Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Domestic Life Stereograph and Photograph Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0725
Creators:
Centennial Photographic Co.
Roth, Rodris
Myers, Susan H.
Dates:
circa 1862-1920
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2 Cubic feet
9 boxes
Repository:
Hundreds of stereographs and other photographic imagery, especially a large number of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia; other subjects include: the World's Columbian Exhibition (1893); the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the Great Sanitary Fair; a large number on Massachusetts, including a set of images from Old Sturbridge; buildings and scenery; miscellaneous other subjects.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The collection is composed largely of photographs related to world's fairs, especially the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, particularly in the form of stereographs. Other photographs document Williamsburg, Old Sturbridge, Mass., and other locations.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series. Arranged geographically and topically.

Historical

Historical
Stereographs were employed to document and popularize the great world's fairs of the second half of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth century in the United States and Europe. The Centennial Photographic Company, in particular, was formed essentially to disseminate information about the 1876 fair and to profit from its "educational" products. More generally, the three-dimensional photographic medium was considered an ideal way to provide views of regional attractions in the United States. This collection contains both subjects.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff
Sponsor
Digitization of this collection was made possible by Andrew and Anya Shiva.
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Collection donated by Susan Myers.
Processing Information
Collection processed by David Haberstich, archivist, 2004.
Collection digitized by Noah Stewart, digital imaging technician, 2018.
Custodial History
Photographs collected in the Division of Domestic Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life)by curators Rodris Roth and Susan Myers. Ms. Myers donated some of the stereographs from her personal collection. The stereographs of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition were collected in connection with the production of the Smithsonian re-creation of the exhibition in the Arts and Industries Building, "1976." Other donors are represented in the collection. Transferred to the Archives Center in 2000 by the Division of Social History, through Rodris Roth, Domestic Life Collections (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).
Existence and Location of Copies
Collection scanned in 2018.

Digital Content

More …

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Domestic Life Stereograph and Photograph Collection, circa 1862-1920, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
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.
Rights situation uncertain. Probably in public domain, applicable copyrights expired.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Stereographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sturbridge (Mass.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exhibitions Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exhibitions -- Missouri Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World's fairs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Cultural History Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
International Exhibition of 1862 (London, England) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Appalachian Exposition. (Knoxville, Tennessee: 1911) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904: Saint Louis, Mo.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exposition universelle de 1867 à Paris Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
California-Pacific International Exposition (San Diego, California: 1935-1936) Corporate 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
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu