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.

handwritten on verso "2m San Jose Window"; rose window from Mission San Jose in San AntonioCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
handwritten on verso "2m San Jose Window"; rose window from Mission San Jose in San Antonio
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850s-1860s
ID Number
2012.3033.0049
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0049
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2018.0068.0016
accession number
2018.0068
catalog number
2018.0068.0016
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date printed
2020
date made
1993-03
depicted (sitter)
Selena
Dunn, Holly
maker
Rendon, Al
ID Number
2020.0085.0004
accession number
2020.0085
catalog number
2020.0085.0004
Stereo view by H.A. Doerr of mission ruins with a collapsed wall, and an intact belfry and steeple. Handwritten in ink on verso: "2nd(?) Mis. de San Jose 1720. Ruins" Stamped on verso: "H. A. Doerr, / Photographer. / San Antonio, Tex."Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Stereo view by H.A. Doerr of mission ruins with a collapsed wall, and an intact belfry and steeple. Handwritten in ink on verso: "2nd(?) Mis. de San Jose 1720. Ruins" Stamped on verso: "H. A. Doerr, / Photographer. / San Antonio, Tex."
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Doerr, Henry A.
ID Number
2012.3033.0020
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0020
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date printed
2020
date made
1994-03
depicted (sitter)
Selena
maker
Rendon, Al
ID Number
2020.0085.0010
accession number
2020.0085
catalog number
2020.0085.0010
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944-12
ID Number
2015.0074.0056
catalog number
2015.0074.0056
accession number
2015.0074
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date printed
2020
date made
1994-04
depicted (sitter)
Selena
maker
Rendon, Al
ID Number
2020.0085.0009
accession number
2020.0085
catalog number
2020.0085.0009
Stereo view by H. A. Doerr of a cathedral facade with donkeys in the lower right corner. Handwritten in pencil on verso: "San Fernando Cathedral / San Antonio" Stamped on verso: "H. A. Doerr, / Photographer. / San Antonio, Tex." and "NIC.
Description (Brief)
Stereo view by H. A. Doerr of a cathedral facade with donkeys in the lower right corner. Handwritten in pencil on verso: "San Fernando Cathedral / San Antonio" Stamped on verso: "H. A. Doerr, / Photographer. / San Antonio, Tex." and "NIC. TENGG, / Books / Stationery / & Newspapers. / San Antonio, Texas." (partially worn away)
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Doerr, Henry A.
ID Number
2012.3033.0023
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0023
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date printed
2020
date made
1993
depicted (sitter)
Selena
maker
Rendon, Al
ID Number
2020.0085.0015
accession number
2020.0085
catalog number
2020.0085.0015
"Interior of 2nd Mission" inscribed on verso in pencil; interior of a church alter; chairs at right; alter at center; vaulted stone ceilingCurrently not on view
Description (Brief)
"Interior of 2nd Mission" inscribed on verso in pencil; interior of a church alter; chairs at right; alter at center; vaulted stone ceiling
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1850s-1860s
ID Number
2012.3033.0043
nonaccession number
2012.3033
catalog number
2012.3033.0043
Stereo view by San Antonio View Company of a couple of buildings one of which is two stories high, has a balcony that wraps around the second floor on atleast two sides of the building.
Description (Brief)
Stereo view by San Antonio View Company of a couple of buildings one of which is two stories high, has a balcony that wraps around the second floor on atleast two sides of the building. Closest to the foreground, off to the right side of the frame is a figure driving a horse-drawn carriage. On recto there is a hand-written inscription from the negative that reads "Alamo." Stamped on verso: "Setereoscopic Views, / of San Antonio, Texas / by the / San Antonio View Company / F. Hardesty Photographer" Below that there is a chart that lists a variety of other locations that stereoscopes had been made by this company. Below the chart, stamped it reads: "All from Original Negatives and Guaranteed the Finest / ever Made in the South. Also A Large Variety of Miscellaneous Views / of San Antonio, and Vicinity." Below that reads, "Parties wishing Special Views made anywhere will please address:- / F. Hardesty / 32 North Flores Street. (near Military Plaza,) / San Antonio, Texas." Handwritten in pencil on verso in the top left: "OL / T-MM"
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Hardesty, Frank
ID Number
2012.3033.0026
catalog number
2012.3033.0026
nonaccession number
2012.3033
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date printed
2021
date made
2006-06-23
maker
Berman, Nina
ID Number
2021.0057.0040
catalog number
2021.0057.0040
accession number
2021.0057
Stereo view by H. A. Doerr of a group portrait of four figures standing in a doorway to a building. Two of the figures are women and the other two are adolescent children, a boy and a girl. Handwritten in pencil on verso: "Mex. Family" Stamped on verso: "H. A.
Description (Brief)
Stereo view by H. A. Doerr of a group portrait of four figures standing in a doorway to a building. Two of the figures are women and the other two are adolescent children, a boy and a girl. Handwritten in pencil on verso: "Mex. Family" Stamped on verso: "H. A. Doerr, / Photographer. / San Antonio, Tex." and "NIC. TENGG, / Books / Stationery / & Newspapers. / San Antonio, Texas." (partially worn away)
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Doerr, Henry A.
ID Number
2012.3033.0024
catalog number
2012.3033.0024
nonaccession number
2012.3033
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1894
ID Number
1980.0799.02
accession number
1980.0799
catalog number
80.799.2
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
October 9, 1889
ID Number
1981.0876.08
accession number
1981.0876
catalog number
1981.0876.08
Poster with images of the International Women’s Year National Conference.The National Women’s Conference was organized by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year and held in November of 1977 in Houston, TX.
Description
Poster with images of the International Women’s Year National Conference.
The National Women’s Conference was organized by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year and held in November of 1977 in Houston, TX. Approximately 20,000 women attended the conference in addition to the 2,000 delegates that voted on the National Plan of Action to advance gender equality in the United States. The conference resulted in a three-year extension of the ratification deadline for the proposed Equal Rights Amendment and establishment of the National Advisory Committee for Women.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
associated date
November 18-21, 1977
depicted (sitter)
Steinem, Gloria
Abzug, Bella
ID Number
1981.0638.01
catalog number
1981.0638.01
accession number
1981.0638
Photograph: An agent from the Texas growers association selects braceros for distribution among his association members in Hidalgo, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: An agent from the Texas growers association selects braceros for distribution among his association members in Hidalgo, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.14
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.14
Photograph: Braceros unpack their food and personal belongings as an inspector searches for contraband at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros unpack their food and personal belongings as an inspector searches for contraband at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.34
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.34
Photograph: Braceros wait in a line near Hidalgo, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait in a line near Hidalgo, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.05.04
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.05.04
Photograph: Braceros unpack their personal belongings as an inspector searches for contraband at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros unpack their personal belongings as an inspector searches for contraband at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.11
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.11
Photograph: An agent from the Texas growers association selects braceros for distribution among his association members in Hidalgo, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: An agent from the Texas growers association selects braceros for distribution among his association members in Hidalgo, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.18
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.18
Photograph: Braceros dictate information to clerk typists during processing at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros dictate information to clerk typists during processing at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.28
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.28
Photograph: An agent for the Texas growers association examines a bracero's musculature at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, as a uniformed official looks on.
Description
Photograph: An agent for the Texas growers association examines a bracero's musculature at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, as a uniformed official looks on.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.33
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.33
Photograph: Braceros' belongings litter the ground at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros' belongings litter the ground at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.25
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.25

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