Ann W. Copeland

I have always loved daguerreotypes and the depth they reveal. There is such clarity in the mirrored surface and yet such mystery surrounding the subject. The longer exposures capture something more than our conventional snapshots do, but what is it exactly?I had the great fortune to work in a premiere photographic museum early in my career, an experience that led me to pursue a career in special collections librarianship. To have earned tenure at Penn State, home to the vast Henisch and Darrah photographic collections, is a real joy. I have selected this recent book to represent my enduring passion for early photography, as well as to celebrate the vast holdings of the library's special collections.