Photography

The millions of photographs in the Museum's collections compose a vast mosaic of the nation's history. Photographs accompany most artifact collections. Thousands of images document engineering projects, for example, and more record the steel, petroleum, and railroad industries.

Some 150,000 images capture the history, art, and science of photography. Nineteenth-century photography, from its initial development by W. H. F. Talbot and Louis Daguerre, is especially well represented and includes cased images, paper photographs, and apparatus. Glass stereographs and news-service negatives by the Underwood & Underwood firm document life in America between the 1890s and the 1930s. The history of amateur photography and photojournalism are preserved here, along with the work of 20th-century masters such as Richard Avedon and Edward Weston. Thousands of cameras and other equipment represent the technical and business side of the field.

Sometime around her 17th birthday, Canadian Bernice Palmer received a Kodak Brownie box camera (No. 2A Model), either for Christmas 1911 or for her birthday on 10 January 1912.
Description
Sometime around her 17th birthday, Canadian Bernice Palmer received a Kodak Brownie box camera (No. 2A Model), either for Christmas 1911 or for her birthday on 10 January 1912. In early April, she and her mother boarded the Cunard liner Carpathia in New York, for a Mediterranean cruise. Carpathia had scarcely cleared New York, when it received a distress call from the White Star liner Titanic on 14 April. It raced to the scene of the sinking and managed to rescue over 700 survivors from the icy North Atlantic. With her new camera, Bernice took pictures of the iceberg that sliced open the Titanic’s hull below the waterline and also took snapshots of some of the Titanic survivors. Lacking enough food to feed both the paying passengers and Titanic survivors, the Carpathia turned around and headed back to New York to land the survivors. Unaware of the high value of her pictures, Bernice sold publication rights to Underwood & Underwood for just $10 and a promise to develop, print, and return her pictures after use. In 1986, she donated her camera, the pictures and her remarkable story to the Smithsonian.
date made
ca 1912
user
Ellis, Bernice P.
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
1986.0173.38
accession number
1986.0173
catalog number
1986.0173.38
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.28
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.28
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.25
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.25
This early example of an American aerial camera was made by the Burke and James Company of Chicago, Illinois, in 1910. The box-type design was retained for decades in use by the American military.
Description
This early example of an American aerial camera was made by the Burke and James Company of Chicago, Illinois, in 1910. The box-type design was retained for decades in use by the American military. These cameras were fixed to planes or held and operated by trained flight photographers, sometimes known as observers, capturing reconnaissance images of enemy territory below. The U.S. War Department Air Service transferred this camera to the Smithsonian’s Section of Photography in 1924.
From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burke and James
ID Number
PG.003700
accession number
71198
catalog number
3700
Designed by Colonel James W. Bagley, former topographic engineer, U.S. Geological Survey. It has three lenses through which three simultaneous exposures are made on a single roll of film.
Description (Brief)
Designed by Colonel James W. Bagley, former topographic engineer, U.S. Geological Survey. It has three lenses through which three simultaneous exposures are made on a single roll of film. The center lens is parallel to the plane of the horizon, while the other to are inclined toward the plane. The inclined negatives must be transformed or projected to the plane of the horizon before they are used. This is done in the laboratory with a transforming camera.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917
patent date
1903-02-24
ID Number
PG.4025
catalog number
4025
accession number
129440
The Summicron lens was introduced in 1953.
Description
The Summicron lens was introduced in 1953. The lens incorporates rare earth elements in its seven element design and was considered the standard lens until superseded by the 50mm f1.4 Summilux.
Camera; Leica M-3, Serial No.: #1010400, with a Summicron lens-50mm f2; Serial No.: 1762377, and cap. Cap has dried residue on it. Camera is black and silver. “Leica D.R.P. Ernst Leitz GMBH, Wetzlar, Germany” is on top of camera.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960
maker
Ernst Leitz
Leica
ID Number
2011.0268.10
accession number
2011.0268
catalog number
2011.0268.10
serial number
1010400
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1934
ID Number
PG.71.038.01
catalog number
71.038.01
accession number
296423
This portable-style wooden bellows plate camera was popular with both professional and amateur photographers in the 1880s and well into the early twentieth century.
Description
This portable-style wooden bellows plate camera was popular with both professional and amateur photographers in the 1880s and well into the early twentieth century. Photographers attached plate holders with sensitized glass plates to the back of the camera, making fragile negatives. Wet-plate collodion photography popular from the 1850s to the late 1880s necessitated immediate developing and printing of these negatives. Landscape photographers and those on expeditions to the American West used small portable traveling darkrooms to complete quick developing and printing.
From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
date made
ca 1880s
maker
Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company
ID Number
PG.74.19A.25
catalog number
74.019A.25
accession number
314637
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1937
inventor
Pemberton-Billing, Noel
maker
LeCoultre Co.
LeCoultre Co.
ID Number
PG.71.38.03
accession number
296423
catalog number
71.038.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1906
ID Number
PG.70.021
catalog number
1993.3020.01
nonaccession number
1993.3020
catalog number
70.021
Petal Camera disguised in a garter. Six circular exposures 3/16" on a single piece of circular film.Currently not on view
Description
Petal Camera disguised in a garter. Six circular exposures 3/16" on a single piece of circular film.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1948
maker
Konica Corporation
ID Number
PG.69.165.31
catalog number
69.165.31
accession number
287545
Tuxi camera in a cigarette lighter, enamel finished case with f/7.7 25mm Achromat Roschlein Kreuznach lens.Currently not on view
Description
Tuxi camera in a cigarette lighter, enamel finished case with f/7.7 25mm Achromat Roschlein Kreuznach lens.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1956
maker
Walter Kunik
ID Number
PG.69.165.37
catalog number
69.165.37
accession number
287545
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2004.0086.007
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.58
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.58
Part of the Hanes collection of Leica cameras and accessories.This is an early M3 camera fitted with a Leica telephoto lens.
Description
Part of the Hanes collection of Leica cameras and accessories.
This is an early M3 camera fitted with a Leica telephoto lens. The 135mm f/4 Elmar lens in bayonet mount was introduced in 1960 and replaced the 135mm f/4.5 Hektor introduced in 1933.
Camera; Leica M-3, Serial No.: #750244, with an Elmar lens-135mm f4; Serial No.: 1893921 and cap. Camera is black and silver. “Leica D.R.P. Ernst Leitz GMBH, Wetzlar, Germany” is on top of camera. Cap is scratched.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1955-60
maker
Ernst Leitz
Leica
ID Number
2011.0268.09
accession number
2011.0268
catalog number
2011.0268.09
serial number
750244
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.007091
accession number
249273
catalog number
7091
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.007094
accession number
249273
catalog number
7094
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.24
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.24
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.07
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.07
In the 1970s the GAF Corporation donated their historic camera collection to the Smithsonian. GAF was a film-based photographic supplies company which had a long history of purchasing other photographic business. GAF was the successor to the German based AGFA ASNCO and had U.S.
Description
In the 1970s the GAF Corporation donated their historic camera collection to the Smithsonian. GAF was a film-based photographic supplies company which had a long history of purchasing other photographic business. GAF was the successor to the German based AGFA ASNCO and had U.S. headquarters in Binghamton, New York. Through AGFA ANSCO the company also held historic early photographic equipment from the important American camera makers Anthony and Scovill. This ANSCO Pioneer plastic and metal camera was produced from 1947-1953 and used 616 film.
From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1947-1953
maker
Ansco
ID Number
1982.0390.125.1
catalog number
1982.0390.125.1
accession number
1982.0390
catalog number
82.390.125.1
This camera is part of a donation of Leica equipment once used by Carl Mydans (1907-2004). He was one of the earliest LIFE magazine staff photographers, joining in 1936 and working with them for 40 years.
Description
This camera is part of a donation of Leica equipment once used by Carl Mydans (1907-2004). He was one of the earliest LIFE magazine staff photographers, joining in 1936 and working with them for 40 years. He is best known for the photographs he took in Asia and Europe before and during World War II and the Korean War.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Leica
ID Number
2005.0228.167.01
catalog number
2005.0228.167.01
accession number
2005.0228
serial number
1002568
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.38
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.38
Graflex cameras, made by the Folmer Schwing Company of Rochester, New York (later purchased by Eastman Kodak) were the preferred cameras of photojournalists and wartime correspondents for much of the early to mid-twentieth century.
Description
Graflex cameras, made by the Folmer Schwing Company of Rochester, New York (later purchased by Eastman Kodak) were the preferred cameras of photojournalists and wartime correspondents for much of the early to mid-twentieth century. Their sturdy handheld construction adapted well for news and sports photography. The U.S. Department of the Army even commissioned combat-green versions of the Graflex cameras for use by military photographers in World War II and Korea. This popular Pacemaker Speed Graphic 4x5 inch film press camera was produced after 1955.
From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples as well as popular models.
date made
after 1955
maker
Graflex, Inc.
ID Number
1978.0234.01
catalog number
1978.0234.01
accession number
1978.0234
catalog number
78.001
Since Kodak introduced the Brownie in 1900, a variety of easy-to-use cameras have been marketed, especially to women.
Description
Since Kodak introduced the Brownie in 1900, a variety of easy-to-use cameras have been marketed, especially to women. The Kodak Petite from 1935, part of the Kodak Coquette set, came with a matching compact and lipstick case in a variety of color choices so that one might use it as an accessory to fashionable outfits.
Date made
1935
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
1995.0046.01
catalog number
1995.0046.01
accession number
1995.0046

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