First published 2020
Brown examines how photography transformed from a technical novelty into a powerful social force during the nineteenth century. Her study begins with the industrial fairs of the 1840s through 1860s, where photographers first documented public spectacles for mass audiences. The analysis then shifts to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of the 1870s, which marked photography's emergence as both artistic medium and historical record. Brown traces this evolution through the Smithsonian's National Museum exhibitions of the 1880s, where curators began using photographs to shape public understanding of American culture. The final section explores how public libraries in the 1890s collected and displayed photographic works, making visual culture accessible to ordinary citizens. Throughout, Brown demonstrates how photography's social functions grew increasingly sophisticated, moving beyond mere documentation to become a tool for cultural interpretation and public education.
Genres: 20th-century, 19th-century, art-history, cultural, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: educational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-nonfiction
Setting: America, Philadelphia
Period: 1840s, 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s
206 pages · Paperback · Routledge