Snapshots of the Past

W. Mitchell McAllister in his nurses lap – Vintage Photo Print

W. Mitchell McAllister in his nurses lap, 1844 Mar. 25. — historic photograph
W. Mitchell McAllister in his nurses lap, 1844 Mar. 25.. Historic photograph from the Daguerreotypes & Early Photography collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This rare historic photograph captures W. Mitchell McAllister in his nurses lap in remarkable detail. It comes from the collections of the Library of Congress, scanned from the original and carefully restored.

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W. Mitchell McAllister in his nurses lap

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This daguerreotype shows the infant William Mitchell McAllister seated in his nurse's lap in the yard of the family home on Sansom Street, above 8th. His father, W.Y. McAllister, made the exposure himself on March 25, 1844, and the date is etched into the plate. Daguerreotypes were made on silver-plated copper, so the image appears only when the plate is tilted against light and dark. Portraits of young children were difficult to make because the child had to stay still through a long exposure. The small sixth-plate size and the plain leather case suggest a personal keepsake rather than a studio commission.

Created / published1844 Mar. 25.
Medium1 photograph : sixth plate daguerreotype.
GenreDaguerreotypes 1840-1850.Portrait photographs 1840-1850.
NotesPlain leather grain frame. Written on back: W. Mitchel [i.e., Mitchell] McAllister in his nurse's lap. Taken by his father W.Y. McAllister in the yard of his house Sansom St. above 8th. Mar. 25, 1844. Etched on plate: Taken Mar. 25, 1844. Hallmark: Rinhart 21, except with 30 instead of 40 for the plate weight. Purchase; Marian S. Carson; 1998; (DLC/PP-1998:151.8). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Forms part of: Marian S. Carson collection (Library of Congress)
SubjectsMcAllister, William Mitchell,--1843-1912.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan3,743 × 4,721 px · prints to 12 × 16 in at 300 dpi
Reference535_W_Mitchell_McAllister_i_1844

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