National Photographic Record: prints by Walter Stoneman, 1910-19
1299 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.
William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x163982
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x165654
Sir John Tomlinson Brunner, 1st Bt
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x166180
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1910s
NPG x169894
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x185822
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1915
NPG x165357
Stanley Owen Buckmaster, 1st Viscount Buckmaster
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 1915
NPG x31062
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1915
NPG x159915
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x163613
Alfred Milner, Viscount Milner
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x165581
Sir (Cecil Frederick) Nevil Macready, 1st Bt
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x28302
Randall Thomas Davidson, Baron Davidson of Lambeth
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x167012
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x166879
John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x168554
Sir Edward John Poynter, 1st Bt
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x159731
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x159834
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x159848
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x159966
Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x185031
Henry John Brinsley Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, circa 1916
NPG x185082