National Photographic Record
5678 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.
by William Hammer & Co
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x16469
Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
by James Russell & Sons
bromide print, circa 1910s
NPG x167103
by William Hammer & Co
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x167836
by William Hammer & Co
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x167876
possibly by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x168584
James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x166190
Sir Willoughby Robert Dottin Maycock
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x186569
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x166900
Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x25014
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x169345
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x169561
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x169809
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1917
NPG x190998
Sir Edward Francis Benedict Charlton
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x166481
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x88136
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x167025
Sir (Pryce) Edward Pryce-Jones, 1st Bt
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x159763
Sir Francis Salwey Winnington, 6th Bt
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x186239
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x186925
Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1918
NPG x186970