What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women,1843-1999

What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843-1999
A Hands-on Reading Room Exhibition, Henry Long Room

Organized in collaboration with 10 x 10 Photobooks

March 2-4, 2023

The Boston Athenaeum is pleased to present What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women, 1843-1999, a hands-on reading room showcasing a global selection of photobooks by female photographers from photography’s beginnings to the dawn of the 21st century.

Programming details forthcoming.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Our Blog

Revisiting the Ruins: The Great Boston Fire of 1872

Coming April 2023 to the Calderwood Gallery

Following the 150th anniversary of the Great Boston Fire, Revisiting the Ruins will consider how this event—which ravaged Boston’s central commercial district—was pictured, described, and circulated, presenting a range of media that documented the blaze and its aftermath. This exhibition will showcase powerful artifacts from a pivotal moment in Boston’s history while prompting visitors to consider how it has been remembered (or forgotten) generations later.

What They Saw: Historical Photobooks by Women,1843-1999