See 1800s NEPA ‘Through the Photographer’s Lens’ at Lackawanna Historical Society in Scranton on Sept. 22
From a press release:
Old photos provide a fascinating glimpse of the past, proving the adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Learn about turn-of-the-century photography and zoom in on popular historic photos with the Lackawanna Historical Society this Sunday, Sept. 22.
At 2 p.m., local historian John Revak will host an illustrated lecture looking “Through the Photographer’s Lens: A Photographic Tour of Northeastern Pennsylvania Beyond the Studio in the 1800s” at the society’s headquarters, the Catlin House (232 Monroe Ave., Scranton). This program is free and open to the public.
The Simpson resident will share photographs from the 1800s from his private collection of Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne Counties to discuss the challenges photographers faced in going “beyond the studio” and point out details in the photos that may have escaped notice. See images from the 1860s through 1900s and take the opportunity to compare photos taken at different times by different photographers of the same site.
The program will offer a variety of images showing construction and destruction and even encourage a little CSI investigation in identifying a disaster photo from 1879. Photographers whose work will be shown include Thomas Johnson, Louis Hensel, William Schurch, E. A. Heermans, and E.W. Beckwith, among others. Revak hopes that his presentation will provide some insight into the photographic history of Northeastern Pennsylvania and a better understanding of the art, with maybe just a little bit of humor.
For more information about the program, contact the society at 570-344-3841 or e-mail lackawannahistory@gmail.com.
Founded in 1886 as the Lackawanna Institute of History and Science, the Lackawanna Historical Society provides the community with a record of local history through its museum and library collections, exhibits, and programs. In 1942, from the bequest of George H. Catlin, the society established its permanent home at Catlin’s 1912 residence. In 1965, Lackawanna County designated the Lackawanna Historical Society as the official county historical society, and the society continues to serve the county as a center for local history resources.
