Leeds Photographic Society

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

Leeds Photographic Society Records, WYL2064 (WYAS:Leeds)

After the discovery of the photographic process in 1839 a growing interest in photography led to the creation of photographic societies. The Leeds Photographic Society was established in 1852 and is believed to be the oldest surviving photographic society in the world. The society was formed by Mr J W Ramsden some nine months before the Photographic Society of London. It briefly became a section of the Leeds Field Naturalist Club in 1878 but re-established as an independent society in 1881.

The group met regularly throughout the year to hear papers on issues such as “the Manipulation of the Optical Lantern” and “the New Cold-Bath Platinotype Process”. They also held more informal meetings to discuss new technologies and to get assistance with photographic processes. For example, in a meeting in 1893 members were invited to bring down slides to trial in a lantern in the hope that they “would be of great assistance in leading to the production of a higher quality of Lantern slide”.

The members of the society came from a wide range of backgrounds. One of the early members, Samuel Smith was a surgeon and lecturer in medicine and later became a President of the Society in 1857-58. Members were only admitted after a ballot by existing members and had to pay annual subscriptions of 4 shillings per annum payable quarterly in advance. Unlike many of the societies of the time, women were admitted and the collection includes some photographs of men and women on field trips to local areas.

The Leeds Photographic Society have met in various locations over the years including the Mechanic’s Institute and the Law Institute in Albion Place. A minute in the General Meeting of the Photo-Section on the 1st November 1883 reports that the use of the Leeds Philosophical Society Library for one night a month had been agreed. The group now meet at St Edmund’s Parish Church in Roundhay. They are federated to the Yorkshire Photographic Union and affiliated to the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.

This collection includes the rules of the society used from 1853, minute books 1883-1992, financial records 1884-1976, secretary’s correspondence 1895-1986, syllabuses 1890-2003, competition and portfolio records 1949-1972, scrapbooks and newspaper cuttings 1899-2002. Even though the society began in 1852 the minutes we hold date from October 1883. Unfortunately the whereabouts of the early society records are unknown although it is recorded in 1891 that they were being exhibited in the International Photographic Exhibition held in the Leeds Municipal Art Gallery.