Scope and Content Note
The Imperial Portrait Photograph File spans the period from the mid-1850s to the early 1870s. The collection is divided into five series, one each for the four identified photographers and one for unidentified work.
The New-York Historical Society's Imperial portrait file contains examples of both retouched and unretouched portraits in a variety of sizes, showing nearly the full range offered by this format. Due to their special format, the photographs comprising the Imperial Portrait Photograph File were removed from the Print Room's Portrait File (PR 052) when that collection was processed in 2002.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in five series, based on photographer. One folder of oversize photographs is available at the end of the collection.
Missing Title
- Series I: Portraits by Mathew B. Brady
- Series II: Portraits by Alexander Gardner
- Series III: Portrait by Charles Fredricks
- Series IV: Portraits by Jeremiah Gurney
- Series V: Portraits by Unidentified Photographers
- Oversize Material