The ambrotype : a misunderstood history of a nineteenth century photographic process

This thesis endeavors to explore the history of the ambrotype and analyze the patent controversy surrounding this nineteenth century photographic process. It investigates the origins of the term ambrotype, its physical characteristics, the cultural response to the process, and how it has been remembered historically. Court cases, photographic and popular journals, and other nineteenth century primary sources are analyzed to reveal an intriguing series of events that influenced photographic history. The ambrotype has been increasing left out of photographic texts today and this thesis seeks to understand why this process has faded from historical memory more than other early processes.