Canadian Stereographs - the Jack Brown Collection скачать в хорошем качестве

Canadian Stereographs - the Jack Brown Collection

In 2023, the W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections Library at Queen’s University received a remarkable collection of over 12,000 19th-century stereoscopic cards, generously donated by the estate of Canadian collector Jack Brown. Housed for decades in old suitcases, this vast and varied collection spans scenes from Canada, the United States, and beyond, capturing landscapes, cityscapes, industry, and scientific marvels in stunning three-dimensional detail. Among the highlights are works of some of Canada’s most influential early photographers, including William Notman, J.G. Parks, and William Topley. Drawing from this rich collection, Kim and Robin will showcase the work of early Canadian photographers whose stereoscopic images helped define visual culture in Canada during the 19th century. Additionally, the talk will shed light on a more unsettling aspect of this history—the presence of arsenic in some of the stereoscopic mounts. The goals of this presentation are to highlight the contributions of early Canadian photographers to stereoscopic photography and to raise awareness about the production of 19th-century photographic mounts and the implications for conservation and handling. Additionally, it aims to invite a broader conversation about the intersections of art, science, and material culture in historical photographic practices. Kim Bell is the Coordinator of W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections at Queen’s University Library. Her research focuses on 19th-century materials, particularly those containing arsenic in their bindings, paper, and foreedges. She is also interested in publishers’ bindings, exploring the relationship between design genres and Canadian intellectual culture in the 19th century. Robin Canham is a conservator based in the Canadian Prairies. She has worked with institutions including the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Provincial Archives of Alberta, and Queen’s University Library, and was previously an academic librarian for over a decade. Robin is passionate about education and outreach—she teaches conservation at the University of Regina and offers hands-on workshops to promote conservation practices in the community. If you have enjoyed this talk why not consider joining the RPS's Historical Group and support online talks and live visits to archives and collections of photography across the United Kingdom?