INTRODUCTION

As published in the 1996 Daguerreian Annual, this congested article was difficult to follow. Too many topics were covered and important information was relegated to footnotes.

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Two reorganized on-line versions of the article are linked below. The first version is left as originally written
(but with footnotes integrated back into the text):

Here is a link to the first version
(still a rather difficult read):

LINK

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The second version of the article
is split into two shorter articles (A & B)
(also with footnotes integrated back into the text).

ARTICLE "A" -- evaluates the negative assessment of Draper's claims by Robert Taft in his 1938 "Photography and the American Scene".

Here is a link to Article "A":

LINK

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ARTICLE "B" -- critiques all 19th century controversy over the "First Portrait," that preceded Robert Taft's book.

Here is a link to Article "B":

LINK

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