Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Zaida Ben Yusuf: New York Portrait Photographer
Exhibit documents the life and work of early twentieth-century New York portrait photographer Zaida Ben-Yusuf, who broke with many of the conventions of portraiture and, thereby, attracted the attention of prominent artistic, literary,...
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Mathew Brady's Portraits
Exhibition of photographic portraits taken by Civil War-era photographer Mathew Brady, who made portraits of many illustrious Americans on both sides of the conflict before, during, and after the war. Includes an animated explanation of...
Other
Photogravure: Art of the Photogravure
Comprehensive resource about the intaglio process of photogravure, compiled and maintained by photographer Mark Katzman. Extensively illustrated account of the history of the art form, along with many useful sidebars on key artists...
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: Touring Turn of the Century America
This collection contains thousands of photographs from the Detroit Publishing Company and gives viewers the opportunity to explore America from the period of 1880 to 1920. Images include rural America, city life, men and women at work,...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Source: Invention: Every Picture Has a Story
Use this lesson plan to introduce students to the history of photography and to the sorts of stories that historical photographs.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Stieglitz, the Steerage
The photograph "The Steerage" by Alfred Stieglitz would become one of the most important in the history of photography. View the picture and read the story behind the photograph.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Robert Cornelius
A concise biographical sketch examining the life and contributions of early photographer and Pennsylvania native, Robert Cornelius.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Eadweard Muybridge's Photography of Motion
From the National Museum of American History this is a description and analysis of the photography of expatriate Englishman Eadweard Muybridge. "Freeze Frame: Muybridge's Photography of Motion" iclude's examples of Muybridge's work...
George Eastman Museum
Discovering the George Eastman in Me the Legacy
There is much to gain from looking at the life of George Eastman. These guided activities will help you and your students come to know the man he was and appreciate him and many others who have impacted our world.
The Franklin Institute
Daguerreotype Cameras
Read about the Daguerreotype camera. This particular apparatus on display at the Franklin Institute was made in 1839, by Joaquim Bishop. Included on this site are activities for the classroom and resources for students to explore.
Other
Digital Imaging in Education
This resource is a 15-page PDF that gives a good history of the shift from film to digital photography and applications for digital imaging in the classroom. Included are nine lesson plans which include project ideas, guidelines for...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Illuminating Photography: From Camera Obscura to Camera Phone
The origins of the cameras we use today were invented in the 19th century. Or were they? A millenia before, Arab scientist Alhazen was using the camera obscura to duplicate images, with Leonardo da Vinci following suit 500 years later...
University of California
Hearst Museum of Anthropology: The World in a Frame
View representative works from the early decades of photography, 1865 to 1915, during one of the world's periods of extended travel. Discover how the invention of photography opened eyes to Native American, Japanese, and Middle Eastern...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Walker Evans
This article explores the early life and work of Walker Evans. Images, related articles, and web links are included.
National Library of France
National Library of France: Portraits/faces
A virtual exhibit presenting a variety of nineteenth- and twentieth-century portraits. As you browse through the pages, click on each portrait to see larger version and related information (date, artist, dimensions, etc.). Images are...
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Daguerreotypes by Augustus Washington
Augustus Washington, son of a former slave, learned to make daguerreotypes in 1843 to offset his college expenses, during his freshman year at Dartmouth College. Biographical notes and details about his work are provided in an annotated...
PBS
Who Made America?: George Eastman
A quick "snapshot" at the life and worldly contributions of George Eastman. See why he was chosen as one of America's great innovators and better understand how his photography processes transformed our society.
George Eastman Museum
George Eastman House: How to Make a Camera Obscura [Pdf]
Resource provides history and background information about the camera obscura. There are also easy to follow instructions for you to make your own version of the camera obscura to better understand the history and technology behind...
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: The First Photograph
An account of how Joseph Nicephore Niepce was able to use pewter plates to invent the first permanent photographic image in 1827.
Library of Congress
Loc: Prints and Photographs: Fenton Crimean War Photographs
Access a documentary record of Crimean War photographs produced by pioneering British photographer Robert Fenton.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Eadweard Muybridge
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1996 to commemorate Eadweard Muybridge, the first to create the illusion of moving pictures. With a short biographical passage.