Jim Reilly and Ryan Boatright

The Identification of Photographic Print Processes

12-16 July 2010

1. How useful were the pre-course readings? (Leave blank if you applied and were accepted late for the course, and thus did not get the list in time.)

1: The book on c19 methods was extremely helpful and essential for the course: I will use it as a reference in the future. The book on color wasn't as easy to read, however, and less helpful overall. The lectures on color were much better. 2: Gave a good run-down on what to learn. Good to use as resources later on. Don't think there needs to be more than one history of photography book on the list. 3: Very pertinent. 4: They were relevant for the course and were clarified in our sessions. The books gave us a good idea of what would be covered. 5: I used these more for general reference. It might be nice to have a few scholarly readings (for instance, a recent article on the materiality of the photographs, i.e. Elizabeth Edwards' work) to set the tone of the course. 6: Very much so, especially JR's book. 7: Very useful—but I still wanted to get the information from JR and RB in person. 8: Great. But there should also be a book resource on later color and digital processes—it would have helped with the first test ids. 9: JR's publication on c19 photo processes is essential reading for the course. Coe's publication was less helpful.

2. Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class appropriate and useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?

1: The packet of PowerPoint printouts was fantastic! The packet made notetaking much easier and will, I expect, be an invaluable resource to consult in the future. The course is very well organized. 2: Very! Super organized and will be a great resource for my career and studies. 3: Yes. 4: Yes—the PowerPoint presentations were handed out to us—they served as an excellent basis for our notes. 5: Yes—very much so. I don't doubt that I'll refer back to my notes many times. The format of the notebook—PowerPoint slide with space to write—was especially useful. 6: The frame by frame sheets corresponding to the PowerPoint presentation with room for notes was very useful. 7: Terrific. Will be incredibly useful at work. 8: The syllabus is great. A more in-depth bibliography would be helpful to learn with—top books in all areas (daguerreotypes, &c.). 9: Absolutely.

3. What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?

1: I was most interested in c19 processes, but the material on c20 ones was interesting and will provide me with useful background. The intellectual level of the course was very appropriate: challenging but not impossible. 2: Yes and yes. 3: c19 material; the intellectual level of the course was appropriate. 4: Hands-on examination of the photographs. I also enjoyed a hands-on exercise in developing and would have liked to see more of that. 5: c19 and early c20 materials were of most interest to me. The intellectual level was appropriate. 6: Pre-WWI processes were most useful for business reasons, though the later processes are interesting too. Intellectual level was spot on—I think I absorbed most of the info but definitely not all. It kept me scrambling, never bored. 7: The whole course; that is, learning about each type of print and how to identify them. The intellectual level was entirely appropriate. 8: The c19 and early c20 processes were the most helpful since this is what I work with mostly. 9: All was relevant and fascinating. Intellectual level was appropriate.

4. What did you like best about the course?

1: All the time we spent on looking at actual examples of processes and getting specific feedback from JR and RB: this is an aspect of the course that can't be reproduced in a book. 2: How we got to handle and really observe all types of photographs and examine them. It was great to see these visually as well as on PowerPoint. Also learning about all the resources we can use to help identify photographs. 3: RB's discussion of darkroom technique. 4: The wealth of information that the instructors had and the organized manner in which they taught us. 5: Being able to interact with actual objects! 6: Hands-on identification of objects. The good humor of the instructors made the atmosphere very pleasant. 7: The teachers and the organization of the course. 8: JR and RB. What a great team! I feel so fortunate to have been able to be taught by both of them, so very knowledgeable, friendly, patient. 9: Identification practicum.

5. Did the instructor(s) successfully help you to acquire the information and skills that the course was intended to convey?

1: Yes! I still don't feel confident about identifying prints, but I do feel much more knowledgeable about the different processes. JR and RB were very helpful and knowledgeable, as well as extremely patient. 2: Yes! 3: Yes. 4: Absolutely. 5: Yes, absolutely. I was extremely impressed by both the depth and breadth of their knowledge. 6-7: Yes. 8: Yes, very much so. 9: Yes. Both instructors are extremely knowledgeable and conveyed information.

6. Did you learn what the course description/advertisements indicated you would learn?

1: Yes. I learned more than I thought I would! 2: Yes. And much more! 3: Yes. This material will require deeper experience for me to truly learn it. 4-5: Yes. 6: Yes. Well, not everything! 7-9: Yes.

7. Did you learn what you wanted to learn in the course?

1: Yes. I learned much more than the knowledge of c19 albumen prints that I wanted. 2-9: Yes.

8. How do you intend to use or apply the knowledge or skills learned in this course?

1: I intend to use it in my research. 2: Towards identifying before scanning and towards future careers. 3: Selling photos, daguerreotypes. 4: It will help me to identify the photographs that I work with. 5: In my research—I work with a number of hidden collections and hope to collaborate with archivists and curators to write finding aids in addition to doing "traditional" scholarly research. Also in my teaching—I can greater convey to my students the history of techniques, process and materials. 6: In buying, selling, and appraising photographs (after more work on this). 7: To help me in my rare book cataloging. 8: To correctly identify prints I am cataloging and an exhibition I am curating. To better handle the early photographs I am working with. 9: Identifying photographic and photomechanical prints for preservation and conservation purposes.

9. How could the course have been improved? If you have a suggestion for a new course (and—equally important—a person who could teach it), please contact the RBS Program Director.

1: Everything was great! (No suggestions.) 2: N/A. 3: Expand discussion of major artists. 4: I would have loved it if the instructors had included in our packets examples of the photographic processes. I would have been willing to pay for that. 5: If possible, I'd love to have copies of the PowerPoints? 6: A little more time handling objects that are clearly identified on the back. Sort of like a flashcard thing. 7: I really don't think it could be improved. 8: I think the only thing I would suggest is to keep the class at nine people: it was the perfect size. 9: Short of increasing the length, nothing. Perfect.

10. If your course left its classroom to visit Special Collections (SC) or to make other field trips away from your classroom, was the time devoted to this purpose well spent?

1: N/A. 2: N/A. 5: N/A. 7: All we did was make prints in the sun and develop them in a photo lab in Alderman. All fascinating.

11. We are always concerned about the physical well—being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UVa's Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?

1: None. 2: Our materials were well-handled and properly stored so all were in a great condition. 5: Some photos got a bit finger-printy. Perhaps have a place to wash hands before handling, or we could wear gloves. 7: None. 8: Recommend washing of hands and (perhaps) no food in classroom.

12. If you attended the optional evening events (e.g., RBS Lecture, Video Night, RBS Forum, Booksellers' Night) were they worth attending?

1: N/A (I didn't attend). 2: N/A. 5: Didn't attend—I'm sure they were interesting, but I needed some down time at the end of the day. 6: Yes. 7: I attended the lecture and the Forum: both terrific. 9: I attended both lectures—very enjoyable.

13. Did you get your (or your institution's) money's worth? Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year?

1: Yes! I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in photographic processes: it is excellent! 2: Very much. I do plan on taking another course in the future if my funds allow. 3: Yes. 4: This was a fabulous course that I would recommend to anyone who would like to learn about photographic processes. 5: Absolutely! I appreciated the healthy snack choices at break. 6: Yes. 7: Yes, absolutely. 8: Yes, and then some! The course is one of the best, if not the best, I have taken at RBS. Thanks, JR and Ryan! A+! 9: Yes!

Number of respondents: 9

PERCENTAGES

Leave

Institution gave me leave

56 %

I took vacation time

11%

N/A: self-employed, retired or had the summers off

33%

Tuition

Institution paid tuition

44%

I paid tuition myself

33%

N/A: Self-employed, retired

11%

Scholarship

11%

Housing

Institution paid housing

44%

I paid for my own housing

33%

N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home

22%

Travel

Institution paid travel

33%

I paid my own travel

44%

N/A: lived nearby

22%

 

There were two rare book librarians, two antiquarian booksellers, one museum curator, one art history professor, one Ph.D. student, one M.L.S. student and one conservator.