Albert Kahn (banker)

Albert Kahn (March 3, 1860 – November 14, 1940) was a French banker and philanthropist, best known for his creation of the Archives de la Planète (Archives of the Planet), a vast photographic record of human cultures worldwide compiled in the early 20th century.

Born in Marmoutier, Alsace, France, to a Jewish family, Kahn emigrated to Paris following the Franco-Prussian War. He began his career as a bank clerk and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a partner in the Goudchaux Bank. Kahn's financial acumen and successful investments generated a substantial fortune.

Inspired by a desire to foster international understanding and peace, Kahn conceived of the Archives de la Planète project in 1909. He hired photographers, including Auguste Léon, to travel the globe and document everyday life, architecture, landscapes, and customs using the then-new autochrome color photography process. Between 1909 and 1931, the project amassed over 72,000 autochrome plates and 183 kilometers of film, offering a unique and comprehensive visual record of a world rapidly changing.

Kahn's philanthropic endeavors extended beyond the Archives. He established scholarships and supported various educational and cultural institutions. However, the Great Depression decimated his fortune, forcing him to abandon the Archives de la Planète project in 1931.

The Archives de la Planète remained largely forgotten until rediscovered in the late 20th century. Today, the collection is housed at the Musée Albert-Kahn in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, and is recognized as a significant historical and artistic resource. Kahn's vision of using photography to promote cross-cultural understanding continues to resonate in the 21st century.