Album of Delegates to the International American Conference, Washington, DC, Presented by the Government of the United States 1889 - 1890

Curator: Looking at this album, titled "Album of Delegates to the International American Conference, Washington, D.C., Presented by the Government of the United States," photographed by Mathew Brady around 1889-90, I’m struck by its tangible presence. Editor: It looks worn, doesn't it? You can almost smell the history. What exactly did this conference mean to the Americas at the time? Curator: The International American Conference was a key moment in the rise of U.S. influence in the Americas, pushing for economic cooperation. It laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the Organization of American States. Editor: So it's not just a photo album; it's a document of early globalization efforts and U.S. imperialism, captured by Brady, a famed Civil War photographer. I wonder, who exactly were these delegates, and what was left out of their vision for "cooperation?" Curator: Exactly! It's a visual artifact of a complex historical moment, full of both promise and potential for exploitation. Seeing it reminds me that photographs are never neutral, especially those commissioned by the state. Editor: Definitely a powerful reminder that history is always mediated and presented through specific lenses. Food for thought.