American Visions at the Paris Exposition, 1900: Another Look at Frances Benjamin Johnston's Hampton Photographs

Abstract

In July [900 Frances Benjamin Johnston set sail for Europe, where she was to present an exhibition of work showcasing the diversity and professionalism of American women photographers at the Universal Exposition in Paris. Although Johnston chose not to include her own work, she was nonetheless well represented at the Exposition, where both her “artistic portraiture photographs” and her images of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, a Negro teaching and trade college in Virginia, were on display. The collection of women's photographs was shown at the Third International Photographic Congress held in conjunction with the Exposition, where Johnston also spoke and was recognized with a medal for her efforts.