How to Locate Photo Studios From the 1950s
- 1). Go to the image section of your preferred search engine, such as Google or goodsearch.com. Use a Boolean search which incorporates additional words known as operators (such as "and") to help define your search results. Type the "+" sign, an Implied Boolean operator, in the basic search field of common search engines to force the query to include results with your desired word. Enter image search terms such as "photo courtesy of +studio +circa 1950" or "photograph +1950 +courtesy of" to produce pages with images that contain these words together.
- 2). Select the black and white photo you would most like to search for further research. Use this info for a more detailed search engine query. For best search results, pick from a page that has a photo with a caption that states it is from the 1950s, and preferably with a studio name and city.
- 3). Take the information you have gathered and search online archives and databases of art organizations, museums, and historical societies. Organizations such as the Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art's Canadian Art Database allow you to browse through a variety of photos with credits to the photographer or studio.
- 4). Visit a local museum or library's special collections. Older photos printed on paper that are too fragile to be frequently handled or exposed to light can still be viewed by visiting the facility during operating hours. Many special collection archives will allow you to take notes about the photography studios you find.
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