Suspended Conversations : The Afterlife of Memory in Photographic Albums

Albums are treasured by families, collected as lively illustrations of the past by museums of social history, and examined by scholars in sociology, folklore, art history, and cultural studies for what they can reveal about attitudes and sensibilities. Most agree that albums are stories that come to life in the retelling - but when no one is left to tell the tale, the intrigue of the album becomes a frustrating puzzle, a suspended conversation. Langford argues that oral consciousness provides the missing key. By correlating photography and orality she shows how albums were designed to work as performances and how we can unlock their mysteries. "Suspended Conversations" brings to light a rich collection of photographic travelogues, memoirs, thematic collections, and family sagas compiled between 1860 and 1960 and held by the McCord Museum of Canadian History. Martha Langford not only provides a fascinating glimpse of a previous century's preoccupations and mores but brings photography into the great conversation about how we remember and how we send our stories into the future. Contents 6 Preface: Hellohellohello 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: Show and Tell 14 The Idea of Album 33 The Album as Collection 51 Memoirs and Travelogues 75 The Idea of Family 100 Orality and Photography 133 "Photographs" 1916–1945 169 Conclusion: Remembering to Tell 209 Appendix 1: A Note on the Photographic Collections at the McCord Museum of Canadian History 213 Appendix 2: The Photographic Albums Illustrated in the Text 217 Notes 226 Bibliography 238 Index 248 A 248 B 248 C 248 D 249 E 249 F 249 G 249 H 249 I 250 J 250 K 250 L 250 M 250 N 251 O 251 P 251 R 251 S 251 T 252 V 252 W 252 Y 252 Z 252 MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 6 Preface: Hellohellohello 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: Show and Tell 14 The Idea of Album 33 The Album as Collection 51 Memoirs and Travelogues 75 The Idea of Family 100 Orality and Photography 133 "Photographs" 1916–1945 169 Conclusion: Remembering to Tell 209 Appendix 1: A Note on the Photographic Collections at the McCord Museum of Canadian History 213 Appendix 2: The Photographic Albums Illustrated in the Text 217 Notes 226 Bibliography 238 Index 248 A 248 B 248 C 248 D 249 E 249 F 249 G 249 H 249 I 250 J 250 K 250 L 250 M 250 N 251 O 251 P 251 R 251 S 251 T 252 V 252 W 252 Y 252 Z 252 In Suspended Conversations Martha Langford Breathes Life Into Photographic Albums. These Travelogues, Memoirs, Thematic Collections, And Family Sagas Embody The Intimate Preoccupations Of Their Compilers And The Great Events Of A Golden Photographic Age, 1860 To 1960. Langford Also Traces The Influence Of Photograph Albums On The Installations, Photo Narratives, And Photo Sequences Of Contemporary Artists. Whether Dealing With Art, Museum Archives, Or The Family Heirloom, Suspended Conversations Bring Photography Into The Great Conversation About How We Remember Our Stories And Send Them Into The Future.--jacket. Preface: Hellohellohello -- Introduction: Show And Tell -- The Idea Of Album -- The Album As Collection -- Memoirs And Travelogues -- The Idea Of Family -- Orality And Photography -- Photographs 1916 -- 1945 -- Conclusion: Remembering To Tell -- App. 1. A Note On The Photographic Collections At The Mccord Museum Of Canadian History -- App. 2. The Photographic Albums Illustrated In The Text. Martha Langford. Based On A Collection Of Albums, Compiled 1860-1960, Held By The Mccord Museum Of Canadian History. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [227]-236) And Index. In Suspended Conversations Martha Langford shows how photographic albums tell intimate and revealing stories about individuals and families. Contrary to those who isolate the individual photograph, treat albums as texts, or argue that photography has supplanted memory, she shows that the photographic album must be taken as a whole and interpreted as a visual and verbal performance that extends oral consciousness.Suspended Conversations brings to light a rich collection of photographic travelogues, memoirs, thematic collections, and family sagas compiled between 1860 and 1960 and held by the McCord Museum of Canadian History. Martha Langford not only provides a fascinating glimpse of a previous century's preoccupations and mores but brings photography into the great conversation about how we remember and how we send our stories into the future. "In Suspended Conversations Martha Langford breathes life into photographic albums. These travelogues, memoirs, thematic collections, and family sagas embody the intimate preoccupations of their compilers and the great events of a golden photographic age, 1860 to 1960. Langford also traces the influence of photograph albums on the installations, photo narratives, and photo sequences of contemporary artists. Whether dealing with art, museum archives, or the family heirloom, Suspended Conversations bring photography into the great conversation about how we remember our stories and send them into the future."--Résumé de l'éditeur "In Suspended Conversations Martha Langford breathes life into photographic albums. These travelogues, memoirs, thematic collections, and family sagas embody the intimate preoccupations of their compilers and the great events of a golden photographic age, 1860 to 1960. Langford also traces the influence of photograph albums on the installations, photo narratives, and photo sequences of contemporary artists. Whether dealing with art, museum archives, or the family heirloom, Suspended Conversations bring photography into the great conversation about how we remember our stories and send them into the future."--BOOK JACKET. An innovative way of looking at photographic albums as an extension of oral tradition.