William Henry Jackson (1843-1942): Career Chronology

The following chronology highlights Jackson's career and some key events in the history of photography.

• 1839

  Invention of photography.

• 1843

  William Henry Jackson born in Keeseville, New York.

• 1851

  Collodion wet-plate glass negatives introduced.

• 1867

  Jackson opens a photography studio in Omaha, Nebraska.

• 1870-1878

  Jackson begins photographing the landscape of the Rockies, especially the Yellowstone area and Colorado, for Francis V. Hayden's Geological and Geographic Survey of the Territories.

• 1879

  Gelatin dry plates become commercially available in the United States.

  Jackson opens a photography studio in Denver.

• 1889

  Eastman begins production of nitro-cellulose film.

• 1890-1892

  Jackson photographs for various railroad lines, including the Mexican Central, Baltimore & Ohio, and New York Central, using 18x22-inch glass plate negatives.

• 1893

  Jackson's photographs commissioned by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad are exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition.

• 1894-1896

  Jackson photographs for the World's Transportation Commission.

• 1897-1924

  Jackson joins the Detroit Photographic Company. His negatives become the basis for the Company's postcard and photographic view business.

• 1942

  Jackson dies in New York City.