Photography - Overview
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.
"Photography - Overview" showing 945 items.
Page 1 of 95
Autochrome Portrait
- Description
- William H. Towles, active from 1890 into the 1930s, is said to have made Washington, D.C.'s first autochrome. Autochromes are among the first commercially successful forms of color photography. The color dyes in the photographs are held by potato starch.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1908
- 1908-01
- maker
- Towles, William H.
- ID Number
- PG*003900
- accession number
- 107614
- catalog number
- 3900
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
[Young man inspecting color prints in drying rack in darkroom : color photonegative, ca. 1955-60.]
- Summary
- No ink on negative. Man looking at photographic prints in the Scurlock Studios. "Kodak Safety Film" edge imprint. No Scurlock number
- Cite as
- Scurlock Studio Records, ca. 1905-1994, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1955
- 1960
- ca 1955-60
- Ca. 1955-60
- 20th century
- 1950-1960
- photographers
- Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.)
- Local number
- AC0618.005.0000020.tif (AC Scan)
- Box 618.05.1
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
[Young man in darkroom with processing trays in darkroom : color photonegative.]
- Summary
- No ink on negative, no Scurlock number. Young man wearing rubber gloves, standing next to processing trays at Scurlock Studios. "Kodak Safety Film" edge imprint
- Cite as
- Scurlock Studio Records, ca. 1905-1994, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1955
- 1960
- 1955-60
- 20th century
- 1950-1960
- photographers
- Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.)
- Local number
- AC0618.005.0000021.tif (AC Scan No.)
- Box 618.05.1
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
[Exterior of Capitol School of Photography : color transparency.]
- Summary
- No ink on negative. No edge imprint. No Scurlock number
- Cite as
- Scurlock Studio Records, ca. 1905-1994, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1948
- 1952
- 20th century
- photographers
- Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.)
- Subject
- Capitol School of Photography
- Local number
- AC0618.005.0000045.tif (AC Scan No.)
- Box 618.05.2
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
[Unidentified photographic studio, but probably the Scurlock Studio : cellulose acetate photonegative]
- Summary
- With bust, lights, bench and backdrop. Pencil on negative: "3 -". "KODAK - SAFETY 456" edge imprint
- Cite as
- Scurlock Studio Records, ca. 1905-1994, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Date
- 1930
- 1960
- [n.d.]
- 20th century
- photographers
- Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.)
- film manufacturer
- Eastman Kodak Co
- Local number
- Box 618.04.94
- AC0618.004.0000968.tif (scan number)
- No Scurlock number
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
[Street scene with "Kodaks" sign : stereo photonegative, ca. 1902.]
- Notes
- Currently stored in box 1.1.17 [47]
- Cancelled by scratching
- "Kodaks" sign is difficult to see in digital version, but is clear in the negative and prints made from it
- Orig. No. 444-D (number on original envelope)
- Date
- 1902
- ca 1902
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- H.C. White Co
- Subject
- Eastman Kodak Co
- Local number
- RSN 3389
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Chase Co. headquarters (completed building) [photoprint, ca. 1917-1919]
- Notes
- In Box 20
- Date
- 1917
- 1919
- ca 1917-1919
- 1900-1950
- 1910-1920
- architect
- Gilbert, Cass 1859-1934
- Subject
- Chase Co
- Local number
- AC0214-0000009.tif (AC Scan No.)
- 2000-11261 (OIPP Scan)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Auditorium, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York : photoprint, ca. 1920-1930
- Summary
- In Box 5. Photographic studio stamp on verso, along with stamp, "CASS GILBERT / RECEIVED / NOV 24 1930". Another stamp imprint, in red: "HEATING, PIPING AND / AIR CONDITIONING". "1187" in pencil
- Date
- 1920
- 1930
- ca 1920-1930
- 1900-1950
- Architect
- Gilbert, Cass 1859-1934
- photographers
- Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc. 250 Park Avenue, New York City
- Subject
- American Academy of Arts and Letters
- Local number
- AC0214-0000010.tif
- 2000-11262 (OIPP Scan)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
New York Life Insurance Co. Building, New York City (completed building) [photoprint], 1928
- Notes
- In Box 35
- Summary
- View from from southwest, showing figures on park benches in foreground. Imprint: "No. 190. TAKEN OCT"-17-1928... / STARRETT BROTHERS, INC., BUILDERS". Gilbert stamp on verso, dated received Oct. 25, 1928. Photographer unidentified
- Date
- 1928
- 1900-1950
- Architect
- Gilbert, Cass 1859-1934
- Subject
- New York Life Insurance Co. New York
- Local number
- AC0214-0000011.tif (AC Scan No.)
- 2000-11264 (OIPP Scan)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Waterbury National Bank (completed building) [photoprint], 1921
- Notes
- In Box 64. Date imprint in image, 8/16/21
- Summary
- Building looks completed, but has wooden fence around it with an office rental sign. Gilbert's stamp on verso, dated Aug. 25, 1921. Photographer unidentified
- Date
- 1921
- 1900-1950
- Architect
- Gilbert, Cass 1859-1934
- Subject
- Waterbury National Bank (Waterbury, Conn.)
- Local number
- AC0214-0000012.tif (AC Scan No.)
- 2000-11260 (OIPP Scan)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
