Photographs
Although the Society does not aggressively acquire
photographs, a representative collection of nineteenth-century
photographs has emerged. Among the treasures of the department,
for example, is the daguerreotype of
Edgar Allan Poe. There are
over one hundred daguerreotype portraits whose subjects have been
identified, and at least that many of unidentified subjects. The
Society's collection of cased photographs also includes tintypes (ferrotypes)
and ambrotypes. Photographic portraits have
been accepted into the
collection, largely as gifts, for the past century and more.
An index of cabinet-sized photographs identifies the
subjects, dimensions, and photographic techniques of these
photographs and provides biographical information on the sitters.
Photographic portraits of Worcester citizens forms an additional
collection. There
are also separate collections of portraits of actors, actresses,
and Native Americans. About a
dozen family photograph albums are
housed in the department as well. Photographic views are interspersed
throughout the collection
of United States
views.
One of the special interests of the Society in recent years
has been collecting books printed before 1877 that are illustrated
with photographs. Such volumes have become collector's items, and
it seemed worthwhile to begin to pay attention to this new field.
There is access to these books in the catalog through the
heading "Photographs" subdivided by the date of publication. Over 300
titles are
listed in
this classification including Benjamin Silliman's The World of
Science, Art, and Industry Illustrated from Examples in the New
York Exhibition (1854), Autograph Etchings by American Artists
(1859), Gustave Brion's Illustrations to "Les Miserables" of
Victor Hugo (1863), and books of views of Central Park (1864),
Greenwood Cemetery (1868), Yosemite Park (1868) and the Rocky
Mountains (1870). The number of titles in this classification
increases both by new acquisitions and by the identification of
books acquired in the past.
- Georgia
B. Barnhill, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Graphic Arts
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The graphic arts collection includes thousands of portraits in all
media - - drawings, watercolors, engravings, lithographs, and
photographs. This cabinet-sized photograph is of Huckleberry Downing, a
Cherokee chief elected to his position in 1879.
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For current information on the cataloging status of this and
other AAS collections, choose "Collection Access" below.
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