Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Stereo Photographers Stereographs, 1893-1904

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0414
Creators:
Kraus, Jeffrey (dealer)
Underwood & Underwood
Strohmeyer & Wyman
Raven Books
Dates:
1893-1904
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
4 Items
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Four stereographs showing stereo photographers at work: (1) "Taking a View for You & U," copyright 1893 by J. F. Jarvis, Washington, D.C. (little girl holding field camera); (2) uncaptioned view of man standing on pier amid ruins, published by Underwood & Underwood, undated, identified as Bert Underwood in pencil on mount; (3) "Our well known Stereoscopic Photographer, H. A. Strohmeyer--Blanket Court-martialed by his Army friends," copyright 1898 by Strohmeyer & Wyman; and (4) an Underwood stereo photographer, apparently Herbert G. Ponting, at crater of Aso-san volcano, Japan, copyright 1904 by Underwood & Underwood.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Stereographs utilize a pair of photographic images from negatives taken with camera lenses separated laterally by a few inches, to approximate the distance between a human's eyes. The resulting images, when viewed separately but simultaneously--one image for each eye--provide the illusion of normal depth perception or three-dimensional viewing. Stereographs were made as early as the 1840s, but did not achieve widespread popularity until the 1860s, when several companies began to mass-produce them. After a period of flagging interest, another wave of popularity occurred when Underwood & Underwood began publishing "educational," travel-oriented images in 1895. The intrepid, peripatetic photographers who took the stereo views occasionally were themselves of interest to viewers. See standard references on the photographers and companies represented by these stereographs, such as William Culp Darrah, The World of Stereographs, etc.; also see the finding aid for the Archives Center's Underwood & Underwood Glass Stereograph Collection.

Administration

Author
David Haberstich
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The stereographs were purchased from a dealer, Jeffrey Kraus, who obtained them from unidentified standard sources and collectors. They were acquired because of their relationship to images in the Underwood & Underwood Glass Stereograph Collection.
Custodial History
Purchased from a dealer, Jeffrey Kraus, who obtained them from unidentified standard sources or collectors.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by David E. Haberstich, curator, 1991.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Stereo Photographers Stereographs, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographers -- 1890-1920 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aso-san volcano (Japan) (OPPS Neg. No. 92-14160) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- 1890-1910 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stereographs -- 1890-1910 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stereoscopy -- 1890-1910 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Volcanoes -- Japan Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Strohmeyer, H. A. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Underwood, Bert, 1862-1943 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ponting, Herbert George, 1870-1935 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu