National Photographic Record: negatives by Walter Stoneman, 1917-58
9144 Portraits in set
The National Photographic Record began in 1917, during the First World War, at the instigation of Walter Stoneman, the chief photographer for the long established firm of Russell & Sons. A selected range of eminent people of the day were invited to make an appointment to sit at Stoneman's studio and from each sitting a mounted print was added to the NPR. Reproduction fees from the publication of any of these photographs were shared between the photographer and the National Portrait Gallery. The collection was made for record purposes only, with no intention of the results being exhibited. Despite controversy caused by working exclusively with one selected photographer, the collection of postcard-sized prints of eminent people of the day grew over the years to an archive of over 10,000 subjects. Each year approximately 200 new subjects were added to an alphabetical sequence now housed in 436 boxes and viewable by appointment. Stoneman was succeeded, on his retirement and death, by Walter Bird (active 1958-1967), and then by Godfrey Argent (active 1967-1970). In addition, the Gallery also holds approximately 10,000 NPR whole- and half-plate glass negatives taken between 1917 and 1958, arranged chronologically, which consist of up to five alternative poses taken at the NPR sitting.
Royal group including Queen Victoria and Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass copy negative, copied January 1948 (April 1894)
NPG x189248
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x32102
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x159881
Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha of Raipur
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x24057
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20700
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20701
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20702
by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x20703
Sir John Arthur Ransome Marriott
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20704
Sir John Arthur Ransome Marriott
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20705
Sir John Arthur Ransome Marriott
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20706
Sir John Arthur Ransome Marriott
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20707
Sir John Arthur Ransome Marriott
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20708
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20709
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20710
Sir John Samuel Fletcher, 1st Bt
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20711
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20712
Sir (Ernest) Richard Fitzpatrick
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20713
Sir (Ernest) Richard Fitzpatrick
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20714
William Hugh Clifford, 10th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh
by Walter Stoneman
negative, 1917
NPG x20715