The Bazaars of Almaty in the 1960s
An American Professor’s Perspective
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And nowhere is this adage more true than for the past, a time so removed from our own, for which a single image can have a huge impact. In this section, the editors at Qalam seek to do more than merely showcase documentary photographs from various eras—we want to tell the real stories behind these images and bring history to life. Each photograph here captures a moment that has shaped our world, and the accompanying narrative highlights its significance and context, giving us a nuanced insight into the events they depict. After all, understanding these stories can only help us appreciate the complexities of history better.
This time, let’s take a look at photographs of Almaty bazaars from 1964, taken by the renowned American historian and traveler Thomas Taylor Hammond.
As the New Year approaches, along with cozy family gatherings at home—most of which naturally take place in the kitchen, filled with the hustle and bustle of festive cooking—we feel a bit of dread at the thought of rushing around and standing in lines at stores and bazaars. After all, preparing for the holidays means that you need to find the time to buy horse meat at the market and fresh vegetables for salads, and make homemade qurt. And with that in mind, we decided to take a nostalgic look at the Almaty bazaar from our grandparents’ time.
These photographs were captured by Thomas Taylor Hammond, who was not only a distinguished professor at the University of Virginia but also a celebrated photographer, traveler, and authority on Soviet history, particularly the Muslim communities within the Soviet Union. In 1982, he would go on to publish his acclaimed book Red Flag over Afghanistan: The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and Its Consequences. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, he made his name as an avid traveler, touring most of the USSR, including Kazakhstan.