daguerreotype outfit courtesy of Matt Isenburg
Toronto. … really early days. When photography began, a photographer had to be not only an ‘artist’ but an all round ‘renaissance’ man. He had to create sensitized media, know how to expose same, and understand lighting. While cameras and lenses could be purchased, he definitely needed to at least understand camera and lens design.
A burgeoning offshoot of photographic history was the investigation and collection of the daguerreotype – the oldest documented photographic process. In the States, an entire historic society is devoted to that early art form. Some PHSC members were also Daguerreian Society members. The late Matt Isenburg both spoke to the PHSC and was at one point president of the Daguerreian Society.
The Daguerreian Society publishes periodicals throughout the year, plus a massive annual softcover publication. In addition the society holds an annual convention and image show.
In issue 19-1, the late Robert Wilson reviewed an issue of the Daguerreian Annual. Bob begins, ” ‘The Annual of the Daguerreian Society is a forum for research, history, opinion and commentary on all matters related to the daguerreotype’ and the edition for 1993 has just been published. It is sent to each member of the Daguerreian Society and is available on a single issue basis as noted above. It meets its objectives by representing a combination of new articles written specifically for this Annual, items reproduced from earlier publications and portfolios of images.
” A number of essays are the result of new, original research into the lives of Daguerreotypists. Abel Alexander writes of the years that Robert H. Vance spent in Chile (1847-1850) after leaving Boston and before arriving in California.
” The noted researcher of photography in California and the Annual Editor, Peter Palmquist provides an essay on William Herman Rulofson, ‘The P.T. Barnum of American Photography’. Rulofson was a Canadian who worked as a photographer in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and St. John’s, Newfoundland, in 1847 and 1848 before moving to the gold fields of California. This article is illustrated with eight views of Stockton California, ca. 1850- 1852, mostly attributed to Rulofson.
” Laurie Baty summarizes the life of M.P. Simons, who began photography in Philadelphia in 1842. Dave Tinder outlines the life of a more modern photographer, Charles Tremear, who produced daguerreotypes in the 1930s in Greenfield Village, Michigan. Included in this article is a series of photographs showing Tremear demonstrating the various steps in the production of a daguerreotype. Also in this annual are several shorter essays on other photographers: Mathew Brady (by George Gilbert). … ”
Well, just follow the usual routine to read the rest of the article in paper copy or as a pdf on the free members-only DVD. Not a member? Follow the MEMBERSHIP stuff above and at right. Easy peasy. Questions? Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
