"Americana" - Photographs 1850-1950

Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA)

2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, Phila.  19130

Tour #1:  Thursday, September 17 at 11 am

WC members:  $10   WC non-member guests:  $17

(This registration fee is for the curator-led tour, only.  We anticipate that many of our registrants are PMA members - if not, there is an additional senior admission cost of $28, to be paid upon entry to the museum.)

A special opportunity to enjoy the insights of Peter Barberie, The Brodsky Curator of Photographs and Head of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as he guides us through this fascinating exhibition which he has personally assembled.

The term "Americana" often brings to mind familiar symbols of life in the United States, from apple pie and baseball to small-town parades and family snapshots.  Yet Americana is more than a collection of national icons.  It is a continually evolving idea shaped by the diverse people, communities, and experiences that make up the nation.  Spanning the years 1850 to 1950, this exhibition explores American life through photography during a century of profound change.  As the country was transformed by the Civil War, industrialization, mass immigration, and two world wars, photography became increasingly accesssible.  Affordable studio portraits and personal cameras allowed more people than ever before to record their lives and share their stories.  

Drawn from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's collection, the exhibition features a wide range of photographic objects, including daguerreotypes, tintypes, stereoviews, real photo postcards, photomontages, and snapshots.  Made by both professional and amateur photographers, these images capture everyday moments, personal histories, and community traditions.  Together, they offer a rich and varied portrait of the United States and invite visitors to reflect on how photography has shaped - and continues to shape - our understanding of American identity.  

This tour is a repeat of the afternoon tour.

Please note that the cancellation deadline is 9/10/26.  Should you need to cancel before this date, credit will be issued to your WC account, to be used for future purchases.

Also note that by registering for this event you will be granting your permission to have your image in photos used for Women's Connection publicity purposes.  Please notify the event organizer should you prefer not to be included.