William H. Rau (1855-1920) was prominent Philadelphia photographer. During the 1870s and 1880s, William H. Rau would become best known for his work photographing scenic views from around the world. In 1895, Rau received a commission from the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Once again traveling in a customized passenger car, Rau traveled on the Lehigh Valley Railroad’s lines from New York City to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and upstate New York, documenting hundreds of landscapes along the way. Over two hundred images from this appointment would later be placed in Lehigh Valley Railroad terminals and public sites along the railroad’s reach.

William H. Rau (1855-1920) was a prominent Philadelphia photographer. During the 1870s and 1880s, Rau was best known for his work photographing scenic views from around the world. This is a small, artificial collection primarily consisting of Rau's stereoviews of city and countryside scenery, as well as a set of twelve images that depict a story. The glass negatives show the interiors of Rau's Philadelphia photography studio and workers. The materials date from around the 1890s to 1904.