Scope of the Collection

The Torrington Historical Society has a large photographic collection which includes daguerreotypes, tintypes, ambrotypes, albumin prints, gelatin silver prints, glass plate negatives, film negatives, and color slides. Photographs in this collection date from the mid-19th century to the present. The oldest photographic image of a Torrington scene is a daguerreotype, ca. 1855, of the Dayton Organ Factory in the north end of Torrington. 

Views of Torrington by local nineteenth century photographers such as Christie Siebert, F.O. Hills and John Norton Brooks can be found in this photographic archive. A particular strength of the collection are images of Torrington street scenes and views, ca. 1890-1920, by both amateur and professional photographers. These photographs document people, places, institutions, and events which shaped Torrington’s history. Torrington’s more recent history is represented by the work of 20th and 21st century individuals including photographers including James Miller and Richard Schlott. 

Also of interest are five prints taken by noted photographer Margaret Bourke-White in August of 1955. Bourke-White was in Torrington documenting the aftermath of the 1955 flood for Life magazine.