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Albany_Institute_JesseC.PottsStoveMakers.jpg
"Jesse C. Potts, Albany Stove Makers" by unidentified photographer - c. 1847-1852
It's a daguerrotype in an embossed leather case.

Albany_Institute_485_Circus_Ser17B2num66_MPC.jpg
"Circus Parade, Albany" by unidentified photographer - 1880s

Albany_Institute_568_IceCastle_PC19n108OV.jpg
"Ice Castle in Washington Park" by unidentified photographer - 1888

Albany_Institute_28_Indian_Ladder_Trail_Ser_27_108_MPC.jpg
"Climbing the Indian Ladder, Voorheesville, New York" by unidentified photographer - c. 1890

Albany_Institute_193_Capital_Fire_MPC_S3B1num30c.jpg
"New York State Capitol Fire" by Harry Roy Sweny - March 29, 1911
Sweny was a sporting goods dealer who lived around the corner from the Capitol and took one of the first photos

Albany_Institute_OldMuseumWesternUnion.jpg
"The Old Museum Building, Albany" by unidentified photographer - 1890s
This building was on the northwest corner of State and Broadway and housed the Albany Museum, a sort of museum of curiosities. It was replaced in the early 1900s by a new building -- the one that's there now -- designed by Marcus T. Reynolds, who wanted to preserve the shape of the corner. That's why the new(er) building resembles the old one.

Albany_Institute_LIB_2004.041_KnickerbockerMotorcycle.jpg
"Knickerbocker Motorcycle Club in Washington Park, Albany" by unidentified photographer - January 8, 1913

Albany_Institute_WatervlietTireShop.jpg
"Tire Shop, Watervliet, New York" by unidentified photographer - c. 1915

Albany_Institute_Buonora_N.Pearl_110.jpg
"North Pearl Street from State Street, Albany" by unidentified photographer - October 1952

Albany_Institute_Buonora_LarkStreet_367.jpg
"Volce's Variety Store, Lark Street, Albany" by unidentified photographer - 1960s

Captured Moments at the Albany Institute

circus parade Albany 1880s

A circus parade in Albany during the 1880s.

The Albany Institute opens a new exhibit this weekend -- Captured Moments: 170 Years of Photography from the Albany Institute -- that includes a sampling from the museum's extensive collection of photographs. It's on display through May 21.

We got a quick tour of the exhibit Friday as curators were still putting the finishing touches on the displays. The photos cover a wide range of topics, from portraits, to historical scenes, to cityscapes, to interiors, to workplaces, to travel photos. There's even an photo a seemingly badass bowling club from Arbor Hill. (Nobody rolls like the The Maples!)

Doug McCombs, the Albany Institute's chief curator, said the museum has tens of thousands of photos -- dating back to the 1840s, near the beginning of the medium -- and they're probably its most popular collection. Captured Moments is intended sampling of sorts.

"It's a way to show the breadth of our collection," he said.

Here are a handful of photos of from the exhibit...

Look up

The photos are at the top in large format -- click or scroll all the way up.

The Albany Institute advertises on AOA.

Comments

What a great exhibition, there is such a rich variety of images on display.

This looks like a wonderful exhibit! Definitely have to check it out.

If you like this exhibit, you are sure to love our online Flickr Archive, with over 20,000 images of Albany. They are keyword searchable and arranged in albums by date, location, and subject,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/

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