November 2022: Ken Liss Connects A Tiny Gem Tintype Album of Children’s Portraits To Stories of Boston and Brookline Women Sunday Nov 6, 2022 7:30PM EST on Zoom

Gem tintype album (3"x3.75") of 48 children — c. 1882
Gem tintype album (3"x3.75") of 48 children — c. 1882

In 2014, the Brookline Historical Society (BHS) was given a tiny photo album — 3″ wide by 3.75″ high — with postage stamp-sized photos of 48 Brookline and Boston children, most of them girls. Written inside the front cover was a name, Mamie Williams, and a date, March 16, 1882. Who were these children? What was the connection between them? What became of them as adults? And why were the photos so small?

Ken Liss

On Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 7:30PM EST on Zoom, Ken Liss, president of the Brookline Historical Society since 2009, will describe how research led to answers to these questions and to some fascinating stories about Brookline and Boston women in the Victorian era. The research also uncovered information about a particular type of 19th century photograph called the gem tintype.

Liss researches, writes, and gives presentations and walking tours covering many aspects of Brookline’s history. The retired librarian recently served as Head of Instruction at the Boston University Libraries from 2014-2021. He had previously served as a librarian at Boston College, the Harvard Business School, at a nonprofit organization, and a library software company.

He writes a blog (https://brooklinehistory.blogspot.com) and also contributes to the Brookline Historical Society’s website: (https://brooklinehistoricalsociety.org). He can be reached at: kenlissbrookline@gmail.com

Online resources about tintype gem photographs include:

Images courtesy of the Brookline Historical Society and Ken Liss.

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To the Dealers, Attendees, PHSNE Staff, Volunteers and the NNHS: 

THANK YOU!

You made PHOTOGRAPHICA 90 the best EVER!

Our 50th Anniversary Year Celebration Will Continue Throughout 2023

PHSNE May Meeting: Bernie Zelitch “Discovers” Lowell Photographer Annie Powell

Sunday, May 7, 2023 7:30PM on Zoom


June Meeting: PEM Curator Stephanie Tung

Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 7:30PM on Zoom

Give Us Your Feedback on Photographica 90

Use the Contact Form


Support PHSNE on eBay 

Visit seller Mass495 for deals from PHSNE