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Detroit Publishing Company collection

Call Number

PR 272

Date

circa 1885-1905, inclusive

Creator

Detroit Photographic Co.
Detroit Publishing Co.

Extent

2.67 Linear feet (4 boxes, plus 4 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

This collection is primarily visual. Any text is likely to be in English.

Abstract

Founded in the 1890s by Edwin H. Husher and William A. Livingstone, Jr., the Detroit Publishing Company was one of the largest image publishers in the world, producing prints, postcards, lantern slides and advertisements.

Historical Note

Founded in the 1890s by Edwin H. Husher and William A. Livingstone, Jr., the Detroit Photographic Company was one of the largest image publishers in the world, producing prints, postcards, lantern slides and advertisements. Obtaining the exclusive rights to the Swiss developed Photochrom process (also known as Aac), the company was able to convert black and white photographs into vivid color prints. The process, unlike hand colored images, was a photomechanical process allowing images to be mass-produced. The lithographic prints required a separate stone for each color, using four to fourteen stones per image. Guided by notes the photographers took describing each scene, the company attempted to create realistic color prints.

The Detroit Photographic Company built its image files by sending out its own photographers, as well as by purchasing the work of other photographers. This included purchasing thousands of negatives from landscape photographer William Henry Jackson. In 1897, Jackson became a partner in the company, continuing to photograph for himself and the firm.

In 1905 the Detroit Photographic Company changed its name to the Detroit Publishing Company. Along with sales from its printed products, the company offered its services to other companies to produce sales literature, catalogs and promotional material as well as producing souvenirs for the tourist industry. At the height of its success, the Detroit Publishing Company employed over forty artisans and more than a dozen traveling salesman, selling millions of prints annually. However, with the development of new, cheaper printing methods used by competing companies and declining sales during World War I, the company went out of business and was liquidated in 1932.

Arrangement

The collection is organized in four series by format, then arranged alphabetically within each series by geographic location or subject.

Scope and Contents

The Detroit Publishing Company Collection spans the period from ca. 1885-1905 and primarily contains photochroms of various locations around the United States, Canada, Cuba and Mexico. The collection is divided into four series: 5 x 7 Inch Prints; 7 x 9 Inch Prints; Mounted Prints; Panoramic Prints.

Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Detroit Publishing Company Collection, PR 272, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Howard Gottlieb, December 26, 2007.

Related Materials

Additional images by the Detroit Publishing Company can be found in the Postcard File (PR 054). Other photographs by William Henry Jackson can be found in the Early American West Photograph Collection (PR 266), the Photographer File (PR 050) and the Stereograph File (PR 065).

Collection processed by

Kelly McAnnaney

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:48:12 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from detroit.xml

Repository

New-York Historical Society

Series I: 5 x 7 Inch Prints

Scope and Contents note

Series I. 5 x 7 Inch Prints includes both prints measuring 5 x 7 inches, as well as smaller prints measuring approximately 3 3/4 x 7 inches. Prints have been divided into three subseries, based on location or subject and are arranged alphabetically by state, country or subject within those subseries.

Subseries I. United States Views contains both scenic landscapes and views of historic locations and is arranged alphabetically by state, then by city when multiple views exist. States with multiple images include California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and Utah. Single views of states are located in Miscellaneous States and include images of Illinois, New Jersey and Fort Sumpter, South Carolina.

Subseries II. Foreign Views includes images of both Canada and Mexico. Canadian views are mainly of Quebec and include monuments as well as city and river views. Mexican images include city scenes as well as images of daily life. Also included are three prints of Aztec stone carvings.

Subseries III. Subjects contains images of plants, animals and steamboats, as well as several portraits. Portraits include Moki women, an unidentified Native American man entitled "Bringing in the Harvest," a young Chinese girl in traditional clothing and a cowboy on his horse. Steamboat images include the steamers New York and Toronto.

Subseries I: United States Views

California

Box: 1, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

California - Los Angeles

Box: 1, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

California - Pasadena

Box: 1, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

California - San Diego

Box: 1, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

California - San Francisco

Box: 1, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Colorado

Box: 1, Folder: 6-7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Colorado - Garden of the Gods

Box: 1, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Colorado - Ouray

Box: 1, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Colorado - Mining & Ranching

Box: 1, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Michigan

Box: 1, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mississippi

Box: 1, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New Mexico

Box: 1, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York

Box: 1, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York - Niagara Falls

Box: 1, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Pennsylvania

Box: 1, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Utah

Box: 1, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Miscellaneous States

Box: 1, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries II: Foreign Views

Canada

Box: 1, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mexico

Box: 1, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries III: Subjects

Plants & Animals

Box: 1, Folder: 21 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Portraits

Box: 1, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Steamboats

Box: 1, Folder: 23 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Series II: 7 x 9 Inch Prints

Scope and Contents note

Series II. 7 x 9 Inch Prints makes up the bulk of the collection. Prints have been divided into three subseries, based on location or subject and are arranged alphabetically by state, country or subject within those subseries.

Subseries I. United States Views includes images of California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington D.C., Wisconsin and Wyoming. Single images of Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Washington can be found in Miscellaneous States. Along with scenic and historic views, there are several images of labor, including orange packing in Redlands, California, orange picking in Florida, African American men working in a cotton gin in Mississippi and farmers harvesting grain in South Dakota. Images of New York City include Grant's Tomb in Riverside Park, Washington Bridge and both Fort Greene Park and Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

Subseries II. Foreign Views includes images of Canada and Cuba and a single view of the Bahamas. Canadian views include Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Images of Cuba are all sites in Havana and include an image of the wreckage of the USS Maine.

Subseries III. Subjects includes portraits of Native Americans and a single image of the steamboat City of Erie.

Subseries I: United States Views

California

Box: 2, Folder: 24 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

California - Pasadena

Box: 2, Folder: 25 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

California - Missions

Box: 2, Folder: 26 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Colorado

Box: 2, Folder: 27 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Florida

Box: 2, Folder: 28 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Florida - Miami

Box: 2, Folder: 29 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Florida - Palm Beach

Box: 2, Folder: 30 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Florida - St. Augustine

Box: 2, Folder: 31 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Georgia

Box: 2, Folder: 32 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Maine

Box: 2, Folder: 33 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Massachusetts

Box: 2, Folder: 34 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Massachusetts - Boston

Box: 2, Folder: 35 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Massachusetts - Lexington

Box: 2, Folder: 36 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Massachusetts - Salem

Box: 2, Folder: 37 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Massachusetts - South Hadley - Mount Holyoke College

Box: 2, Folder: 38 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Michigan

Box: 3, Folder: 39 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mississippi

Box: 3, Folder: 40 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New Hampshire

Box: 3, Folder: 41 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New Jersey

Box: 3, Folder: 42 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York

Box: 3, Folder: 43 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York - Adirondacks

Box: 3, Folder: 44 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York - Chautauqua

Box: 3, Folder: 45 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York - Ithaca - Cornell University

Box: 3, Folder: 46 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York - New York City

Box: 3, Folder: 47 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York - Niagara

Box: 3, Folder: 48 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

North Carolina

Box: 3, Folder: 49 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Ohio

Box: 3, Folder: 50 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Oregon

Box: 3, Folder: 51 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Pennsylvania

Box: 3, Folder: 52 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Pennsylvania - Philadelphia

Box: 3, Folder: 53 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

South Carolina

Box: 4, Folder: 54 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

South Dakota

Box: 4, Folder: 55 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Utah

Box: 4, Folder: 56 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Utah - Salt Lake City

Box: 4, Folder: 57 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Virginia

Box: 4, Folder: 58 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Washington DC - Library of Congress

Box: 4, Folder: 59 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Wisconsin

Box: 4, Folder: 60 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Wyoming

Box: 4, Folder: 61 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Miscellaneous States

Box: 4, Folder: 62 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries II: Foreign Views

Bahamas

Box: 4, Folder: 63 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Canada

Box: 4, Folder: 64 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Cuba

Box: 4, Folder: 65 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subseries III: Subjects

Portraits - Native Americans

Box: 4, Folder: 66 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Steamboats

Box: 4, Folder: 67 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Series III: Mounted Prints

Scope and Contents note

Series III. Mounted Prints contains both 3 1/2 x 7 inch prints mounted to 7 x 10 3/4 inch paper and 7 x 9 inch prints mounted to 12 1/4 x 14 inch paper. Smaller prints include images of California, Colorado, South Carolina and Quebec. The 7 x 9 inch prints include mainly views of California but also one unidentified landscape and one image of the interior of the Library of Congress.

Miscellaneous views

Folder: OS-1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

(3 1/2 x 7 inch prints)

Miscellaneous views

Folder: OS-2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

(7 x 9 inch prints)

California

Folder: OS-3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

(7 x 9 inch prints)

Series IV: Panoramic Prints

Scope and Contents note

Series IV. Panoramic Prints includes fourteen prints of varying size, from 14 x 3 3/4 inches to 39 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. The majority of these images are scenic views of Colorado.

Miscellaneous Views

Folder: OS-4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024