Other
Photographic Societies
There
were very few photographic societies in Britain when PSS was established.
But links with those that already existed were soon established.
Even
before PSS was created, Horatio Ross had contacted the London and Manchester
Photographic Societies to seek guidance on the laws and regulations that it
might be expedient to adopt.
Several
Photographic Journals were established to report the activities of the newly
–formed Photographic Societies. These
journals enabled photographers to keep in touch with new discoveries, and the
activities of other societies, including details of any Open Photographic
Exhibitions.
Which
Journal?
There
was rivalry amongst the Journals to become the “Official Organ” of the newly
formed photographic societies. The societies, themselves were keen to strike the best deal
possible with the editors.
PSS
approached two journals to see which would best meet their needs.
They were:
─
Photographic
Notes,
the Manchester Photographic Society’s journal, edited by Thomas Sutton
─
Journal
of the Photographic Society,
the London Photographic
Society’s journal, edited by JR Major.
Both
were keen to publish the activities of PSS.
It was Thomas Sutton who got the contract for the first year, one of the
conditions being that he subtitled his journal: Journal
of the Photographic Society of Scotland and of the Manchester Photographic
Society.
The
arrangements with the Manchester journal were not entirely satisfactory, so in
1857 they were changed. PSS first
considered publishing its own journal, then rejected the idea and chose,
instead, to have its proceedings published in the London Journal
of the Photographic Society.
The
Short hand Reporter
The
rivalry clearly continued. On 24
January 1859 it was reported that Mr Fenney, short hand reporter, had applied to
become a Member of the PSS: His
reason for wishing to join was:
“solely
for the purpose of reporting its proceedings for the Liverpool Photographic
Journal – a proceeding which the Hon Sec stated was of course violating an
agreement with the London Society. The
Council accordingly determined that steps should be taken to exclude Mr Fenney
from the Society as a Reporter and that a Statement of the circumstances should
be made to the Meeting previous to his being balloted for.”
The
Liverpool Photographic Journal referred to above was presumably George
Shadbolt’s journal. This became the British Journal of Photography in 1860,
and the “official organ” of several societies, including EPS from 1861
onwards.
|