Photos of Haiti in the 1960s–1980s (20 photos)

Haiti was the second nation in the Americas—after the United States—to gain independence, and the world’s first Black-led republic. Demographically, the country is remarkably homogenous, with 95% of its population descended from West African slaves. Roughly half still practice Voodoo, a religion brought over by their ancestors from Benin, Togo, and Ghana. Haitian Voodoo is surrounded by rich folklore, most famously the legends of reanimating the dead.





Here is a look back through archival photos from National Geographic and The New York Times, capturing grand cathedrals (now destroyed), the presidential palace, and scenes of everyday life long before the nation was struck by devastating earthquakes.



1. © James P. Blair/National Geographic// 1987: Street soccer in the rain in the Haitian capital.





2. © James P. Blair/National Geographic// 1987: Young girls running away from the photographer.



3. © James P. Blair/National Geographic// 1987: A mother with her child in a hospital.



4. © Steve Raymer/National Geographic// 1987: The Presidential Palace during the era of Jean-Claude Duvalier.



5. © James P. Blair/National Geographic// 1987: Farmers resting during the sorghum harvest.



6. © James P. Blair/National Geographic// 1987: A three-year-old child sleeping in a home that lacks proper ventilation and basic sanitation. Port-au-Prince.



7. © James P. Blair/National Geographic// 1987: Good Friday in Port-au-Prince.



8. © John Scofield/National Geographic// 1987: The interior of Holy Trinity Cathedral (since destroyed).



9. © Pan American World Airways System// 1949: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Port-au-Prince.



10. © Librado Romero/The New York Times// Worshippers in a Roman Catholic cathedral.



11. © Maggie Steber// 1980: A coast guard officer keeping watch to prevent Haitians from fleeing the country by boat.



12. © Jean Bernard Diederich/The New York Times// 1984: Slums in Port-au-Prince.



13. © Richard J. Meislin/The New York Times// 1982: The Iron Market in Port-au-Prince.



14. © Maggie Steber// 1980: A street musician in Port-au-Prince.



15. © Marlise Simons// 1984: Port-au-Prince.



16. © Maggie Steber// 1980: A school in Plaisance, Haiti.



17. © Maggie Steber// 1980: Workers greeting President Duvalier.



18. © Jo Thomas/The New York Times// 1980: The northwestern coast, where Haitians set sail to flee the country.



19. © Henry Giniger/The New York Times// 1967: Albert Schweitzer Hospital.