Whether you're here just to browse around and look at images or whether you're already passionate about early photography, the members of The Daguerreian Society welcome you.

The Daguerreian Society brings together people from all over the world who are united by a common interest in the history of photography. Our members include students and teachers... museum curators and scientists... collectors and dealers... historians, photographers and artists. We formed in 1988 as a group "dedicated to the history, science, and art of the daguerreotype." Daguerreotypes -- the glittering, mirror-like images made by the world's first practical system of photography -- are only one part of what brings us together. Over the years, we've learned to appreciate the skills and knowledge of our fellow members, and their dedication to increasing the world's understanding of early photography and its role in history.

Our group publishes an Annual that's filled with great images discovered by our members and carefully-researched articles written by members. We also produce an illustrated Quarterly with even more useful information.

And once a year in the Fall we gather for a long weekend of fellowship that includes a symposium with fascinating speakers, a trade fair featuring daguerreotypes and other early photographs for sale, plus a banquet and an exhibition. Our 2011 gathering took place in St. Petersburg, Florida October 27-30.

If you enjoy your visit to this website, chances are you'll fit right in. So please -- join us!

The Daguerreian Society is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

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Longtime Daguerreian Society member John Scott Craig died of cancer peacefully at home Friday February 25, 2011. His distinguished Craig's Daguerreian Registry was the acknowledged reference work among dealers and collectors for identifying and dating the more than 12,000 photographers who worked in the United States prior to 1860. In 2007, the Daguerreian Society awarded Craig its first Fellowship Award, inscribed: For the advancement of scholarship in the field of photo history and the willingness to share that knowledge with his contemporaries and future generation of historians, scholars and collectors. He will be sorely missed.

John's family has suggested donations in his memory be made to The Daguerreian Society, PO Box 306, Cecil, PA 15321-0306 (you may also use the PayPal "Donate" button here), or to The Lymphoma Research Foundation, 115 Broadway, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10006.

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DAGUERREIAN SOCIETY 2011 SYMPOSIUM: Our 2011 Symposium was held October 27-30 in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Details can be found here.