1977, Elli Papadimitriou, Palies Photographies, Epirus & Macedonia, First Edition

Elli Papadimitriou (1906-1993) was born in 1906 in Smyrna, Asia Minor, and grew up in an environment strongly influenced by Asia Minor culture. The Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922 had a decisive influence on her life and work, as she experienced the loss of her hometown and uprooting. Papadimitriou was engaged in collecting and recording oral testimonies, songs and stories from refugees and people of the people. Her work is a valuable source for the study of the social and cultural life of the period. She wrote short stories, novels and essays with social and political content. Her works are characterised by a humanitarian approach, sensitivity to the problems of ordinary people and love for the Greek language and tradition. She left behind an important photographic oeuvre, which is in the archives of the Benaki Museum.

About the book: Elli Papadimitriou’s work, often centered on memory and cultural heritage, includes thematic references to “Palies Photographies” (Old Photographs), which might be tied to Epirus and Macedonia as regions of historical and cultural significance. This likely reflects her commitment to documenting and preserving the stories of ordinary people, with a focus on marginalized communities, refugees, and the working class.