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Walter Stoneman negatives, 1917-58


1819 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).

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Sir William Schwenck Gilbert, by Unknown photographer, copied by  Walter Stoneman - NPG x188193

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert

by Unknown photographer, copied by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass copy negative, copied April 1948 (1890s)
NPG x188193

Sir Albert Gerald Stern, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43370

Sir Albert Gerald Stern

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43370

Henry Latimer Jackson, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43388

Henry Latimer Jackson

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43388

Henry Latimer Jackson, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43389

Henry Latimer Jackson

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43389

Henry Latimer Jackson, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43390

Henry Latimer Jackson

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43390

Henry Latimer Jackson, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43391

Henry Latimer Jackson

by Walter Stoneman
half-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43391

Edgar Monteagle-Browne, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43574

Edgar Monteagle-Browne

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43574

Edgar Monteagle-Browne, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43575

Edgar Monteagle-Browne

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43575

Edgar Monteagle-Browne, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x43576

Edgar Monteagle-Browne

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1917
NPG x43576

Fleming Mant Sandwith, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x44128

Fleming Mant Sandwith

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1918
NPG x44128

Frederick Walter Radcliffe, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x44271

Frederick Walter Radcliffe

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1918
NPG x44271

William George Walker, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x65151

William George Walker

by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass negative, 1918
NPG x65151

Sir William Middlebrook, 1st Bt, by Walter Stoneman - NPG x65349

Sir William Middlebrook, 1st Bt

by Walter Stoneman
negative; half-plate glass negative, 1918
NPG x65349