University of St Andrews photography collection recognised as Nationally Significant

The University of St Andrews Photographic collection has been Recognised as one of National Significance by Museums and Galleries Scotland. 

With approximately 1.6 million photographs in a wide variety of formats – including negatives on glass and film, lantern slides, prints, postcards, transparencies and born-digital images – the University of St Andrews is also thought to be the oldest photography collecting institution in the world.

The roots of this collection began with certain members of the St Andrews Literary and Philosophical Society, who worked with the English inventor of photography to develop and perfect the first photographic processes on paper in the late 1830s. These early experiments with salted paper now extend to the latest digital printing processes. 

 The collection covers subject areas from social documentary to Scottish landscape, travel and exploration. It is uniquely important due to its completeness, depth and rarity, and provides extensive documentation of the social and cultural transformation of Scotland and its forays into the world, for nearly two hundred years. 

Dr Katie Eagleton, University Librarian and Director of Collections and Museums at the University of St Andrews, said: “St Andrews has been collecting photography since the early 1840s, and today this is one of the most important among the University’s collections. We are delighted that our nationally (and internationally) important collection has been recognised, and look forward to continuing to develop it in the years to come.”

Nationally Significant Collections are named once every three years by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish government. Together, the collections tell the stories of Scotland’s rich culture and history. 

The announcement coincides with the collection moving to its new home in the centre of St Andrews, where the entire collection can be more accessible to researchers and the wider public.