A Snapshot Of Photography’s

First Century

The year of 1839 was a momentous one in the history of historical documentation, for that was the year that photography was invented. Though the first process was quite cumbersome, the new invention eventually revolutionized not only historical documentation, but social connections as well.

Newtown Historical Society will examine the first 100 years of photography in a presentation by Bob Berthelson on Monday April 12, at 7:30 pm, in the community room of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

The earliest photography was cumbersome, requiring extensive equipment and long exposures, but the technique rapidly developed to permit smaller and less cumbersome equipment, and the invention of the negative made duplicate prints possible. With the invention of the roll film Kodak camera by George Eastman, the process became open to everyone, and the “snapshot” became nearly ubiquitous. (In one sense, we have now returned to earlier days with our digital photos stored in computers and in many cases never printed to be shared.)

Mr Berthelson will review the first 100 years of photography from its experimental beginnings to the introduction of color photography by George Eastman in 1935. Topics will include early photojournalism in the Mexican and Crimean Wars, American Civil War photography, portraiture of celebrities, and historical records of 19th Century scenes.

Mr Berthelson will also discuss the distinctions and methods of distinguishing between the major forms of collectible photographic images, including daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, cartes de visite, stereographs and cabinet cards.

Mr Berthelson is a resident of Trumbull, and has developed several programs that he has presented to various historical societies and civic groups in the area, including a previous program on the history of postcards for Newtown Historical Society.

Newtown Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments are served following the presentation. For further information call the society at 203-426-5937.