Essays from four women who have engaged closely with Christina Broom's work explore and contextualise her imagery to reveal the compelling story of the women behind the lens. In 1903 a self-taught novice photographer, Christina Broom, turned to photography as a business venture to support her family. From this modest beginning, she was to emerge as Britain's acknowledged pioneer woman press photographer. Unconventionally for women photographers of the time, Broom took her camera to the streets and recorded arresting and historically important images of Suffragettes, sporting events, royal occasions and World War I soldiers. She developed a significant enterprise in picture postcards, which she published from her home in Fulham, London, till her death in 1939. Despite her camera's presence at many significant historical events and her importance to press photography, Christina Broom's achievements have, to date, been underappreciated. This, the first publication on her life and work, redresses that neglect. The book also illuminates the vital role of her dedicated assistant and daughter, Winifred, without whom Broom's substantial contribution to photography might have been lost. Broom's remarkable work celebrating her personal journey, approach and skill is showcased through many rich photographs drawn from the Museum of London's fine collection of her plate glass negatives and prints which reflect her visual style and spectrum of subjects. The book accompanied the exhibition of the same name at Museum of London Docklands.

Despite her camera's presence at many significant historical events and her importance to press photography, Christina Broom's achievements have, to date, been underappreciated. Essays from four women who have engaged closely with her work explore and contextualise her imagery to reveal the compelling story of the women behind the lens. The book accompanied the exhibition of the same name at Museum of London Docklands.

About the Author
Anna Sparham is Curator of Photographs at the Museum of London. Graduating with a degree in photography from Nottingham Trent University in 2001, she joined the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, working as an assistant curator with the photographs collection. Sparham joined the Museum of London in 2004, becoming a curator in 2006.

Reviews
'This is an excellent book published to coincide with an exhibition at the Museum of London of Christina Broom's photography. It is the first substantial publication on the subject and it is long overdue.' - The Guards Magazine; 'Showcases the remarkable work of Britain's first female press photographer...Despite her camera's presence at many significant historical events and her importance to press photography, her [Broom's] achievements have, to date, been unappreciated. This book, the first publication on her life and work, redresses the neglect and also illuminates the role of her dedicated assistant and daughter, Winifred, without whom Broom's substantial contribution to photography might have been lost.' - The Independent on Sunday;



Book Information
ISBN 9781781300381
Author Anna Sparham
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd
Publisher Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 1232g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 280mm * 20mm