Representations of American Imperialism in Picture Postcards of Manila, 1898-1946

This book utilizes postcards as a historical and visual lens to consider the built environment of the Philippines after the governmental regime change in 1898. By compiling and using visual references to show shifting patterns of urban environmental design during the Philippines’ American colonial era, this volume will reveal the changes in Manila’s built environment. This book will also examine the loss of the historic urban form post-1946. In detailing the altering landscape of Manila, the book reveals the relationship between the development of the built environment and its societal context.

Ian Morley is a Professor in the Department of History at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, China. He has published widely on the design of built environments, particularly those evolving during the Philippines’ American colonial era (1898-1946). He is Vice President of the International Planning History Society.