Early Photography Archive

Name: Early Photography Archive
Creator: Analog Photo Today
License: Open-access data is CC0; public-domain images are served via IIIF links without redistribution.

The Early Photography Archive presents public-domain photographs from the Art Institute of Chicago photography and media collection, with artist, process and dating context, drawn from the CC0 API and refreshed monthly. Every record links the museum page and adds technique family, origin region and era labels from our pipeline.

Records: 4,070
Last changed: 09/02/2026
Update schedule: 27 5 2 * * UTC
Coverage: 03/03/2026–09/02/2026
Method: Methodology

Photograph	Artist	Date	Technique	Origin	On view
The Tree Fern, Prize Photo	Samuel Bourne English, 1834–1912	1863	printing_dyeing metalwork photography	Europe	false
Sculptural Frieze by Cavelier, Minerva Surrounded by the Muses of the Arts	Adolphe Terris French, 1820–1900	c. 1868	photography	Europe	false
Cathedral Bridge, Buttermilk Falls, Watkins Glen, N.Y., No. 10 from the series "On the Line of the ERIE, Railway"	Charles Bierstadt American, born Germany, 1819–1903	1863/1903	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Fredericksburg, Virginia	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	February 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Interior of Breastworks on Round Top, Gettysburg	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Castle Murray, Near Auburn, Virginia	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	November 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Culpeper, Virginia	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	November 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Head-Quarters, New York Herald, Army of the Potomac	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	September 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Ruins of Arsenal, Richmond, Virginia	Alexander Gardner American, born Scotland, 1821–1882	April 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Slaughter Pen, Foot of Round Top, Gettysburg	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Head-Quarters Major General George G. Meade	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
A Sharpshooter's Last Sleep, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania	Alexander Gardner American, born Scotland, 1821–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Gateway of Cemetery, Gettysburg	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Field Where General Reynolds Fell, Gettysburg	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Dunker Church, Battle-Field of Antietam, Maryland	James Gardner American, born Scotland, 1832–after 1865	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Headquarters Christian Commission in the Field	James Gardner American, born Scotland, 1832–after 1865	September 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Wagon Park, Brandy Station, Virginia	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	May 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Pontoon Bridge Across the Rappahannock	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	May 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Incidents of the War: Battery D, 5th U.S. Artillery in Action	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Studying the Art of War	Alexander Gardner American, born Scotland, 1821–1882	June 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Provost Marshal's Office, Aquia Creek	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	February 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Fairfax Court-House	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	June 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Residence Chief Quartermaster Third Army Corps, Brandy Station	James Gardner American, born Scotland, 1832–after 1865	December 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
The Shebang, or Quarters of U.S. Sanitary Commission, Brandy Station	James Gardner American, born Scotland, 1832–after 1865	November 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter, Gettysburg	Alexander Gardner American, born Scotland, 1821–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Trossell's House, Battle-Field of Gettysburg	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	July 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Group of Confederate Prisoners at Fairfax Court-House	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	June 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Evacuation of Aquia Creek	Timothy O'Sullivan American, born Ireland, 1840–1882	June 1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Lady Filmer in her Drawing Room	Mary Georgiana Caroline, Lady Filmer English, 1838-1903	1863–68	printing_dyeing photography	Europe	false
Le Geant, Champ de Mars	Nadar (Gaspard Félix Tournachon) French, 1820–1910	October 18, 1863, probably printed 1880/89	printing_dyeing metalwork photography	Europe	false
Untitled (Portrait of Two Men; a Barber and Client)	Unknown maker American, 19th century	1863	photography	Americas	false
Untitled (Portrait of a Seated Man)	Unknown maker American, 19th century	1863	photography	Americas	false
Cactus Gigantea - 18 feet high, San Jose, Santa Clara County, No. 73 from the series "San Jose, Cal."	Thomas Houseworth & Co. American, 1828–1915	c. 1868	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Webber Canon, U.P.R.R.	Charles Bierstadt American, born Germany, 1819–1903	1863/1903	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Placer Mining, Flume in Brown's Flat, Tuolumne County, No. 970 from the series "Placer Mining"	Thomas Houseworth & Co. American, 1828–1915	c. 1868	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Mirror View of Cathedral Rocks. Yo Semite Val, Cal.	Charles Bierstadt American, born Germany, 1819–1903	1863/1903	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Yo-semite Valley, from the South Dome, No. 1614 from the series "Yosemite Valley"	Thomas Houseworth & Co. American, 1828–1915	c. 1868	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Elfin Gorge and Fairy Pool, Watkins Glen, N.Y.	Charles Bierstadt American, born Germany, 1819–1903	1863/1903	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Frowning Cliff, distant view, Watkins Glen, N.Y., No. 17 from the series "On the Line of the ERIE, Railway"	Charles Bierstadt American, born Germany, 1819–1903	1863/1903	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Coal Wharf, Alexandria, Virginia	Andrew J. Russell American, 1830–1902	1863	printing_dyeing photography	Americas	false
Musket-Proof Half Armor of King Philip III (Media Armadura a Prueba de Mosquete del Rey Felipe III)	Juan (Jean) Laurent French, active in Spain, 1816–1886	c. 1868	printing_dyeing photography	Europe	false
Thomas Carlyle	Elliott & Fry English, active 1860s-1920s	1863–69	printing_dyeing photography	Europe	false
Prince Kung	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false
City Victoria, Hong-Kong	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false
The Harbour, Hong-Kong	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false
A Hong-Kong Sedan Chair; A Chineses School-Boy; A Chinese Girl; A Hong-Kong Artist	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false
The Clock-Tower, Hong-Kong	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false
The Praya, Hong-Kong	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false
Boat Girls; A Canton Boatwoman and Child; Musicians; Musicians	John Thomson Scottish, 1837–1921	c. 1868	other	Europe	false