ABOUT THE STEREOGRAPHS

Seneca Ray Stoddard was arguably the most prominent photographer, artist, and writer from the Adirondacks from the nineteenth century. These stereographs, some of his best work, were a very effective way of showcasing what the Adirondacks offered to potential hikers, hunters, and vacationers from the 1870s to the 1890s. Stoddard worked for different clients such as railroad companies, hotels and resorts, authors and magazine companies, and the New York State government, taking photos that promoted business and tourism in the Adirondacks.

Stereographs present two nearly identical photographs of the same scene, taken from slightly different perspectives, mimicking the slightly different views seen by each eye. Then when looking through a stereoscope, the two images on the card appear as one three-dimensional image.

The stereographs Stoddard created show a variety of images such as mountains, bodies of water, individuals at work, architecture, and scenes from daily life in the Adirondacks. Around the two images, he usually included a yellow arched outline with a red ivy design that includes his name to the left of the images, the word “Crystal” in quotations at the top as part of his marketing strategy which implied his images are crystal clear, and then “Glen Falls N.Y.” to the right, which is where he lived and worked. Stoddard made around two thousand of these stereographs, covering everything he and his clients thought would increase the popularity of the Adirondacks. He sold his stereographs through his studio, through mail orders, at events, and from the businesses he worked with. Stoddard’s stereographs and other work played a noticeable role in growing the tourism industry in the Adirondacks and promoting the creation of the Adirondack Park. -Jason Darminio

 

Seneca Ray Stoddard
Sunset – Judge John K. Porter at Schroon Lake, ca. 1880-1900
Steamer Horicon, Lake George, 1877
The Hudson, Above Thurman, ca. 1880-1900
Albumen prints on cardboard
Each measuring 3 15/16 x 7 in.
Special Collections
Owen D. Young Library
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY