Silas McConnell Holding his Daughter Louise, circa 1876

Summary

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Tintypes, the popular "instant photographs" of the 19th century, could be produced in a matter of minutes at a price most people could afford. Tintypes democratized photography. Beginning in the mid-1850s, they gave more people than ever before the chance to have a real likeness of themselves--capturing unique glimpses of how everyday Americans looked and lived.

Artifact

Tintype (Photograph)

Date Made

circa 1876

Subject Date

circa 1876

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

81.17.15

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Helen Denning.

Material

Iron (Metal)

Technique

Tintype (Process)
Hand coloring

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 in

Width: 2.5 in

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More