User Image

NMAH Photographic History Collection

Smithsonian Staff

#nmahphc

The Photographic History Collection (PHC) represents the history of the medium of photography. The PHC holds the work of over 2000 identified photographers and studios, about 200,000 photographs, about 15,000 cameras, pieces of apparatus, studio equipment and sensitized materials. The scope of the collection spans from daguerreotypes to digital and includes unidentified to well-known photographers, international and United States-centered objects, and familiar and experimental photographic formats.

The Photographic History Collection, now at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, was founded in 1896. The PHC was established by Thomas Smillie, the Smithsonian's first official photographer. Smillie established two photography collections ---the PHC and the Photo Lab which is now part of the Smithsonian Institution Archives, and he ran them simultaneously until his death in 1917. 

The PHC uses the Smithsonian Learning Lab as a place to offer a view into the collection's rich and diverse holdings. What is presented here online is not the entire Photographic History Collection. This digital space is a work in progress. We started publishing to the Learning Lab in February 2020 and are adding and improving as quickly as we can.

How to use the Smithsonian Learning Lab to discover PHC collections. 

  • To see a list of photographer and maker names, go here [link to come].
  • In the Learning Lab, the PHC's collections are organized into four groups: Photographer, Format/Process, Subject, and Cameras and Apparatus.
  • The Learning Lab collection only contains objects that have images attached to digital records. There may be additional objects and record information found at collections.si.edu.
  • The Learning Lab collection may only contain a sampling of images if the collection is substantial. Additional materials may be found at collections.si.edu.
  • Email us if you are looking for something specific.
  • Tip, use the tool that allows the user to see the collections alphabetically.

Collection Staff:  Shannon Thomas Perich, Curator

Contact: nmahphotohistory@si.edu

General Keywords: history of photography, photographic history, photographer, photographers, portraits, landscapes, cameras, photographic equipment, studio equipment, fine art photography, experimental photography, digital photography, patent models, photographic studio, ephemera, documents, cinema history, early motion picture, photojournalism, amateur photography, photography exhibitions, commercial photography

Photographic keywords: daguerreotype, calotype, salted paper print, gelatin silver print, tintype, ferrotype, ambrotype, collodion on glass, glass plate negative, platinum print, platinum-palladium print, photographs on fabric, cyanotype, cased images, ivorytype, stereoview, waxed paper negative, hologram, lenticular, Kromograms, press print, photo jewelry, stanhope, micro photography

Additional research resources: In December 2019, research resources that had been held in the division were distributed to other Smithsonian units. The "Personality Files" that contained biographies, obituaries, exhibition announcements, and such were absorbed by the Smithsonian Library NPG/AA branch; the list of subjects can be found here [link to come]. The "Archives Reference Files" that contained information about companies, products, and occasionally processes, were absorbed into the trade literature collection at the National Museum of American History branch of the Smithsonian Library. The Science Service images and files, the divisions's exhibition history files, personal files, correspondence files, and more can be found at the Smithsonian Archives.

NMAH Photographic History Collection's collections

 

Title: Comedy and Humor #nmahphc

<p>This is a selection of photographs from the Photographic History Collection related to comedy (attempted, performed) and humor (happens, experienced). This Learning Lab consists mostly of four themes:<br></p> <ol><li>Professionals who make others laugh (comedians, stand-up comics, actors, writers, vaudevillians),</li><li>People laughing or sharing a joke,</li><li>Photographs in which the title or subject of those depicted is related to humor, being funny or silly,</li><li>Clowns.</li></ol> <p>For additional objects, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords: humor, comedy, funny, comedienne, comedian, funny people, stand-up comedy, performance, stage, show, clothes, clown, clowning around, make-up, costume, skit, <em>The Laughing Husband</em>, <em>Funny Business</em>, vaudeville, colorful personality</p> <p>Keywords (people): Imogene Coca, Phyllis Diller, Sid Cesear, Bob Hope, Ed Wynn, Bert Lahr, Charlie Chaplin, Robert Klein, Bing Crosby, Henny Youngman, Johnny Carson, Jack Benny, George McGovern, Thomas Eagleton, Sargent Shriver, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, President and Mrs. William Clinton, Palidor the Clown</p> <p>Keywords (photography): press print, film still, portrait, gelatin silver print, toned print, real photo postcard, mounted photograph, snapshot</p> <p><br></p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
53
 

Subject: Winter Sports and Activities #nmahphc

<p>This is a selection of photographs from the Photographic History Collection related to winter sports and outdoor activities.</p> <p>For additional collections, search collections.si.edu. </p> <p>Keywords: ice hockey, ice skating, skiing, sledding, tobogganing, ice fishing, curling, sleigh, sleigh rides, snow shoeing, dog sled, ice rink, hockey rink, walking in snow, playing in the snow</p> <p></p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
32
 

Subject: Winter #nmahphc

<p>This is a collection of photographs from the Photographic History Collection related to winter themes.<br></p> <p>For additional images, see also, <em>Winter Sports</em> and seach collections.si.edu.<em></em></p> <p>Subject keywords: winter, snow, ice, icy, frost, frosty, cold, blizzard, seasonal, frosted, Jack Frost, Christmas time, season, brumal, boreal, wintertide, arctic, below zero, bitter cold, bleak, chilling, chilly, cloudy, clouds, crystalline, freezing, frigid, iced over, frostbite, frostbitten, glistening, snow kissed, shivering, nippy, hypothermic, shivering, windy</p> <p>Photography keywords: gelatin silver, real photo postcard, book, stereoview, stereograph, tintype, color photography</p> <p></p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
84
 

Subject: The Photographer's Shadow #nmahphc

<p>This is a sampling of photographs in which the photographer's shadow is included in the image.<br></p> <p>For additional images, search collections.si.edu.</p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
76
 

Subject: The Beach #nmahphc

<p>This is a selection of photographs from the Photographic History Collection related to the beach.<br></p> <p>For additional images, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords (subject): beach, beaches, sand, shore, shoreline, boardwalk, ocean, sea, lake, bathing suit, bathing costume, swimsuit, sandcastle, Miami, Atlantic City, pier, dock, swimming, beach umbrella, tanning, tan line, sunbathing, tourism, vacation, holiday</p> <p>Keywords (photography): snapshot, fine art photographs, documentary photography, souvenir photography, stereoview, stereograph, glass plate negative, advertising, press print, nude study, Pictorailism, Burk Uzzle, Rudolph Eickemeyer, Jr, Elliot Erwitt, Ray K. Metzker, Edward Weston</p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
93
 

Subject: Theatre #nmahphc

<p>This is an assortment of photographs related to stage performances in theaters,  acting, plays, and musical theater, and revues from the Photographic History Collection. The date range for these photographs is mostly, but not exclusively, 1910s-1950s.<br></p> <p>For additional images, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords: theater, theatre, stage, play, plays, actor, actress, orchestra, set design, musicals, musical revues, costume design, lighting design, performance, spoken word, Broadway, Jewish theatre, John F. Kennedy Center</p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
122
 

Subject: Self Portraits and Selfies #nmahphc

<p>This is a sampling of photographic self-portraits. <br></p> <p>Professional and amateur photographers have been turning the camera on themselves since photography started.  There are a number of strategies and tools that professional and amateur photographers have used, including mirrors, cable releases, timing devices, and simply turning the camera around at arm's length.  Cell phones now allow almost effortless self-portraits, known as "selfies."  <br></p> <p>Keywords: self-portrait, self portrait, selfie, bulb release, string release, timed portrait, cable release, reflection in mirror</p> <p>For additional images, search at collections.si.edu.</p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
51
 

Subject: Schools and classrooms #nmahphc

<p>This is a sampling of images related to classes, students, and schools.<br></p> <p>For additional images, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords: School, classroom, student, teacher, teaching, school house, schoolhouse, class, yearbook, graduation, graduate, group photograph, class picture</p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
54
 

Subject: Religion #nmahphc

<p>#nmahphc</p> <p>This is an assortment of photographs from the Photographic History Collection broadly related to religion. The photographs were made for a variety of purposes and audiences with a variety of formats and processes. </p> <p>For additional photographs and objects, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords: church, chapel, cathedral, temple, shrine, synagogue, alter, relic, God, Jesus, Mother Mary, Virgin Mary, Amish, protestant, catholic, Islam, Muslim, Judaism, Jewish, Shinto, Buddha, Buddhist, Buddhism, Hare Krishna, priest, preacher, pastor, rabbi, imam, reverend, deacon, worship, pray, prayer, cemetery, Bible, faith, adoration</p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
221
 

Subject: Popular Music since 1960 #nmahphc

<p>This is a selection of photographs from the Photographic History Collection related to popular music.</p> <p>For additional images, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords (subject): performer, singer, rock star, rock band, folk music, rap music, pop music, boombox, listening to music, Victor Maymudes, Elvis Impersonator, Woodstock, Altamont</p> <p>Keywords (photography): album cover, portraiture, color photography, documentary photography, fine art photography, photojournalism, Glen Friedman, Janet Moscasca, Ethan Russell</p> <p>Performers and bands included in this Learning Lab Collection include:</p> <ul><li>Almas Fronterizas</li><li>Beatles</li><li>Chuck Berry</li><li>Beastie Boys</li><li>Black Flag</li><li>Judy Collins</li><li>David Crosby</li><li>Clive Davis</li><li>Bob Dylan</li><li>Ella Fitzgerald</li><li>Art Garfunkel</li><li>Bill Graham</li><li>Arlo Guthrie</li><li>George Harrison</li><li>Mick Jagger</li><li>Janis Joplin and Big Brother Holding Company</li><li>Jefferson Airplane</li><li>John Lennon</li><li>Lovin' Spoonful</li><li>Paul McCartney</li><li>Nico</li><li>Yoko Ono</li><li>Carl Perkins</li><li>Purple Haze</li><li>Otis Redding</li><li>Lou Reed</li><li>Keith Richards</li><li>Rolling Stones</li><li>Linda Ronstadt</li><li>Run DMC</li><li>John Sebastian</li><li>Frank Sinatra</li><li>The Byrds</li><li>The Who</li></ul> <p></p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
55
 

Subject: Photographers at Work #nmahphc

<p>This is an assortment of photographs depicting photographers at work, studios and businesses, advertising for photography business and services, business cards and press passes, and equipment on location.</p> <p>See also <em>People with Cameras</em> and <em>Portraits of Photographers</em>.</p> <p>For additional images, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords (subject): photographs and cameras, photographers on site, photography studio, photography gallery, photographic gallery, photographic studio, photography business, working photographer, advertisement, daguerreotypist, ambrotypist, tintypist, ferrotype gallery, tintype gallery, floating gallery, certificate, awards, patch, insignia</p> <p>Keyword (photography): gelatin silver print, stereoview, stereograph, real photo postcard, ephemera, press print, cabinet card, carte-de-visite, combination print, combination photography, broadside</p> <p><br></p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
55
 

Subject: Photo Albums #nmahphc

<p>This is a sampling of photographic albums from the Photographic History Collection.<br></p> <p>Please note, viewing these albums may require patience on the part of the viewer. Most of these albums have pages visible to the public. The pages may be included in photographs attached to the "More Info" record. If pages are not individually visible through the record, go to collections.si.edu and search for the <strong>catalog number</strong> found on the "More Info" record; the pages of the album can be seen in a pdf slide show.</p> <p>The Photographic History Collection contains many albums with and without images. For additional photographic objects, search collections.si.edu.</p> <p>Keywords: photo album, photography album, album pages, gem tintypes, carte-de-visite, cartes-de-visite, cabinet card, cigarette cards, studio photography, studio portraiture, snapshots, travel photography, celebrity photography, collectible photography, vernacular photography, portrait photography, Civil War, WWI, photography, family record keeping, Disneyland, Disneyworld, tourist destinations, yearbooks, college years, cyanotypes, circus, scrapbook, wallpaper sample book, composition notebook, actors, actresses, stage performers, soldiers, photographers</p> <p>(The objects included in this Learning Lab collection are all intact albums. Not included are individual album pages or photographic images that were previously included in albums or books.)</p> <p><br></p>
NMAH Photographic History Collection
29