What value do historical photographs have in understanding past environments? Historians of science have been slow to appreciate them. In part this is because scientists, as elites, tend to leave large collections of correspondence, notes, diaries, and reports in repositories—and these are utilized to write narratives of scientific developments. Yet researchers--historians as well as ecologists--ignore photographic evidence at their peril. Large photograph collections exist that document not only scientists and scientific activities since the last decades of the nineteenth century, but also in-situ field research. These photographs provide important insights into past environmental conditions where studies were undertaken.
Results/Conclusions
Several case studies illustrate what might be gained when historical photographs are utilized as evidence. Large collections of photographs made by faculty members at the University of Wyoming at the start of the twentieth century reveal ecological conditions on the high plains less readily available through other sources. Rephotography projects drawing on U.S. exploring expedition photography from the late nineteenth century forward reveal at a glance significant ecological changes more difficult to achieve through alternative data sources. In addition, historical photographs coupled with an understanding of topynymy (a careful assessment of place names) can reveal environmental management practices not otherwise captured in written documents—including Native American burning practices that maintained fields within forested areas to aid the hunting of game.
One challenge limiting robust utilization of historical photographs is insufficient metadata for these collections, although standardized geotagging by archives and repositories is rapidly increasing, making it easier to locate images of particular regions under study. In any case, historians and archivists know where the goods are—and can be valuable allies in finding ways to extend crucial baselines.