In this webinar, Wendy Castenell of Washington and Lee University will discuss how the history of photography can introduce researchers and students to the medium’s cultural significance, technological advancements and the evolving debates on its role as both a truth-telling tool and an art form. She will explore the value of visiting special collections and archives, which allow people to experience firsthand the textures and uniqueness of historical photographs, making abstract ideas more tangible. Unlike PowerPoint slides, which flatten images, archives offer a deeper connection to the diverse forms and uses of photography across time. To illustrate the importance of archives to the history of photography, Castenell will discuss a collaborative project between her history of photography students at Washington and Lee University and the school’s Special Collections and Archives.
Presenter Wendy Castenell is an assistant professor of art history in the Department of Art and Art History at Washington and Lee University. Her research interests include representations of race and ethnicity in American visual culture, portraiture, photography, early cinema and turn-of-the-century spectacles. Her first book, “Creole Identity in the Art of the American South: Louisiana from the Colonial Era to Reconstruction,” will be published in the spring of 2026.
Programming assistance is provided by the Friends of the Virginia State Archives, a 501(c)(3) organization.
For more information, contact Mary Ann Mason at maryann.mason@lva.virginia.gov or 804.692.3648. This is a free event, but registration is required. Information about joining by Zoom will be shared with all registered participants.
