Welcome...

Welcome to the British photographic history blog which was launched at the start of 2009. There are now nearly 4200 members, in addition to regular readers. These range from museum and gallery curators, photographic academics, students, collectors, dealers and representatives from the photographic press from around the world. The blog provides a forum for news of events and happenings within the British photographic history community. This can include lectures or meetings, exhibition news, jobs, reviews and general news affecting collections of photographic material or individuals within the field. While the focus is on Britain it may, on occasion, include material that is of wider interest from Europe, the United States, Africa and Asia.

A summary of the previous week's posts is usually emailed to signed up readers each Monday. 

Dr Michael Pritchard

PS. Thanks to George Eastman House (now George Eastman Museum) and History Today magazine blogs for recommending British Photographic History as one of their own favourite blogs. The Daily Telegraph made BPH one of its photography websites of the week

Currently for sale on eBay is what the vendor believes may well be the earliest surviving piece of Daguerreian jewellery, a silver medallion, which measures c. 83 mm. x 63 mm. The images are the copyright of the vendor Robert Drapkin and are reproduced here with his kind permission.

According to the inscription the medallion was presented to Brother John Birch in open lodge on 22nd December 1840. It was intended “as a tribute of respect and to testify the high sense they…

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Workers Film and Photo League exhibition London


NOW FILMING explores the fascinating story of the Workers Film and Photo League (WFPL). The WFPL employed the camera as 'a weapon in the struggle' to represent working-class people’s lives and their campaigns against poverty, exploitation, and the rise of fascism. Bringing together newly discovered archival material, workers’ film newsreels, photographs and agitprop, this exhibition focuses on this unexplored moment of cultural resistance during the social conflicts of 1930s…

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The latest issue of the Science Museum Journal which has just been published includes several papers of photographic interest. Christine Ferguson looks at, Power at play in paranormal history.The contested object biography of the Cottingley Fairy artefacts in which she takes a fresh look at the Cottingley Fairies hoax;  Communities & Crowds: a toolkit for hybrid volunteering with cultural heritage collections makes use of the…

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The French Ministry of Culture has announced plans to celebrate the bicentenary of photography over 2026-2027. Mrs Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, called for a great, popular and festive celebration of the bicentenary of photography throughout France, to honour the invention and photographic heritage for more than a year. A press conference in the spring will unveil the highlights and projects that will make the bicentenary of photography a unique event for everyone.

Frenchman…

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The Studies Gallery in Edinburgh will open the exhibition John Thomson in China on 29 January, bringing Thomson's photographs back to the city of his birth. A series of talks and an evening reception are being held on 10 February, including a walk through with curator Betty Yao. 

Thomson's birthplace in Brighton Street, Edinburgh, was commemorated in 2021 with a heritage plaque. …

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Information and discussion on all aspects of British photographic history ranging from news, exhibitions and museum updates, to publications, and jobs. BPH is intended to be collaborative so do add your own posts. 

 

 

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