Langenheim Brothers glass stereographs and lantern slides collection, approximately 1850-1874, bulk 1854-1856

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Title:
Langenheim Brothers glass stereograph and lantern slide collection
Dates:
approximately 1850-1874, bulk 1854-1856
Abstract:
William Langenheim (1807-1874) and Frederick Langenheim (1809-1879), known as the Langenheim Brothers, opened their photography studio, W. & F. Langenheim, in Philadelphia in 1842. While William took on an administrative role, Frederick worked as the photographer. The collection consists of 161 stereographs (including variants and copies), 3 lantern slides, 2 salt prints in glass stereograph format, and 1 microphotograph, along with 5 stereograph image mats produced by the Langenheim Brothers between 1850 and 1874.
Extent:
4.6 Linear Feet (12 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Langenheim Brothers glass stereograph and lantern slide collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of 167 photographs produced by the Langenheim brothers between 1850 and 1874. These include: 161 stereographs (including variants and copies), 3 lantern slides, 2 salt prints in glass stereograph format, and 1 microphotograph, along with 5 stereograph image mats. The bulk of the collection contains depictions of natural landscapes, landmarks, and architecture of Niagara Falls, Kaaterskill Falls, New York City, the Minehill Gap, Philadelphia, and New Hampshire; and various railroads, bridges, statues and monuments throughout the Northeast region of the United States. There are a few individual and group portraits of well-known figures from the region, including Washington Irving (1783-1859). There are also a few stereographs from France and Italy; these photographs were most likely not taken by the Langenheim Brothers but were offered and sold under their name. Additionally, there are two salt prints mounted between glass (stereograph format) of Niagara Falls. The three lantern slides are mounted in wooden frames and depict Niagara Falls, Girard College, and the Jas Dundas Mansion in Philadelphia. There is one microphotograph of the printed text of the Ten Commandments verse from the Bible. A few of the stereographs and the three lantern slides are hand colored. Photographs are glass stereographs unless otherwise noted. Titles are transcribed from image mats; titles enclosed in square brackets were devised by the archivist.

Biographical / historical:

William Langenheim (1807-1874) and Frederick Langenheim (1809-1879), known as the Langenheim Brothers, were both born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1834 and 1840, respectively. In 1842, William visited Germany to arrange equipment and supplies for their new portrait studio; W. & F. Langenheim opened that same year in the Merchants' Exchange Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While William took on an administrative role, Frederick was the photographer. Among their photographic inventions, the Langenheim Brothers are credited as the first to introduce stereoscopy and produce stereographs in the United States.

Alongside Frederick's lantern slides and stereographs, the Langenheim Brothers also sold stereographs produced by European photographers in their catalogs. By 1865, the Langenheim Brothers had left the stereograph business and focused on producing lantern slides and some microphotographs. After William's death in 1874, Frederick sold their studio to Dr. Caspar Briggs (1847-1942) later that year. Frederick passed away in 1879.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Philip D. Nathanson, May 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Joey Hayes in August 2026.

Fragile items (18 glass stereographs and one lantern slide) were separated and re-housed into Box 11 and Box 12 for conservation purposes. Additionally, about 22 glass stereographs had paper tape bindings repaired or replaced. One glass stereograph was missing its glass supports; new supports and paper tape binging have been added. One lantern slide had an additional piece of glass added for stability.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following three series: Series 1. Landscapes; Series 2. Portraits; Series 3. Bible verse.

Physical / technical requirements:

Glass stereographs and salt prints 8 x 18 cm (stereograph format), lantern slide images 9 x 10 cm, lantern slide wooded frames 11 x 19 cm, microphotograph mounted on glass microscope slide 3 x 8 cm.

NOT AVAILABLE: Box 1, Item 8; Box 2, Item 12; Box 3, Items 7-8; Box 4, Items 10, 14-15; Box 5, Items 10 and 12; Box 6, Items 6-7; Box 7, Items 9-10, 13-14; Box 8, Items 3, 7, 9, 11; Box 10, Item 1; Box 11, Item 7; Box 12, Items 2 and 9. Until they have been treated.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Joey Hayes
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-08-21 11:44:29 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Langenheim Brothers glass stereograph and lantern slide collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2129
reference@huntington.org
Website