Stereoscopic Photographs collection

Finding Aid

Prepared by Eric Linderman, March 1997; Updated November 2017; Last Updated: August 2020

Extent: 2.5 cubic feet (1 record storage box + one oversized box)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Historical Note: Stereographs were an especially popular Victorian parlor entertainment. The first card stereographs were introduced in the 1850's, and were used primarily for educational purposes, emphasizing geography and history. Stereographs from around the turn of the century, however, began to incorporate humorous and dramatic themes.

Scope and Content: Comprising this collection are various groupings of card stereographs. These are dual photographic images mounted on cards, to be viewed with a hand-held style stereoscope. The images are photographed from slightly different points of view, providing the appearence of a three dimensional image when it is viewed through the lenses of the device. This collection groups pictures from different producers and of differing content. Among the more educational cards are those that depict natural geography, such as Yosemite and Niagara Falls, as well as world cities, sculptures and architecture. A variety of genre scenes depict family life and comedy scenes, some of which are hand colored. Notable in this collection are cards that illustrate local history, especially that of Kent, Cleveland, and Toledo.

Box 1 -- Stereograph Photo Cards
Contents

1. [Niagara and Genesee Rivers]: 2 cards
2. "Winter Views of Niagara": 3 cards
3. Geo. Barker Niagara Falls N.Y. [Niagara Falls, genre scenes]: 9 cards
4. Upton: "Niagara Falls", "Pilot Rock", "Board Sluice", "Chippewa Wedding", "Fort Snelling": 7 cards
5. John P Soule [Niagara Falls] and "White Mountain Scenery": 2 cards
6. unlabled [Niagara Falls]: 2 cards
7. "Group Series": 3 cards
8. "Group Series": 2 cards
9. "Groups" [genre scenes]: 21 cards
10. [Farm and Family], handcolored: 10 cards
11. [genre scenes and one still life]: 14 cards.
12. "Comic and Groups": 4 cards
13. Kilburn Brothers [comedies, animals, plants]: 9 cards
14. The Wide, Wide World by W.M. Chase [comedy]: 6 cards
15. J.I.L Roberts & Co. Publishers,"Where's that Rat?" "Battle of Gettysburg": 2 cards.
16. Rogers Groups, "The Sharp Shooters"; 1 card
17. F.G. Weller [comedies][handcolored]: 5 cards
18. James Cremer's Stereoscopic Emporium, [flowers, comedies, plants, architecture]: 11 cards
19. unlabled genre: 1 card
20. "World Series"-[Japan and Hawaii]: 3 cards
21. "Views of Palestine": 6 cards
22. "European and American Views": 6 cards
23. "European Views" [landscape and architecture]: 28 cards
24. [Rome and Venice]: 3cards
25. "American Views" [landscape and architecture]: 11 cards
26. "American Scenery": 5 cards
27. American Scenery "New york City","War Views", "Washington", "Misc.": 4 cards
28. Photographic Views:[nature scenes, California]: 3 cards
29. Webster Albee, "Yellowstone National Park" 21 cards
30. Views of the National Park, Mackinac Island, Michigan [SINGLE PICTURE]: 1 card
31. "Scenery of Philadelphia Central Railroad": 3 cards
32. SINGLE PICTURES Washington D.C.: 2 pictures
33. H.D. Ward, "N. Adams and Vacinity","Hoosac Tunnel": 2 cards
34. Anthony's Instantaneous Views, "Broadway from Barnum's Museum": 1 card
35. London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company-"Central Park": 6 cards
36. Joseph L. Bates "Ruins of the Great Fire in Boston": 1 card
37. J.F. Jarvis [pictures of Washington D.C.-SINGLE PICTURES]: 4 cards
38. Centennial Photographic Co., Philad'a International Exhibition 1876: 5 cards
39. Alex Henderson, Montreal, "Cape Trinity": 2 cards
40. J.G. Parks, photographer, [views of Montreal and Quebec]: 5 cards
41. "Notman Montrael"-" French Cathedral","Cape Eternity","Ottawa and Kingston Canal": 3 cards
42. "Stereo Views": 1 card
43. S. R. Stoddard "Fort William Henry Hotel": 1 card
44. "Monteagle House": 1 card
45. Ellipse Vies Co., Akron, O., "Tampa Bay Hotel Porch": 1 card
46. G.W. Wilson "Faskelly House": 1 card
47. North and Oswald's Toledo Views: 8 cards
48. W.C. North, Cleveland, O. [architecture]: 4 cards
49. Sweeny "Group w: Lakeview House Little Mountain": 1 card
50. James Wark, Kent, OH [railroad accident]: 1 card
51. W. A. Faze [landscape]: 2 cards
52. Griffith and Griffith, [city and nature]: 5 cards
53. North and Oswald's [architecture and still life][DOUBLE AND SINGLE PICTURES]; 7 cards
54. Bierstadt Bros., photographers, "The Moon Near last Quarter": 1 card
55. unlabled landscape and architecture: 7 cards
56. unlabled sculpture: 1 card

Box 2 -- Stereoscope (Stereo Viewers)
Contents

1. Six Holmes-Bates style hand-held stereoscopes
2. One wooden desktop model