The collection offers extensive source material on the history of the former mission areas of the Rhenish and Bethel Mission, on the way of life of the local population and on the history of photography. The photographic documents record history from the perspective of the mission and in this way complement corresponding historical source material from other sources in other fields of research.

Africa, Indonesia and China

The holdings include in particular photographic material from the regions of southern and eastern Africa, Indonesia and China, in which the missionaries of the aforementioned missions were active.

Parts of the Picture Archives are available in digital form.