Michael Lobo proudly points to a black-and-white photograph of a young couple in London, dating back to May 18, 1904. This image is part of his extensive collection of wedding photographs of Mangalorean Catholic couples, including F X DeSouza and Alice Coelho. “DeSouza was the first Indian Christian to qualify for the Indian Civil Service during the British era. He retired as Judicial Commissioner of Sindh,” explains Michael.
A Mangaluru resident, Michael has meticulously curated these rare vintage photographs, showcasing the fashion and culture of the times, from rich brocade banarasi sarees worn by brides to ‘khaddar westhi’ (dhoti) donned by grooms. His motivation to preserve these records stems from a desire to honor and remember the ancestors of the Mangalorean Catholic community.
Complementing his yet-to-be-published book, A Genealogical Encyclopaedia of Mangalorean Catholic Families, Michael’s collection spans over a thousand families and 10,000 pages. His research includes 19th-century baptism, marriage, and death records from churches, as well as personal interviews with Mangalorean Catholics worldwide.
Michael’s journey began in the 1990s while exploring baptismal registers at Milagres Church, where he found a record of his great grandfather, Antony Peter Lobo. Captivated by the historic documents, he transitioned from a mathematical career at Cranfield University to a full-time genealogist.
Each photograph in Michael’s collection tells a unique story. For example, Peter Paul Pais married Winifred D’Souza in 1928, and although she passed away in Lahore, their wedding photograph remains in Mangalore. Another photograph features P G D’Souza and Rose Noronha, married in 1910, with D’Souza later honored with the title ‘Rajakarya Praveena.’ Michael’s collection also includes Lt Col Francis Arthur D’Abreu, who married Margaret Ann Bowes Lyon, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth, in 1945.
Nayana Fernandes, an entrepreneur and art patron from Mangaluru, highlights the significance of these photographs, stating they offer the current generation a window into the lives of their ancestors.
