Sandler Family Gallery: Glass Plate Negatives from the ACM Collections

Glass plate photography was used from the 1850s through 1920s. Despite their fragility, these photographic plates captured highly detailed images with long term stability superior to the film that would replace them. Thanks to the generous principal support from Rick and Kim Sandler, we are now able to safely scan this quickly growing collection and share them with the public. New collections will be added as they become available.

The first collection to be featured in this digital space includes newly discovered images from inside an Amesbury textile mill. Could your grandmother be one of these hardworking mill girls? We’d love to hear your story!

We also thank our dedicated collections and research volunteers that have provided their time, expertise, and additional support toward this project.