DATE: circa 1840s-1850s
CREATOR: unknown
ABSTRACT: Five daguerreotypes depicting people posed with objects and in uniforms related to their professions.
SCOPE: These daguerreotypes were taken by an unknown photographer and depict people engaged with their profession. The cases are constructed of embossed leather over wood with velvet lining. Several images feature hand-coloring. Four photographs in this collection are sixth-plate daguerreotypes (2¾" × 3¼") and one is a ninth-plate (2" × 2½").
HISTORY: Daguerreotypes are an early method of processing photographs, where silver-plated copper is polished, treated with iodine, placed in a camera, and then exposed to mercury and toned to develop the image. This method was popular and publicly available from the 1840s-1850s.
PROVENANCE: From the private collection of Lynn and Yann Maillet, and purchased by the St. Louis Mercantile Library in 2025.
EXTENT: 5 daguerreotypes
ACCESS: This is collection M-694. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”
INVENTORY
- Untitled [49er Goes West], c.1849 (sixth-plate)
- Untitled [Scientist with Hydrometer], c.1845 (sixth-plate)
- Untitled [Carpenter with Tools at Workbench], c.1850 (sixth-plate)
- Untitled [Barrel Maker (Cooper) with Tools], c.1850 (sixth-plate)
- Untitled [An Officer], c. 1850 (ninth-plate)
