I’m in the final few days of my 3 month fellowship at the Science History Institute, Philadelphia. I have been researching the work of the chemist Elizabeth Fulhame who began her photochemical studies in 1780 Edinburgh and by 1798 was a corresponding member of the Philadelphia Chemical Society.

Peter Palmquist’s (1936-2003) papers on women in photography are vast. This is the only occasion in my research where the figures I am studying have had their own categorised entry under ‘photography’. My only regret is to have not had the chance to speak to such a key historian of photography.

The grants were established by Peter’s lifetime companion, Pam Mendelsohn. Its remit is to support ‘the study of under-researched women photographers internationally and under-researched Western American photographers through The Great Depression’.

In January I was honoured to be given the Peter E. Palmquist Memorial Fund for Historical Photographic Research. I began my research in spring at Yale University Library Palmquist Collection: Women in Photography.

Hard to imagine Robert Burns in proximity to the invention of photography. Yet here is his sister, Isabella, captured in her older age by the photographic partnership of Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill.

Image: National Galleries of Scotland @nationalgalleries.bsky.social

This autumn I had the pleasure of being the Fedwa Malti-Douglas Fellow at the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, exploring the pre-photographic chemical networks of Elizabeth Fulhame. Thanks to all staff at @amphilsociety.bsky.social for their assistance in this research. More to follow!