Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers, 1904-2004.

ArchivalResource

Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers. Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers, 1904-2004.

Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers, 1904-2004.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/213098826

The Lantern and Lens Gild was established as the Drexel Camera Club in 1905 during Mathilde Weil's photography class at the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry (now Drexel University). Led by Margaret Bodine, the ladies met on a weekly basis at 24 South 17th Street and later 24 South 18th Street for lectures, classes, and exhibitions. They changed their name to The Photographers for a year before officially naming the group the Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers in 1912. The women traveled throughout the city and surrounding area to photograph people, animals, landscapes, buildings and many other subjects. They hosted many visiting artists and subscribed to the leading photography publications of the time. The Bryn Mawr Art Center and the Franklin Institute represent just two of the many places that exhibited their photographs. The women also held photography competitions within the Gild and awarded four cups each year to honor the artistry of members. The Lantern and Lens Gild moved into the New Century Guild Building at 1307 Locust Street in 1946 in order to expand their facilities. They would remain here for almost twenty years, before discontinuing activities and club elections in 1965. The Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers Records span from 1904 to 2004. This small collection is rich in images of the group's outings; their works; meeting minutes; and twentieth century photography magazines. The materials have been divided into three series -- Gild papers, Printed materials and ephemera, and Images and artifacts. The majority of the collection is photography publications and images with a lesser portion devoted to manuscript material. The materials of the Lantern and Lens Gild of Women Photographers span a century from 1904 to 2004 and consist of the members' papers, photographic works, and numerous photography publications. The collection has been divided into three series - Gild papers, Printed materials and ephemera, and Images and artifacts. The majority of the records cover the period between 1930 to 1960 with several gaps after this period. The meeting minutes and the correspondence contain the most information concerning the operations of the club while lacking information about the personal lives of the members. Mentions of illnesses and deaths in the minutes are the only glimpses into their lives. The records, especially the Printed materials and ephemera, are rich in information about prominent photographers from the first half of the twentieth century as well as photography processes. The work of the Gild members is strongly represented in the last series, Images and artifacts. There are large prints (probably used for exhibitions) and smaller photographs housed in two albums. Gild papers (1906-1965) are comprised of the meeting minutes, correspondence, poems, and club history. They include the details of the weekly meetings the women held, cost of dues, and the activities that they planned and in which they participated. Printed materials and ephemera (1904-2004) consists mainly of photography publications that were sent to the Gild and also mailings about photography products and processes. Photographs, slides, a door knocker, contact frame, and other miscellaneous items have been placed in the last series, Images and artifacts (1914-1953). The photographs are a mix of the ladies' works and pictures documenting the activities of the pilgrimages and meetings. There are 2 compact discs (one master, one use copy) that contain selected slides from the collection.

15 boxes 15 volumes (9 linear feet)

Historical Society of Pennsylvania