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Louis E. and Max Levy photograph album

Creation: circa 1886-1893
 Collection
Accession: 1976-252
View this collection online in the Hagley Digital Archives.
View this collection online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Abstract

The brothers Louis Edward Levy (1846-1919) and Max Levy (1857-1926) founded a photoengraving business in Baltimore in 1875. In 1877 they moved to Philadelphia and reorganized the firm as the Levytype Company. Here they introduced their invention (jointly patented on January 4, 1875) of a new photochemical engraving process, which they called "Levy-type". This album contains personal cyanotype photographs of their homes, travels, friends and family.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1886-1893

Creator

Extent

1 volume(s)

General Physical Description

1 album (58 cyanotypes) ; 8.5 x 6.5 in.

Historical Note

The brothers Louis Edward Levy (1846-1919) and Max Levy (1857-1926) founded a photoengraving business in Baltimore in 1875. In 1877 they moved to Philadelphia and reorganized the firm as the Levytype Company. Here, they introduced their invention (jointly patented on January 4, 1875) of a new photochemical engraving process, which they called "Levy-type".

In 1887, Louis E. Levy, assisted by his brother, invented the engraved glass grating known as the "Levy line screen," which became universally used for producing half-tone photoengravings. This was of immense value to the field of graphic arts. Other inventions followed, most notably the acid blast, or etching machine, in 1897, and the etch-powdering machine in 1901. In 1900 the firm was renamed the Graphic Arts Company, and the brothers added a printing and publishing department to their business.

Outside of their work in the photography industry, the brothers were prominent members of the Philadelphia Jewish community. Most notably, Louis was the founding president of the Association for the Protection of Jewish Immigrants, known today as HIAS Pennsylvania, and wrote extensively on immigration related issues.

Scope and Content

Album contains personal cyanotype photographs. Included are views of a house in Philadelphia; the Pennsylvania Academy of Natural Science; scenes in Boston, Roxbury, Dedham, Concord, Northboro, and Nantucket, Massachusetts, including exterior photographs of the Alcott House and the Hawthorn house in Concord, and the Jonathan Fairbanks House in Dedham; a biology class at M.I.T.; snapshots of children and other people; an unidentified photographer and his camera; and various interiors.

Location

GL Box 2.

Existence and Location of Copies

View this collection online in the Hagley Digital Archives.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Related Material

Levy Collection (accession 1272), Manuscripts and Archives Dept., Hagley Museum and Library.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Louis E. and Max Levy photograph album
Date:
2014
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400