Subject guide

Photographica

Uniquely within the Netherlands, Leiden University Library also collects objects to document the technical development of photography. Hundreds of historical cameras are part of the colletion, as well as darkroom and finishing equipment (light meters, developing trays, color filters, drying racks, etcetera), projectors, magic lanterns and their slides, stereoscopic viewers, etcetera. Besides technology for the production of photography, the technology collection contains equipment of photostudios like posing stools, backdrops, lamps and the famous nineteenth-century neck clutches (to keep the model still during long exposure times).