Women and the Global Historiography of Photography, 1840-1940

Since the introduction of photography in the nineteenth century, women have been involved as practitioners of the medium in many parts of the world. While scholarship on women photographers from the post-World War II period is more advanced, pre-war studies are still particularly lacking. Some of these photographers, particularly those from Northern Europe and the United States (such as Julia Margaret Cameron), have been part of the historical record since its inception. This may have been due, at least in part, to their social status and personal connections, regardless of their talent or innovations. Other female photographers, particularly those outside of the Euro-American traditions, often either never made it into the historical record, or were initially known within their own geographic regions and then forgotten over time. As the history of the field becomes increasingly global, recovering these narratives and introducing them to a broader audience is crucial. This panel seeks to expand our knowledge of women photographers active in various parts of the world prior to World War II, focusing in particular on how the presence of female photographers was recorded or omitted in the historiography of photography and in archival materials and museum collections as the field has evolved over the past century and half. Papers from all geographic areas are welcome, but non-western topics are particularly encouraged.