The Ian Skinner Collection: Photos taken by kiap Ian Skinner between 1938 and 1958

A Kimanmo girl photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A patrol led by Patrol Officer Sam?David? McWilliam (PO in charge Bena Bena) leaving the Chimbu-Wahgi post on 4 September 1938. The photograph was taken from Chimbu Bridge. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A patrol led by Patrol Officer Sam McWilliam (PO in charge Bena Bena) leaving the Chimbu-Wahgi post on 4 September 1938. The photograph was taken from Chimbu Bridge. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A group of Yonggamugl children grouped around a fire heating cooking stones, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Cargo carriers crossing bed of the Kauningginan River during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Carriers entering Komangganaga from Ledimido during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Carriers crossing a river on the return from Bena Bena during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Two young Bena Bena women photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Two young Bena Bena men photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Bena Bena patrol post circa1938/39. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A pig is offered a peace ceremony in Kabujufa-Kawsaiayufa village, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Cadet Patrol Officer Ian Skinner addresses an assembly of villagers at peace ceremony in Kabujufa-Kawsaiayufa village, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Kawsaiayufa men photographed at Genepa during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Ian Skinner noted “the men’s facial features resembled Asiatics”. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Leigh Vial being carried across the Numburingl River during a patrol in the Chimbu area, 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Highlanders crossing a typical native built bridge over the Mairi River at Ona, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Women carrying firewood and accompanied by children crossing a river on a log and cane bridge, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A Chimbu pig buying business venture photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A Chimbu woman simultaneously breast feeds a piglet and her own child, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Patrol Officer Leigh Vial leaving Chimbu on patrol circa 1938/39. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A young Chimbu girl in her best “clothes”, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Probably as 2361 Courtesy The Skinner Family

Dumini, a Chimbu warrior and bowman of note, had 47 kills to his credit. He was able to detail the names and places of all victims to Ian Skinner. He later became a boss boy and, according to Skinner, a “very good one too.” Photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Bena Bena equivalent of sword swallowing was kanda (cane) swallowing and this man, Gora-Gora, was a local identity and expert in the art, photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Bena Bena equivalent of sword swallowing was kanda (cane) swallowing and this man, Gora-Gora, was a local identity and expert in the art. This photograph shows the length of the cane he swallowed. Photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The line of carriers and police crossing kunai plains. Photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Lutheran missionaries Felix and Hedwig Doering with Ian Skinner, at Kundiawa, circa 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Lutheran missionaries Felix and Hedwig Doering at Kundiawa, circa 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Ian Skinner with Hedwig Doering, wife of the Rev. Felix Doering, at Kundiawa, circa 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The line of carriers is strung out while climbing a ridge during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Leigh Vial and native police take precautions at the possibility of a hostile reception during a patrol on the Chimbu area, 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A group of Chimbu villagers form a welcoming reception to Ian Skinner and Leigh Vial during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A patrol line files across a valley floor in the Chimbu area, 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Unidentifed group at Chimbu aerodrome, circa 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Leahy brothers’ gold mining operations at Kuta, Mount Hagen, circa: 1938. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Carriers climb a ridge during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A group of Lutheran mission men and boys, Kundiawa, circa 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Looking out across a highlands vista during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). This is possibly the view into the Chimbu Valley from Tona Gap. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Leahy brothers’ gold mining operations at Kuta, Mount Hagen, circa: 1938. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Bena Bena equivalent of sword swallowing was kanda (cane) swallowing and this man, Gora-Gora, was a local identity and expert in the art. Photographed during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Leigh Vial carrying a Chimbu shield crossing the mouth of Mitnandi cave near the Chimbu-Wahgi post,1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Lutheran missionaries, The Rev. and Mrs L. Gaitzelmann, with the Bergmann daughters, Frieda and Agnes, at Kundiawa, circa 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Cadet Patrol Officer Ian Skinner surveying in the Chimbu area circa 1938/39. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Chimbu warriors in full regalia were the welcoming committee for the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area).Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

ADO A.F. Bill Kyle and Cadet Patrol Officer Ian Skinner, addressing a group of Chimbu boss boys and others at the hand-over of administration of the Chimbu-Wahgi patrol post to Patrol Officer Leigh Vial, 1939. Kyle and Skinner both served as coast watchers during WWII. Kyle was executed by the Japanese near Kavieng; Skinner survived and returned to the highlands as ADO Kainantu in 1946. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Cadet Patrol Officer Ian Skinner addressing an assembly of villagers during the 1939 Mairifutoika Patrol (Chimbu area). Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Hagen Eagle on the desk of District Commissioner Ian Skinner in the District Office, Mount Hagen, in 1956. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A major Jiga sing sing, on the aerodrome, Mount Hagen, circa 1958. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

District Commissioner Ian Skinner flanked by Sgt Major Mareri and Woiwa, Anzac Day, 1958, Mount Hagen. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Highlands prospector and pioneer Jack Fox, at the Mount Hagen Country Club (aka the Primary School) circa 1959. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Jiga sing-sing, on the aerodrome, Mount Hagen, circa 1958. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Jiga sing-sing, on the aerodrome, Mount Hagen, circa 1958. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Pit sawing timber for the Lai River bridge, circa 1958. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Hedwig Doering, Marie Skinner, and Julie Marie Skinner, Anzac Day, 1958, in Mount Hagen. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

District Commissioner Ian Skinner with Sgt Major Mareri, Anzac Day, 1958, Mount Hagen. Right behind them is the Skinner family dog, Sammy, king of the Hagen canines at that time. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Hagen Eagle, in Mount Hagen. Photograph: Peter Skinner.

Western Highlands District Commissioner Ian Skinner with policeman Abuti who, as a young boy, first met Skinner in 1939 in Chimbu and later joined the police. Abuti named his first child, a daughter, after Ian’s first born, David. This photograph was taken at the first landing on the Jimi River airstrip, circa 1959. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Western Highlands District Commissioner Ian Skinner, on the right, at the first landing on the Jimi River airstrip, circa 1959. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The Skinners at Kainantu, 1946. ADO Ian Skinner, Marie, and sons, Peter and David. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

The two lakes at Mt Wilhelm, photographed in July 1938 by Ian Skinner when he climbed the mountain with Leigh Vial. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A Chimbu wedding group, 1939. From left, the bride’s mother, the bride, and the groom’s half brother’s wife. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

A group of Chimbu men and boys, 1939. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Danny Leahy chatting with the head of a UNO delegation to Mount Hagen in 1958. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

Mount Hagen tribesmen at a sing-sing to welcome a UNO delegation to the Western Highland, 1958. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

hands to the job of pushing out a bogged Landrover during a visit by a UNO delegation to the Western Highlands, 1958. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

Western Highlands eminent tribal leader and great orator Ninji addresses a gathering in Mount Hagen during a visit by a UNO delegation. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

A large gathering of Western Highlands people in Mount Hagen during a visit by a UNO delegation. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

A large gathering of Western Highlands people in Mount Hagen during a visit by a UNO delegation. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

A large gathering of Western Highlands people in Mount Hagen during a visit by a UNO delegation. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

Western Highlands District Commissioner Ian Skinner (center, left) with members of a UNO delegation, addresses tribal leaders in Mount Hagen. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

David McWilliam, 1938. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner

Danny Leahy, Mount Hagen. AIS Photo: The Ian Skinner Collection

The first Mount Hagen Boy Scout Troop on parade, Anzac Day, 1957. Peter Skinner, front row, third from right, was the first white boy scout in the highlands of PNG. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family

Leigh Vial, the first person to climb Papua New Guinea’s highest peak, Mt Wilhelm, in August 1938, on the summit. He was accompanied on a second ascent by Cadet Patrol officer Ian Skinner. The white stuff among the rocks is snow. Photograph: Ian Skinner. Courtesy The Skinner Family