Dating from the 1840s to the present, the Filson’s photograph and print collections document agriculture, commerce and industry, transportation, politics, family histories, and aspects of social and cultural histories from the Ohio River Valley region and abroad. A large portion of our photograph collection is comprised of Louisville and Southern Indiana family photos which include a wide array of formats, from daguerreotypes to tintypes, candid snapshots and photograph albums, to professional studio portraits.
In-House Access
PastPerfect is the Filson’s in-house keyword searchable database that includes information on subject photographs, individuals, family collections, institutional collections, business collections, prints, and films. Patrons who visit the Filson will be instructed on how to use PastPerfect to view digital images or to find photograph and print collection information in order to see originals.
Online Access Tools
- PastPerfect Online– PastPerfect Online contains information and digital images of select photograph and museum collections. It only contains a small percentage of our overall collections, so please contact the Filson for more information on photographic and museum materials.
- Finding Aids– Finding aids to a portion of our photograph collections are available online; you can conduct a search or browse at the linked page, which also includes manuscript. Photograph collection finding aids provide an overview of the collection, along with a container list, but no digital images.
- Digital Collections– Along with PastPerfect Online, the Filson provides digital access to some of our image collections via online exhibits and collections on the Omeka platform.
Collection Reproductions
To request reproductions of Photographs and Prints please consult our Order Reproductions page: https://filsonhistorical.org/collections/order-reproductions/#Reproductions
If you have a research question pertaining to our Photograph and Print Collections please contact Heather J. Potter, Curator of Photographs and Prints.
