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“Capturing Life” (1839-1869)

A picture is worth a thousand words. We also believe an archival photograph is worth a classroom lesson plan. “Capturing Life” (1839-1869) is a one-hour documentary that explores the first three decades of our region’s remarkable photographic history. Throughout this documentary viewers meet scientists and photographers who made Greater Cincinnati a major center for the development of early American photography. Their photographs documented our region’s history, marked scientific innovations in a revolutionary new medium and reflected the culture of our diverse communities. In short, their images captured life. Voyageur’s companion website makes some of the materials used to make the documentary accessible to viewers, teachers and students who want to explore our region’s rich photographic heritage.  The companion website includes the documentary script, original artwork, photographer profiles, archival lists and links, and other resources provided free for research and educational purposes. Voyageur has also organized the one-hour documentary in distinct segments to enhance classroom use. And, our production team has developed lesson plans based on key topics and photographs presented in the program.

Click here to watch/download: “Capturing Life” (1839-1869). “Capturing Life” (1839-1869) is available on Voyageur’s Vimeo Pro website for free viewing and download for non-commercial purposes. Click on the Vimeo link (above) for direct access. To download, click on the X to get rid of the Vimeo (Join for Free) banner that covers the navigation panel. Click on the download icon. A pop-up window will appear with five download options. Recommended: 1080p highest resolution (download time 2 to 3 minutes, mp4 format, 1.41 MB)

CET/Think TV: Streaming link: CET Community: https://watch.cetconnect.org/video/capturing-life-1839-1869-kg6m0b/

Lesson Plans

The lesson plans are designed for high school and college teachers and students throughout Greater Cincinnati. The education departments of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana have different academic standards. Therefore, these lesson plans relate to general academic courses in three areas: history, science and culture.  Enjoy! Click on each title to view and download each lesson plan as a PDF. Related photographs are provided as JPG image files.

History

O1: Photography and The History of Greater Cincinnati (PDF). Lesson 01 photograph: Daguerreotype View of Cincinnati, Plate 4, 1848 (JPG)
O2: Photography and Economics (PDF). Lesson 02 photographs: Jacob Strader at Wharf in Cincinnati, ca. 1853 (JPG); and View of Cincinnati, panorama, ca. 1866 (JPG)
O3: Photography and The Civil War (PDF). Lesson 03 photographs: [Three soldiers 18th Ohio Infantry], 1861-1864 (JPG); and [Freedom Seeker], 1862 (JPG)

Science

O4: Photography as Technology (PDF). Lesson 04 photographs: [Portrait of a Man] ca. 1841 (JPG); and “Cliffs Over the Dead Sea,” Mammoth Cave, 1866 (JPG)
O5: Photography and Optics (PDF). Lesson 05 photographs: Windsor Castle, ca. 1841 (JPG); and [Main Street, Cincinnati], ca. 1850s (JPG)
O6: Scientific Advancements in Photography (PDF). Lesson 06 photographs: Windsor Castle, salted paper print, ca. 1841 (JPG);  [Main Street, Cincinnati], daguerreotype, ca. 1850s (JPG); Unidentified woman, ambrotype, ca. 1850 (JPG); Thomas C. Ball, tintype, 1850-1860 (JPG); “Beyond the Bridge of Sighs,” wet-plate collodion photograph, Mammoth Cave, 1866 (JPG); and Unidentified African American sailor, carte-de-visite, 1861-1865 (JPG)

Culture

O7: Photography and Identity (PDF). Lesson 07 photographs: [A Family Seated in Its Garden], 1848-1852 (JPG); Unidentified Woman, 1847-1860 (JPG); and Frederick Douglass, 1867 (JPG)
O8: Photography and the Spread of Ideas (PDF). Lesson 08 photographs: Jenny Lind, 1851 (JPG), Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852 (JPG); and Frederick Douglass, ca. 1852 (JPG)
O9: Photography and the History of Art (PDF). Lesson 09 photographs: Boy with Riding Crop, 1848-1852 (JPG); Portrait of a man and woman, ca. 1846  (JPG);  Mrs. W.C. Witzel, ca. 1853  (JPG);  The Hercules Family, ca. 1850  (JPG).
10: Photography and Visual Literacy (PDF). Lesson 10 photograph: [Freedom Seeker], 1862 (JPG)

Voyageur’s Education Committee

The lesson plans were developed by four members of Voyageur’s production team who have vast experience as media producers and educators, including classroom instruction with high school and college students. The education committee members are:

  • Meg Hanrahan: Chair, Associate Producer; Adjunct Professor, Media Communications and Technology, University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College.
  • Anastasia Nurre, Ph.D.: Associate Producer; Adjunct Professor, Art History, University of Cincinnati, and Xavier University.
  • Frank O’Farrell: Outreach Consultant; Executive Director, Fourthwall Youth Studios; Adjunct Professor, University of Cincinnati.
  • Kelly Wright, Ph.D.: Academic Consultant; Adjunct Professor, American History, University of Cincinnati.