Switzerland, a century ago

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Swimming near Bönigen around 1915. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Heiligenschwendi, the kitchen of the tuberculosis cure facility, undated. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Alfred Denis Louis de Rougemont (1885-1908), artillery captain, on his deathbed. He was the last Rougemont to occupy Schadau Castle. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Mrs Ebbinghaus with her daugher on January 1, 1891. They lived in the Villa Ebbinghaus in Seegarten Hünibach near Thun. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Weissenburgbad, hall and terrace, July 2, 1901. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Portait of an unknown black man, undated, and an old beggar woman, place and date unknown. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Daytrippers at an alpine hut, place and date unknown. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Uebeschi Lake with Stockhorn in background, colour slide, around 1910. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Miss Wälti with dachshund, January 28, 1899 (left) und Mrs Engel from Thun, July 19, 1897. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

König brickworks, Steffisburg, November 25, 1899. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Mr Lüthi, Thun cadet, winner of a shooting competition, October 13, 1903. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Bathroom in Bad Heustrich, around 1895. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Family of a railway signalman in front of their house, early 20th century and the Niesen as seen from Gunten, around 1895. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

A skiing party, place and date unknown. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

Cupboard of gramophone records in a hotel, probably in Interlaken, undated. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

A diver taking part in building work at the Sinne Bridge in Thun, around 1930. Jean Moeglé / Hist. Sammlung Krebser

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Photographer Jean Moeglé captured life in Switzerland at the turn of 19th and 20th centuries. Some of his vast archive was saved from destruction and restored before being housed in Bern's Burgerbibliothek.

Moeglé opened his first studio in Thun in the 1880s, followed by a second one at Hotel Gurnigelhof. He took portraits in the salons of Thun society, photographed associations, schools and weddings and accompanied tourists on mountain hikes and ski tours. A few months after his death in December 1938, during the clearout of his home and studio, his body of work in the form of tens of thousands of glass negatives were taken away for disposal. Thun businessman Werner Krebser was able to save a part of the archive before it was destroyed.