Description

A digital copy of a1926 research film (5 minutes 15 seconds / digital transfer from a positive) created in support of the research of Professor Aldred F. Barker (1868-1964). The film is associated with his publication 'The prospective development of Peru: sheep-breeding and wool-growing country, 1927 (The University of Leeds). The majority of the film shows alpaca and llama, but also Professor Barker with a group of men, and a flock of sheep.

The original copy is now deposited at British Film Institute (BFI) National Archive (BFI identifier N-654297).


This version had been edited ( the related ITC 2017.279 is unedited and includes jumps in the film). A copy of this film is currently available to view on YouTube.


Content with approximate timings:

0.00 man carrying alpaca, man showing llama on lead

0.43 herd of alpaca / men holding alpaca

1.15 herd of alpaca / llama in compound, coming through gate, on hillside

2.33 Barker and men in doorway / chicken

2.58 men holding llama

3.03 herding alpaca

3.21 man holding alpaca

3.28 Barker looks at herd

3.43 herd in distance coming closer

4.08 sheep coming through gate followed by three men


At a meeting in 1920 with Professor Cossar Ewart (Edinburgh University) the idea was formed of the possibility of developing Peru as a wool-growing country. They also wanted to prove that Peruvian sheep could thrive in the UK. The government of Peru already had a model farm at Chuquibambilla, Southern Peru. In early1926 Barker accepted an invitation from President Leguia to visit, inspect and report on the five year experiment. He toured other textile production areas of Peru, as well as Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina, and brought back several woven textiles.


The digitisation of this film was part funded by Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.


This film is now available to watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDKUnu0CtSM [correct July 2021].

Physical characteristics

Category: Textile

Technique: Photograph

Medium: digitised film

Accession details

Accession number: ITC 2017.280

Accession date: 12/12/2017

Source: Created (internal)