The Daguerreian Society brings together a community of people from all over the world, who are united by a common interest in and passion for early photography of all types. Our international members include top museum curators and scientists, photo collectors and dealers, photo historians, photographers and artists, as well as, students and teachers. Anyone that loves 19th-century photography and all its processes should join, even those that love the contemporary art photography that springs from those antiquarian photo processes.
The Society was formed in 1988 as a group “dedicated to the history, science, and art of the daguerreotype”. In 2007 and 2012 the Society changed and expanded its mission to include all forms of early photography and its processes, not just daguerreotypes; hence the Society’s new mission and tag line: “dedicated to the history, science, and art of early photography and processes.” Today in addition to daguerreotypes more than 90% of Society members collect other types of photographs and processes.
The group publishes an extensive Annual. The Annual features approximately 250 pages of unique research by Society members supported by scores of quality reproductions and historical images. In publication since 1990, these volumes have become a prime resource for early photography study and appreciation.
The Society also produces an illustrated Journal, which is currently published quarterly, with other useful information on photo history and the Society and its members and which is sent out in PDF format by email to the membership. This newsletter features previously unpublished images, articles of interest, late-breaking news, Society information, and reviews of recent related books, exhibits and publications. Members have access to past issues here in a password-protected area.
Each year the Society puts on a five-day Conference program with fascinating speakers, tours, a major 19th-century Photography Show — the largest such fair in the world — featuring daguerreotypes and other early photographs for sale, plus a grand opening reception, cocktail party, banquet, and 19th-Century Photography Auction.
The Society plans to occasionally hold some of its annual Conferences in Europe in the future, as it did in Paris in 2013. Other smaller educational programs and tours are planned in addition to the annual Conference, and these events will be held in both the U.S. and around the world for all the Society’s members’ enjoyment and benefit.
The Annual membership rates in the Society are usually $100 for U.S. and $125 for Non-U.S. voting members, although this rate can vary for the types of members from a low of $65 for students to other higher levels of financial membership support and the benefits for that support. Going through the registration process will guide you to the most appropriate membership type and level for your personal situation. You will have the ability to choose the correct one for yourself well before paying. You have many options to pay, including most credit cards, PayPal and by electronic check.