Max Henry Ferrars

Together with his wife Bertha, Ferrars wrote and illustrated an extensive ethnographical and photographic study of the native cultures and societies, titled Burma and published in 1900.

From the 2000s onwards, Ferrars' life and work were primarily recognized by the Royal Geographical Society and the ethnographical museum in Freiburg, to which he had donated a number of Burmese cultural objects.

The 2011 collection on articles on Bamar people at Human Relations Area Files called the book "chiefly remarkable for a wealth of photographs on all topics.

[11] Based on their sound knowledge of the Burmese language and wide travels in different parts of the country, he and his wife Bertha Ferrars (née Häusler, 17 November 1845 - 1937) published a book in 1900, entitled Burma.

[1][12] Through narrative text and documentary photographs, Burma presents chapters on people's cycle of life, from childhood through adolescence to manhood and occupation, as well as further chapters on trades and professions, alien races (including ethnic groups Shan, Karen, Chin, Chimpaw, as well as Chinese, natives of India and Europeans), political history and administration, pageants and frolicks, and ends with age and funeral observances.

[13] Among other observations, the authors took photographs of people at work or during special celebrations, engaged in popular sports, boat races, gambling or the Burmese form of chess.

Yet, these images are also constructed; individuals have been asked to pose, although this might have been due to the long exposure times required.In 1896, the Ferrars returned to Europe and settled in the university town of Freiburg i.Br.

[17] Together with German musicologist Hermann Erpf, Ferrars further translated the book on vocal church music A New School of Gregorian Chant by Dominicus Johner from the nearby Beuron Archabbey,[18] first published in 1925 and reprinted in 2007.

The poems and pictures deal with the pre-industrial living and working conditions of farmers and their families, for example harvesting in vineyards or hayfields, logging of trees, child labor or burning charcoal.

[28] In a 2013 collection of ethnographic articles on the Bamar[29] and Karen people,[30] the Ferrars' description of these ethnic groups were republished by Human Relations Area Files, founded by Yale University.