Brookline Historical Society
President Ken Liss Blogs on Brookline Past & Present
Amateur Photography in 19th Century Brookline

The May 6, 1882 edition of the Brookline Chronicle included a list of 33 books recently added to the collection at the Brookline Library. There were books of history, fiction, science, and travel. 


There were some how-to books, including two guides for would-be painters: A Course of Lessons in Landscape Painting in Oils and Easy Studies in Water-Color Painting.


There was also a how-to book on a relatively new and increasingly popular art form: photography.

How to Make Pictures: Easy Lessons for the Amateur Photographer by Henry Clay Price

"A Sensible Craze"

"Anyone who has undertaken to be his own photographer will...

Our Latest Archive Additions
We are adding new historical photos weekly. Follow our latest additions here:
Station St., August 1965
Station St., August 1965
Virtual Walking Tour
Click to Start Tour
Brookline's rich history can now take a virtual walking tour of the town via our new online map. The map presents pictures and descriptions (with links for more information) about homes, commercial buildings, churches and synagogues, schools, neighborhoods, parks, and other parts of the town.

Most of the sites marked on the map are in Brookline Village, Coolidge Corner, Longwood, and the area around the First Parish Church and the old Village Green. Other sites and other areas of Brookline are being added, helping to bring to light stories behind familiar and not-so-familiar places in town.