Lewis Larsson
Lewis Larsson (14 March 1881 – 3 August 1958), was born Hol Lars Larsson in Nås, Sweden–Norway, and served as the de facto head of the Photographic Department of the American Colony in Jerusalem, British Mandate Palestine. Larsson was renowned for his use of photojournalism to record and document the cultures of the south Mediterranean, primarily within the Palestinian region. Larsson was also a well respected diplomat of Sweden who acted as the vice consul and consul to Jerusalem and in that role acted in the best interests of the American Colony.
Also recorded as Hol Lars Larsson · H. L. Larsson
Lewis Larsson
American Colony of Jerusalem Circa 1920s-1935 · The Library of Congress · CC0
- Name
- Lewis Larsson
- Birth Name
- Hol Lars Larsson
- Born
- 14 March 1881
- Birthplace
- Nås, Dalarna, United Kingdoms
- Died
- 3 August 1958
- Place of death
- Jerusalem, Israel
- Occupation
- Photographer, consul
- Nationality
- Sweden
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Lewis Larsson (14 March 1881 – 3 August 1958), was born Hol Lars Larsson in Nås, Sweden–Norway, and served as the de facto head of the Photographic Department of the American Colony in Jerusalem, British Mandate Palestine. Larsson was renowned for his use of photojournalism to record and document the cultures of the south Mediterranean, primarily within the Palestinian region. Larsson was also a well respected diplomat of Sweden who acted as the vice consul and consul to Jerusalem and in that role acted in the best interests of the American Colony.
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Lewis Larsson • Birth Name — Hol Lars Larsson • Born — 14 March 1881 • Birthplace — Nås, Dalarna, United Kingdoms • Died — 3 August 1958 • Place of death — Jerusalem, Israel • Burial Place — Lutheran Cemetery, Bethlehem • Occupation — Photographer, consul
Early life
Early life
Lewis Larsson was the only son of Hol Lars Larsson and Israels Brita Ersdotter born in Nås, Sweden. His father died when he was only three years old and he was raised by his mother. He was one of five siblings, with the other four being his sisters, two born out of wedlock. In 1896, many of the residents of Nås emigrated, following the evangelist Olof Henrik Larsson, to the American Colony. This included Lewis and his family, and in 1896 they traveled mostly by train to Jerusalem in order to wait the "Return of the Lord" Lewis married Edith Larson, the daughter of the evangelist Olaf Larson.
Swedish Consul in Jerusalem
Swedish Consul in Jerusalem
Larsson took the position of acting Swedish honorary consul and head of the Swedish consulate in Jerusalem in 1921, succeeding Gustaf Dalman who served in that position from 1903 to 1921. The new position caused him to cut back on his photography work with the American Colony. He became regular honorary consul in 1925 and served in this position until 1947.
The interior of the Church of the Nativity
Lewis Larsson, American Colony · Library of Congress
Austrian Hospital, Beersheba, 1917.
Whiting, John D. (John David), 1882-1951, photographer Larsson, Lewis, photographer Matson, G. Eric (Gästgifvar Eric), 1888-1977, photographer · This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.13709. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attache
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1881
Lewis Larsson was born on 1 January 1881.
1958
Lewis Larsson died on 1 January 1958.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Nås.
Birth place
Jerusalem.
Death place
Photography
At the age of 16, in 1897, Lewis Larsson began studying photography under the guidance of Elijah Meyers, the founder of the photography department in the American Colony. In 1904, Larsson succeeded him as head of the department, which was becoming quite profitable.
Primary material
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reference work
- “Lewis Larsson”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6536780: Lewis Larsson
General reference · Wikidata
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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