The Story of a Philadelphia Photographer

robert cornelius, like a lot of business owners in philadelphia, was trying to regain stable footing after the 18 37 financial panic had caused a dip in revenue. Joseph saxton is usually credited with creating the first photograph made in the us. The various components needed for that photo were largely improvised by saxton. A seedlets powder box with a few flakes of iodine answered for a coating box while a cigar box and burning glass were improvised for a camera. An iron spoon served to heat mercury to develop the plate.