The Baltimore Camera Club: 130 Years of Photographic Education and Excellence
The Baltimore Camera Club -- one of the oldest photographic societies in the United States -- turns 130 years old this year! And what better way to celebrate than to explore the history of this illustrious group at UMBC’s Special Collections? Founded in 1884, the Baltimore Camera Club maintains a dedication to exploring the art and science of photography, offering members the opportunity to learn more about photographic process, participate in outings, and enter their in photography competitions.
If you’re interested in the history of the Baltimore Camera Club, UMBC’s Special Collections is the place to be. Graciously donated by the Club and its members, the Baltimore Camera Club collection is home to a wide variety of photographs, documents and artifacts relating to their lengthy history. Check out the huge collection of trophies and certificates awarded for photographic excellence, or browse the number of documents of the Club’s financial and member history, including handwritten ledger books from the turn of the century. Among the many items in the collection is a series of scrapbook pages featuring meeting announcements, newspaper clippings, and photographs of the club’s founding members, which offers the opportunity to gain a peek into how such a long-lasting club got its start.
Baltimore Camera Club trophy
Want to learn more about past activities of The Baltimore Camera Club? Have a look
at the issues of the Baltimore Camera Club’s publication, Focal Point, dating from the late 1970s into the 1990s. Or maybe you want to see the types of works that members produced -- well we have that too! The collection contains a number of member-created photographs, including
prints by some of the their most famous members, like Edward Bafford and A.
Aubrey Bodine, who was also a photographer at the Baltimore Sun for fifty years.
A. Aubrey Bodine self portrait
Feel free to grab a seat by the display of antique cameras in our reading room and spend some time exploring the long and interesting history of The Baltimore Camera Club. Whether you want to bone up on your history before attending a meeting or just want to learn about the oldest photographic society in the nation, UMBC’s Special Collections department has something for you.
RPM, Laverne L. Bodaire
Written by former Special Collections Student Assistant Kathleen Foster
More information about the Baltimore Camera Club’s meetings and current activities can be found on their website, www.baltimorecameraclub.org.
