| For the genealogist or the family member curious about old photographs, it is helpful to have some
knowledge of photographic history.
By
understanding when a certain type of photography
was available, a researcher can narrow the
timeframe of possibilities. |
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Introductions
1839
- Daguerrotype
1854 - Ambrotype
Patent
1856 - Tintype Patented
1859
- Carte de Viste
1866 - Cabinet
Card
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1839 - The
Daguerreotype - Birth of Photography
The year 1839 is
recognized as the beginning of photography. While many people were
working on various techniques for nearly 30 years prior, the first
commercially viable method was announced and published in Paris that
year. Announcements appeared January 7, 1839 in the local newspapers
heralding the dawn of nothing less than a miracle. With much fanfare, the
following appeared in The Literary Gazette:
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Dramatic
Paris Announcement - August 19, 1839
"We have much
pleasure in announcing an important discover made by M. Daguerre,
the celebrated painter of the Diorama. This discovery seems like a
prodigy. It disconcerts all the theories of science in light and
optics and, if born out, promises to make a revolution in the arts
of design." |
While this may have
seemed dramatic rhetoric for the time, it would indeed become
truthful. The full publication of the process was announced August 19, 1839 to the
French Academy of Sciences in Paris.
Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre
, a commercial artist and theater
producer worked for 10 years to develop a method to capture images to a
canvas by mere exposure to the desired scene. While similar researched
was being conducted by others in France and England, his method was the
first that became commercially viable. It probably didn't hurt that
Daguerre was a promoter also. While realizing that maintaining financial
control of the process would be nearly impossible once it was published,
he persuaded the French government to grant him a pension for life in
recognition of this breakthrough he was giving the world.
The Daguerreotype became an instant commercial success around the
world. There were over 70 photography studios in New York City in 1850
producing Daguerreotype pictures. While certainly an amazement to
everyone, the process was still cumbersome by today's standards. A
copper plate was coated with silver and polished to a very high shiny
surface. Before its use, several chemical processes were required.
Although early exposures took up to fifteen minutes, by the time of
commercial success the time was reduced to less than a minute.
The Daguerreotype photograph remained the dominate means of
photography until the late 1850s. By this time, less expensive, easier
to produce Ambrotypes became popular. Virtually all serious
Daguerreotype photography ceased by the mid 1860s.
1854 - Ambrotype Patent
Continuing the self indulgence of naming a product or process after
themselves, James Ambrose Cutting patented a new process that produced a
very attractive image on glass.
This short history is meant to help the person with a casual interest in dating old photographs. Many
specific details ( but understandably important to historians) are not covered here. Many fine books, and web sites go into great detail of
the research, development, and evolvement of photography. For those interested, a list of some of these books and links to historical web
sites follows this brief history.
1856 - Tintype Patent
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