History Archives - Shadows and Light

History and Photographs of the Abandoned Building at 3606 Jacob Street in Wheeling, West Virginia

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson tells the story of Charles Seybold and the abandoned building he used for his house painting business in the 1890s in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Art Photography Page from The San Francisco Call, May 20, 1900

Art Photography featured on page 12 of the May 20, 1900 San Francisco Call newspaper.

What’s Inside an Old Tintype Photo Case? (Video)

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson takes apart the case from an old 1850s tintype photograph to clean the glass and see what's inside

Carl Thiel: Portrait Photographer, Inventor, and Early Filmmaker (1880s-1910s)

Looking at an antique cabinet card photograph by Carl Thiel of Duluth, Minnesota circa 1890-ish.

The Tomb of Elizabeth Royall: Scared to Death by a School Prank in 1833

The bizarre story of Elizabeth Royall, who died of fright at age 15 from a class prank in 1833.

Historic Landscapes and Architecture Along the Old Lexington and Concord Road (Video)

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson takes us along as he walks along the old Lexington and Concord battle road, made famous by the midnight ride of Paul Revere

The Gravestone Story of Sea Captain William Browne, Who Was Shipwrecked in 1802

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson shares the fascinating and almost forgotten history of a shipwreck and a dead sea captain named William Browne, uncovered on a recent photo trip to New England.

Antique Tintype Portrait: Looking a Dead Stranger in the Eye

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson looks in detail at a beautiful antique tintype portrait of an unidentified man circa 1870.

1860s Evans & Prince Carte de Visite Portrait with a U.S. Tax Stamp (With Video)

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson uses a history of tax stamps on photographs to date a carte de visite portrait of a young woman from York, Pennsylvania.