Stoughton Hall, Harvard University 1863 - 1884

Curator: This is a photograph by George Kendall Warren, titled "Stoughton Hall, Harvard University." Editor: There's something stark and skeletal about it, maybe it's the bare trees against the building, the uniformity of the windows and brick. It looks austere. Curator: Indeed. Warren's photograph captures not just the building itself, but the very image Harvard sought to project. The hall, built to house students, becomes a symbol of institutional power. Editor: And yet, the process of photography itself is fascinating. The collodion or albumen prints used at the time, the darkroom labor, those choices shaped how we perceive the scene. Curator: Absolutely, the photograph immortalizes Stoughton Hall. It solidifies its place within the historical narrative. But at the same time, it is a constructed reality. Editor: I agree, the labor in creating an image like this is often overlooked, yet it's integral to understanding the final product and its enduring impact. Curator: It’s fascinating to see how the social and political power of the university is literally embodied here. Editor: Yes, and thinking about the actual materials used to create this image highlights the labor and the choices that shaped it.