ABSTRACT
Photographic displays reflected various aspects of the shifting background and were microcosms of the larger story of nineteenth century social, economic and political change that helped shape their meaning. Photographic displays served as vehicles for connecting people with images. These displays made possible the transmission of a new visual culture in which the photograph played a part in convincing the public of the value of its social relationships, the truths of scientific inquiry, the efficacy of government service, and the factual information imbedded in the image. Industrial fairs placed photographs within a specific marketplace of business and commerce; international expositions created a space for photographs that were demonstrations of national identity and progress; and institutional exhibitions provided sites where the cultural content of the photographs could be expressed. The public dimension of photography’s history remains controversial as does the cultural impact of its display.
