Figure 1.--After the turn-of-the 20th century, siver nitrate rapidly replaced albumen prints. This was the case in both studio portrats and amateur snapshots. There are characterstics of both types of prints that are helpful in dating them. The studio portraits were commonly done with paper frames. The snapshots were done in various sizes, dimensions, and borders. This curled Elko snapshot taken with roll film had a patterned scroll border. We believe that this was primarily a 1930s product, although at this preliminary stage of our assement we only have 1939-41 examples.

Major changes in photography began (late-19th century). Photography was a new and very popular industry. The public was fascinated by it there was a great demand for innovation. No where was it more populr than in America and a huge proportion of 19th century images come from America, although the early technical advances were also all made in Europe. This began to change as the weight of innovation began to be affected by the huge and growing American market. This of course occurred at the same time that American industrial expansion began to surpass that of Europe and large numbers of Europeans began emmigrating to America in search of both farm land and decent paying industral jobs in the growing cities. It was a new American company, Eastman Kodak, that began the next round of advances in photography (late-19th century). Just as America had led the democratic political and economic process in the 19th century, Kodak began the process of democratizing photography. The Kodak camera put an image making tool in the hands of an ordinary person for the first time (1888). Photography until this time was done in studios or by dedicated photographers like Nathew Brady who rquired a horsedrawn wagon for all the equipment and chemicals required. This was far beyond the capability of the average indvidual, although a few dedicated, well-to-do amateurs did dabble. Kodak made photography possible for the average person by offering the service of handling the developing and printing. This had reqquired a number of importnt technicl developments. The most important was the development of reliable photographic film. The first film used dried gelatin as a base. This early film was fragile and thus was not a immediae commercial success. Finally a nitrate based, plastic roll film was developed. This was a vast improvement, but had a tendency to curl. Kodak was at the hed of these technical developments. And came out with an improved camera--the Browine (1900). It was not only improved, but cheaper than its earlier cameras. This essentially opened the floodgates of amateur, family photograhy. The easy to use Brownie camera and the resulting family snapshot took photography out of the studio. You simply snapped your photographs and shipped the camera off to Kodak. Very quickly you got your snap shots back in the mail along with the camera freshly loaded with film. Anyonne could now take a photograph anywhere outdoors during the day. Virtually any aspect everyday family life could be captured on film and at very low cost. Photography in the 19th century captured people in a studio all dressed up in their best clpthes. This did not end, but now we begin to get a much larger record of everyday family life and clothing. An improved non curling film appeared (1903). And than film appeared in sheet form and quickly replaced the glass plate. The turn of the centryalso brought the movies which had required the invention of film. The first movies were filmed on early nitrate film. This was a problem because the nitrate film was highly flammable. This is why we have lost so many early movies. Not only did it burn, but it gave off a poisonous gas. Safety film was finally devloped, it was a non flammable plastic based film (1939). It soon replaced sheet and roll nitrate film for still photographs and after World War II movie film as well. Film was not the only innovation. Another major development roughly beginning with the Kodak Brownie was more substantial photographic paper for the prints. This meant that practice of pasting them on cardboard mounts (CDVs and cabint cards) began to decline. Professional studio continued to produce cabinet cards for a while, but we soon begin to see paper frames that could be used as a kind of stand. Families began filling scrapbooks with the new snapshots. And even earlier, photographs apeared with post card mounts that could be mailed (1904). We also begin to see other formats like postcards. Along with this develoment, silver-nitrate began replacng abumen photographs. Most postcard-back and stufio primts were silver nitrate prints. In addition silver nitrate prints replaced albumen prints. The albumen process was still used in the new century, especially for cabinet cards, but it was very rapidly replaced with the silver nitrate process which would dominate American photography until color printing became common (1970s).

American 19th Century Industry

Major changes in photography began (late-19th century). Photography was a new and very popular industry. The public was fascinated by it there was a great demand for innovation. No where was it more populr than in America and a huge proportion of 19th century images come from America, although the early technical advances were also all made in Europe. This began to change as the weight of innovation began to be affected by the huge and growing American market. This of course occurred at the same time that American industrial expansion began to surpass that of Europe and large numbers of Europeans began emmigrating to America in search of both farm land and decent paying industral jobs in the growing cities. It was a new American company, Eastman Kodak, that began the next round of advances in photography (late-19th century).

Eastman Kodak

Just as America had led the democratic political and economic prpcess in the 19th century, George Eastman began the process of revolutioning and democratizing photography. Eastman pioneered the use of photographic film which was much more efficent and useful than glass plate negtives. Eastman started manufacturing paper film (1885). He began switching to celluloid (1888-89). He named his first camoera the 'Kodak' (1888). The Kodak Bronie camera put an image making tool in the hands of an ordinary person for the first time (1888). Photography until this time was done in studios or by dedicated photographers like Nathew Brady who rquired a horsedrawn wagon for all the equipment and chemicals required. This was far beyond the capability of the average indvidual, although a few dedicated, well-to-do amateurs did dabble. Kodak made photography possible for the average person by offering the service of handling the developing and printing. This had reqquired a number of importnt technicl developments. The most important was the development of reliable photographic film. The first film used dried gelatin as a base. This early film was fragile and thus was not a immediae commercial success. Finally a nitrate based, plastic roll film was developed. This was a vast improvement, but had a tendency to curl. Kodak was at the hed of these technical developments. And came out with an improved camera--the Browine (1900). It was not only improved, but cheaper than its earlier cameras. This essentially opened the floodgates of amateur, family photograhy. The easy to use Brownie camera and the resulting family snapshot took photography out of the studio. You simply snapped your photographs and shipped the camera off to Kodak. Very quickly you got your snap shots back in the mail along with the camera freshly loaded with film. Anyonne could now take a photograph anywhere outdoors during the day. Virtually any aspect everyday family life could be captured on film and at very low cost. An improved non curling film appeared (1903). And than film appeared in sheet form and quickly replaced the glass plate.

Movies

The turn of the centry also brought the movies which had required the invention of film. The first movies were filmed on early nitrate film. This was a problem because the nitrate film was highly flammable. This is why we have lost so many early movies. Not only did it burn, but it gave off a poisonous gas. Safety film was finally devloped, it was a non flammable plastic based film (1939). It soon replaced sheet and roll nitrate film for still photographs and after World War II movie film as well.

Photographic Paper

Film and cameras were not the only innovation. Another major development roughly beginning with the Kodak Brownie was more substantial photographic paper for the prints. This meant that practice of pasting them on cardboard mounts (CDVs and cabint cards) began to decline. Professional studio continued to produce cabinet cards for a while, but we soon begin to see paper frames that could be used as a kind of stand.

Snapshots

Photography in the 19th century captured people in a studio all dressed up in their best clpthes. This did not end, but with the snapshot we begin to get a much larger record of everyday family life and clothing. Snapshots exist from the 1890s, but not very many. With the Kodak Brownie (1900) and cameras produced by competitors there was an explosion of family images. We see scenes around the hme as ell as from outings and vacations. There is very little we do not know anpiut the American family because of all the images. Families began filling scrapbooks with the new snapshots. And even earlier, photographs apeared with post card mounts that could be mailed (1904). We also begin to see other formats like postcards. Along with this develoment, silver-nitrate began replacng abumen photographs. Most postcard-back and stufio primts were silver nitrate prints. In addition silver nitrate prints replaced albumen prints. The albumen process was still used in the new century, especially for cabinet cards, but it was very rapidly replaced with the silver nitrate process. Snapshots were printed im many ways. Somw were done on caninet cards, but most were done as sturdy paper prints. A popular early innovation was printing them on 3 X 5 in postcard back paper so they could be mailed to family and friends. The paper prints other than post cards were done in many different sizes with varying edging and white margins. Some prints had decorated margins. These seem popular in the 1930s. The differences can be used to date the images because most are not dated. Silver nitrate black and white images dominated family snapshots until the 1970s when color photograph bgan to replace blakand white prints (1970s).

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Created: 11:57 PM 6/16/2016
Last updated: 7:08 AM 10/28/2017