The first RPS Collection was largely formed from c.1890s-2002 under a succession of honorary and, later, professional curators. The Collection - photographs, photographic technology, library and manuscript material - was transferred to the then National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in 2003 where, in the words of Michael G. Wilson OBE, it transformed the museum's collection in to a world-class one.
In 2017 the re-named National Media Museum transferred the RPS Collection to the V&A Museum, London, where photographs and cameras can be seen in the V&A Photography Centre and more will be available in the second phase which is due to open in 2023. Photographs can be inspected in the V&A Print Study Room.
With the RPS's move to Bristol and a renewed public presence and dedicated resource room to house historic membership records and library the RPS has started to form a new RPS Collection. This will have a specific focus on material relating to its own history, its membership from 1853 and their work, and historic and important photographs, cameras and equipment and books that can be used for its public education and exhibition programmes. Some of the highlights can be seen online by clicking the cards below.
For requests to see material, to borrow it for exhibitions or to reproduce images please click the link here.
