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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1925
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0219
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0219
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1914
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0220
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0220
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920-06
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0217
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0217
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1901
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0227
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0227
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930-01-09
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0218
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0218
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0223
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0223
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1901
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0225
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0225
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0224
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0224
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1927
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0221
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0221
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910s
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0216
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0216
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0222
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0222
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
1986.0711.0226
catalog number
1986.0711
1986.0711.0226
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1912
maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
PG.006462
catalog number
6462
accession number
242660
This photograph of a mahogany tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of a mahogany tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree depicted in this photograph was located in Valencia, Venezuela, and the image was taken by C.D. Mell. The frame is made of thin mahogany veneer on cypress. The back bead is walnut and the glass bead is satin wood.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1924
photographer
Mell, C. D.
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.115767.08
catalog number
AG*115767.08
accession number
115767
maker number
8
This photograph of a blue ash tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description
This photograph of a blue ash tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. The collection represents a labor of love for Bucher, a cabinetmaker, who framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. Bucher explained the philosophy behind his collection in a 1931 letter to the Museum: "'Old World' trees have gathered about them so much folklore and poetry, I thought it would be interesting to show by pictures and wood, that many of our American trees have attained by their own merits, an equal right to a place in the 'hall of fame.'"
The tree depicted in this photograph was located in Kentucky and the image was made by the United States Forest Service. The frame is solid ash. It was displayed with Bucher's other framed photographs of living trees in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931. The collection stands as a romantic reminder of America's diverse forestry resources and landscapes in the early years of the 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1929
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service
ID Number
AG.115767.22
catalog number
AG*115767.22
accession number
115767
maker number
25
This “snakewood” illustration is one of forty-nine framed black and white prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print.
Description (Brief)
This “snakewood” illustration is one of forty-nine framed black and white prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
This illustration features an image of a man riding a horse. Both are encircled by a snake, and the snake’s tail is wrapped around a tree. The illustration is of unknown origin, but is meant to represent snakewood. The frame is made of snakewood on white pine, with a back bead of ebony and glass bead of satin wood.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1928
photographer
Mitchells Geography
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.115767.12
catalog number
AG*114767.12
accession number
115767
maker number
12
This photograph of a white ash tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of a white ash tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree depicted in this photograph was located on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with the Capitol visible in the background. The image was made by William Bucher. The frame is made of white ash veneer on chestnut, with an ebony back band and an Andaman padauk glass bead.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1931
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.115767.43
catalog number
115767.43
accession number
115767
maker number
48
This photograph of a honey locust tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of a honey locust tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree depicted in this photograph was located at 14th and E Street Northwest, Washington, D.C., and the image was taken by William Bucher. The frame is made of honey locust veneer on white pine.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1927
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.115767.26
catalog number
115767.26
accession number
115767
maker number
29
This photograph of an Andaman padauk tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of an Andaman padauk tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
This photo was taken by the Forest Research Institute in Dehra Dun, India. The frame has a veneer made of Andaman padauk on a tulip poplar back, the glass bead is satin wood and the back bead is stained black Andaman padauk.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1908
1932
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Forest Research Institute
ID Number
AG.124450.02
catalog number
AG*124450.02
accession number
124450
maker number
14
This photograph of an English elm is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of an English elm is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree depicted in this photograph was located on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the image was made by William Bucher. The frame is made of elm.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1932
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.124450.12
catalog number
AG*124450.12
accession number
124450
maker number
56
This photograph of a catalpa tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of a catalpa tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree depicted in this photograph was located in Washington, D.C., and the image was made by William Bucher. The frame is made of solid catalpa wood, with part of a lead bullet in the frame.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1932
1933
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.124450.11
catalog number
AG*124450.11
accession number
124450
maker number
55
This photograph of an ash burl tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of an ash burl tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree displayed in the photograph is a fallen ash burl tree, and there are five men and three horses posed behind the downed ash.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1926
photographer
Howard, Alexander L.
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.115767.23
catalog number
AG*115767.23
accession number
115767
maker number
26
This photograph of Peirce Mill is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of Peirce Mill is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The oak tree depicted in this photograph was located by Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, and the image was made by William Bucher. The frame is made from oak taken from the sluice box of the mill that had been in the water for more than 100 years.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1927
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.115767.19
catalog number
AG*115767.19
accession number
115767
maker number
22
This photograph of a fig tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of a fig tree is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The tree depicted in this photograph was located near E Street in Washington, D.C. and the image was made by Dr. Gould of the U.S. Dept of Agriculture. The frame has a fig wood veneer and chestnut back, with a glass bead of Andaman padauk and a black bead of rosewood.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1931
photographer
Dr Gould
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
ID Number
AG.124450.05
accession number
124450
catalog number
AG*124450.05

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