The 2024 New England Journal of Photographic History (Issue #182) features five detailed and richly illustrated articles, including two pieces linked to the late 19th-century Pictorialist movement in photography. One of the leading proponents of this movement, which emphasized the creative rather than documentary aspects of photography, was Boston photographer F. Holland Day. Author and photo-historian Dr. Patricia Fanning discusses the crucifixion portion of one of Day’s more acclaimed works, The Seven Last Words, illustrated with four never-before-published photographs.

In a separate article, Fanning introduces us to Frank W. Birchall, a Boston photographer who applied his superb printing skills to help Day, and other renowned photographers, achieve success by making high-quality prints for their studios. Trained as a chemist, Birchall immigrated to the United States in 1880 from England and, by the late 1890s, operated a very successful portrait studio on Tremont Street in Boston.

The 2024 Journal also introduces James A. Luedke’s impressive catalog of stereo views of the H. H. Hunnewell estate in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Considered one of the most photographed showplaces in this country during the 19th century, the estate attracted photographers from all over America and other countries. The article contains a link to his 55-page online catalog, describing in great detail the 285 known stereo views of the estate by 38 makers from the 1860s to 1910.

Finally, this Journal contains two articles previously published by our sister society, the Michigan Photographic Historical Society. Both pieces are still very relevant today. The first is Chuck Fehl’s Collectible Cameras Using Kodak’s Versatile 127 Film, illustrated with nine notable 127 format cameras. This is a must-read for those interested in using a classic camera to take modern-day photographs. For those interested in extremely rare cameras, Rob Niederman’s article on the American Optical Company’s stereo version of Flammang’s 1880 patent revolving back camera will be a real delight. Cleverly designed, the camera is what Niederman describes as a “puzzling stereo model.”

Order your copy of the 2024 PHSNE Journal from MagCloud

Published By: PHSNE – The Photographic Historical Society of New England, Inc.

Standard 8.25″ x 10.75″ 38 pages; over 25 illustrations; Perfect-bound © 2024

PHSNE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit society. Founded in 1973, our members bring their curiosity, enthusiasm, and knowledge to bear on every aspect of photo history, from the earliest experiments to the present day—and tomorrow. We welcome your participation and support of our society.

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2024 PHSNE Journal – Online Supplementary Materials

H. H. Hunnewell Estate Wellesley, Massachusetts: Catalog of Stereographs, 1860s–1910 Version 4 by James A. Luedke, Jr.