General Frank R. McCoy, Chairman of the American Electoral Mission in Nicaragua and President, National Board of Elections.
4.  Rear Admiral David F. Sellers, USN, Commander Special Service Squadron, and Brigadier General Logan Feland, USMC, Commanding 2nd Brigade.
5.  Brigadier General Elias R. Beadle (Lieut. Col. USMC), Jefe Director, Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua.
6.  General Jose María Moncada, President-Elect of Nicaragua.
7.  Don Adolfo Bernard (center), Conservative Candidate for President of Nicaragua, 1928.
8.  General Emiliano Chamorro, Ex-president of Nicaragua
9.  The National Board of Elections, Managua, Nicaragua. Left to right, Dr. Ramon Castillo C., Conservative political member; Brig. Gen. Frank R. McCoy, USA, President; Dr. Manuel Cordero Reyes, Liberal political member.
10.  Colonel Francis LeJ. Parker, USA, Vice Chairman, American Electoral Mission and Vice President, National Board of Elections.

11.  Major Gary I. Crockett, USA, Secretary, National Board of Elections.
12.  Dr. Harold W. Dodds, adviser to Chairman, American Electoral Mission.
13.  Hon. George K. Pond, adviser to Chairman, American Electoral Mission.
14.  Colonel Arthur S. Brown, JAGD, USA, advisor to Chairman, American Electoral Mission.
15.  Lieut. Col. Gordon Johnston, USA, adviser to Chairman, American Electoral Mission.  [official inventory p. 2]

16.  Major Cassine M. Dowell, USA, Executive Officer, American Electoral Mission.
17.  Major Felix Promaruelli, USA, Assistant Executive Officer and in charge Information Section, American Electoral Mission.assine M. Dowell, USA, Executive Officer, American Electoral Mission. Electoral Mission.
19.  First Lieut. Frank F. Fulton, FD, USA, Finance Officer.
20.  Campo de Marte - the President's Palace, Managua.

21.  The National Palace, Managua.
22.  The Ayuntamiento (City Hall), Managua.
23.  The Managua Club.
24.  A Native House, Managua.
25.  A Nicaraguan Family.  (Missing)
26.  The Laundry, Managua.  (Missing)
27.  La Loma Fortress, overlooking Managua.  (Missing)
28.  Office of the Chairman, American Electoral Mission.  (Missing)
29.  Marine Camp, Tipitapa.
30.  Marine Hospital, Managua.

31.  National Board of Elections, Secretariat and Advisers.
32.  Managua, from La Loma.
33.  Coffee Finca, "La Luz," near Managua.
34.  Banco Nacional de Nicaragua.
35.  Conservative National Headquarters, Managua.
36.  Liberal National Headquarters, Managua.
37.  Grand Hotel Lupone, Managua.
38.  Entry, American Legation, Managua.
39.  A Street, Managua.
40.  Residence of General Chamorro, Managua.

41.  Minister Eberhardt (left) and Dr. Dana Munro, Counselor, in courtyard of American Legation, Managua.
42.  Marine Corps Amphibian Plane, at Managua Air Field (used principally on Atlantic coast).   [p. 3] 

43.  Don Adolfo Benard (left ) at Corinto enroute from Europe and United States.
44.  Conservatives at Corinto await Benard's landing. Special train in background.
45.  Benard greets friends at Corinto.
46.  Governor Somoza of León (left) and Don Adolfo Benard at Corinto.
47.  Crowd at hotel, Corinto, to welcome Benard.
48.  Locomotive on Benard Sugar Estate, Chichigalpa.
49.  Benard special train at Chinandega.
50.  Crowd to see Benard, enroute to Managua.

51.  President Díaz (caricature).
52.  Minister Eberhardt (caricature).
53.  General McCoy (caricature).
54.  General Feland (caricature).
55.  General Beadle (caricature).
56.  Captain H. S. Keimling, G.N., chief of police of Managua, and Guardia platoon (caricature).
57.  Sending out electoral supplies by FOkker transport plane from Ocotal to precincts in Nueva Segovia.
58.  Loading the last packs (same).
59.  General Chamorro in patio of his home, Managua.
60.  General Moncada (left).

61.  A registration booth, Managua.
62.  Registration booth, Campo de Marte precinct, Managua.
63.  Rural registration booth near Managua.
64.  General Moncada (in dark suit) ready to register at Precinct No. 1, Managua, September 23, 1928.
65.  A registration booth, Managua.
66.  A precinct board and secretaries, Managua.
67.  Colonel O. E. Hunt, USA, Ret. (standing, in civilian dress), department chairman, León, with assistants and precinct chairman.
68.  Department headquarters, León.  [p. 4]

69.  Captain Thomas A. Austin, Jr., USA (Center), department chairman of Nueva Segovia, and assistants, at Ocotal.
70.  Election patrol leaves Ocotal.

71.  A ballot box in transit.
72.  General McCoy (with pipe) and Lieut. Colonel Gordon Johnston, USA (putting on coat), at Managua air field after inspection trip by plane to Atlantic coast.
73.  Same (Capt. "Wop" Howard, USMC, pilot, in center with General McCoy.
74.  Pen and ink sketch of voting booth, Tisma precinct, Department of Masaya, by Corporal Otto Vonohr, USMC, precinct chairman.
75.  Election Day (Nov. 4), Managua. President Díaz arrives at voting booth, escorted by Major Willian R. Shutan, USA (in civilian dress at right of picture), department chairman.
76.  President Díaz dips his fingers in stain before voting.
77.  General Moncada (in grey suit), Dr. Aguado and Major Shutan at his left, arrive at No. 1 voting booth, Managua, Nov. 4.
78.  General Moncada receives his ballot.
79.  General Moncada and Dr. Aguado leaving the polls.
80.  A voter casts his ballot, Managua.

81.  Admiral Sellers visits a Managua voting booth, November 4.
82.  General Feland watches progress of election, November 4, Managua.
83.  In line before 7 o'clock a.m. Nov. 4 at a Managua precinct; Guardia private in foreground.
84.  A voter stains his fingers.
85.  Waiting to vote before polls opened, Managua.
86.  Same.
87.  Vigilante votes while opposing vigilante watches him, Managua.
88.  Election day scene in Managua.
89.  Election day scene in Managua.
90.  Election day scene in Managua.

91.  Election day scene in Managua.
92.  Election day scene in Managua.
93.  Election day scene in Managua.
94.  Election day scene in Managua.
95.  Election day scene in Managua.
96.  Election day scene in Managua.
97.  Voting completed before 3 p.m. at a Managua poll.
98.  Rural precinct booth near Managua, at close of voting.  [p. 5] 

99.  Check-up of returns at a Managua booth, Nov. 4; Marine Corps movie photographer at left.
100.  Bringing in ballots by motor truck late on Nov. 4 from a rural precinct, Managua department, Marines guard box.

101.  Election returns by bull-cart to department capital.
102.  Dr. Castillo (caricature).
103.  Dr. Cordero Reyes (caricature).
104.  Bluefields; Liberal refreshments served to voters on Election day.
105.  Major Carles F. E. Price, USMC (center), Bluefields department chariman and Board.
106.  Major Price and Board.
107.  Amphibian, Puerto Cabezas, Bluefields department.
108.  Liberal campaign headquarters, Bluefields.
109.  Voting booth, Bluefields Norte precinct, Election Day.
110.  Voting booth, Bluefields Norte precinct, Election Day.

111.  Registration, Puerto Cabezas.
112.  Waiting for polls to open, Puerto Cabezas.
113.  A precinct board, Sandy Bay, Bluefields department.
114.  Precinct Board, Puerto Cabezas.
115.  Election Day, Bluefields, Creole belles ready to serve voters.
116.  Rivas - the Cuartel.
117.  Rivas - crowd welcomes Moncada at San Jorge.
118.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.
119.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.
120.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.

121.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.
122.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.
123.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.
124.  Moncada campaigns in Rivas department.
125.  Rivas - entrance to cemetary.
126.  Rivas - the casino.
127.  Rivas - driveway to cemetery.
128.  Rivas - road to city.
129.  Major Herman Randolph, USA (center), chairman and departmental board, Rivas.
130.  Rivas board in session.  [p. 6]

131.  León - General Somoza, Jefe Politico.
132.  León - Col. O. E. Hunt, chairman, gives final instructions to precinct chairmen.
133.  Bluejackets fight Marines - sham battle, León.
134.  Baseball scoreboard, Marines vs. Nicaraguans, León.
135.  Bluejacket battalion entrains at Corinto for León.
136.  Marine Detachment, USS MISSISSIPPI, leaves León for northern hills to protect voters.
137.  Col. Ora E. Hunt, department chairman, León.
138.  General Felipe Flores, Liberal chief, in front of No. 6 precinct, León  (missing).
139.  Col. C. C. Smith, USA, Ret. (center), department chairman, Granada, and Board  (missing).
140.  Captain Loyd V. H. Durfee, USA (second from left), department chairman, Chinandega, and Board  (missing).

141.  Major Howard Eager, USA (center), department chairman, Chontales, and Board  (missing).
142.  Alcaldía, Juigalpa (Chontales), Marine detachment and office of department board.
143.  Jinotega - department board, Major Robert L. Christian, USA (center), chairman.
144.  Matagalpa - Major John. B. Coulter, USA (center) chairman department board, and two Ensigns (assistants).
145.  Matagalpa - department board session.
146.  Nicaraguan boy captured from Sandino force during fight at Ocotal - now assistant to Captain Darnell, G.N., Masaya.
147.  Precinct chairman leaves Masaya with ballot box, etc. for Laguna.
148.  Masaya church.
149.  Returning with ballots to Masaya from Los Altos precinct, Nov. 5, 1928.
150.  Masaya - precinct Palo Blanco, voting ends.

151.  Masaya - Magdalena precinct, Election Day, with naval chairman.  [p. 7] 

152.  Masaya - returning with records from Nindiri precinct, Nov. 5.
153.  Masaya - Palo Blanco precinct, 4:10 p.m. Nov. 4.
154.  A precinct board, Masaya.
155.  Central Avenue, Masaya.
156.  Captain Cliffort H. Tate, USA, chairman, and department board, Masaya.
157.  Estelí - Sept. 14, precinct chairman outward bound for Trinidad.
158.  Major Joseph B. Pate, USA (center), chairman, Estelí, and department board.
159.  Same, in session.
160.  Estelí, urban precinct No. 2, Pvt. T. W. Madden, USMC, chairman, afternoon of Nov. 4.

161.  Election scenes, Estelí.
162.  Election scenes, Estelí.
163.  Election scenes, Estelí.
164.  Election scenes, Estelí.
165.  Election scenes, Estelí.
166.  Election scenes, Estelí.
167.  Precinct chairman, Estelí department.
168.  Crossing Rio Jicaro, Estelí, Sept. 15; this ford known for treacherous underfooting.
169.  Electoral patrol, Estelí.
170.  Voters, Puerto Cabezas, Bluefields department.

171.  Bluejacket battalion, Managua.
172.  Bluejackets battalion, Managua.
173.  Living statue of Liberty greets President-Elect Hoover at Corinto, Nov. 27, 1928; Señorita Margarita Pertz of Managua impersonates the goddess.
174.  Marine guard of honor awaits arrival of President-Elect Hoover, Corinto.
175.  Mr. Hoover coming ashore, Corinto.
176.  Mr. Hoover (Minister Eberhardt on his left) on wharf, Corinto; Guardia escort in background.
177.  President-Elect Hoover, President-Elect Moncada, and Minister Eberhardt, Corinto.
178.  President-Elect Hoover, President-Elect Moncada, and Minister Eberhardt, Corinto.
179.  President-Elect Hoover, recieves the salute, Corinto.