Detroit Publishing Company collection, approximately 1898-1929

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Summary

Creators:
Detroit Publishing Co.
Abstract:
Over 5,000 color postcards, prints, and print proofs made by the Detroit Publishing Company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also photographs by William Henry Jackson, who was a partner in the business.
Extent:
21.58 Linear Feet (14 boxes, 3 oversize folders)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Detroit Publishing Company collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of over 5,000 color postcards, prints, and proof prints of American views produced by the Detroit Publishing Company approximately 1898 to the late 1920s. The company's distinctive postcards were made using their exclusive "Photochrom" process that combined photographic negatives and color lithography to create the look of early color photographs. This collection was assembled by a printing foreman for the company and includes several trial press runs and proof sheets with the printing register marks on the edges. There are 51 oversize color prints, also created using the photo-lithographic process, including one sheet with 24 postcard-size views. Also included are 105 photographs of American travel views and scenery, chiefly 7 x 10 inches, attributed to William Henry Jackson, with some bearing his credit. A few photographs have printed captions like those that appear on postcards.

The Detroit Publishing Company was noted for the breadth of topics, people, activity, and industry depicted in their postcards, chronicling American life shortly before and after the turn of the 20th century. In addition to extensive scenes from 42 U.S. states and a few foreign countries, imagery depicts topics such as farming, museums, World War I, naval ships, and cowboys. There are also several postcards of African Americans, some depicting racist stereotypes and containing racist captions.

Biographical / historical:

The Detroit Publishing Company was originally founded as the Detroit Photographic Company in the late 1890s by William A. Livingstone Jr. and Edwin H. Husher in Detroit, Michigan. The firm became the Detroit Publishing Company in 1905 and was renowned for the brilliant color, technical precision, and diverse subject range of their postcards. They had obtained the exclusive rights to the Swiss "Photochrom" process, a technology that added color to black-and-white photographs using lithography, which preceded the invention of color photography. The process was a carefully guarded secret that the company employed to great success, mass-producing postcards and prints of a wide variety of subjects. In 1897, photographer William Henry Jackson joined the firm, adding his thousands of negatives (photographs) to the firm's inventory. He was also responsible for acquiring images by several other professional photographers. As newer printing methods eventually led to more competition and fewer sales, the company was dissolved in 1932.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by the Library Collectors' Council from Ursus Rare Books, January 21, 2006.
Processing information:

Processed by Suzanne Oatey in August 2023.

Arrangement:

Organized in four series:

  • 1. Postcards
  • 2. Photographic prints with lithographic coloring
  • 3. Oversize prints
  • 4. Photographs
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

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]. Detroit Publishing Company 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
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