CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 59 



Galleries of Birmiiighaiu. The prints have afterwards been presented to 

 the Free Reference Library, where they can be examined and studied at 

 any time. The number of local survey photographs in the Birmingham 

 library is 3,020 prints, bound in 110 folio volumes. 



Other localities where work for the photo-survey has been commenced 

 include Barnstaple, Cardiff, Chester, Darlington, Bromsgrove, Exeter, 

 Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, and Yorkshire ; but we 

 liave not seen any recent reports of progress from any of these centres. 

 The following, however, are known to be more or less actively engaged in 

 survey work (the names given being those of the Hon. Secretaries) : — 



Warwickshire (Geo. Whiteliouse) ; Worcestershire (W. H. Harris); A's.ie.v 

 (Victor Taylor) ; Jveiif (J. H. AUchin); Surrey (F. V. Wood) ; Conselt Valley, York- 

 shire (P. E. Surtees) ; Edinburgh (James Burns) ; ISational Photo'jrajjhic Record 

 Association (Geo. Scamell). 



III. — Objects of Photo-Survey Work. 



The three great objects of the Photographic Record and Survey are 

 to benefit — {a) The individual photographer ; (i) the Scientific and 

 Photographic Societies ; and (c) the nation generally. 



{a) The Individual rhotograjyher and the Survei/.— The survey scheme 

 gives the photographer an object, and we maintain that the work of such 

 a survey is a liberal education for any man. It is impossible to photo- 

 graph without learning much about the objects photographed ; and the 

 survey brings photographers into contact with experts who are able and 

 willing to afford ample information. 



The professional photographers of the British Isles now form a small 

 army, their number being recorded by the census of 1901 as 17,945. 

 Many firms must possess stores of negatives illustrating 'survey ' subjects ; 

 and it is certain that if properly approached the average professional 

 of any standing would be willing to aid a county photographic survey. 



Lastly, there is the great body of ' unattached ' photographers, whose 

 number can hai'dly be estimated, but, omitting the casual snapshotter, 

 there are, perha^js, a quarter of a million who could do useful work for a 

 photo-survey, if someone would only tell them what to do, and how to do it. 



(b) Photographic and Scientific Societies and the Survey. — The total 

 number of British Photographic Societies in the list published in the 

 ' British Journal Almanack' for 190G is 354. And in the 'Year Book' 

 of the scientific and learned Societies of (ireat Britain and Ireland 

 for 1905 the number of Societies other than photographic, but whose 

 work would be more or less aided by photography, is given as 333. In 

 addition there are many Societies connected with the ' Fine Arts ' not 

 included in either of the above lists. 



It is a mistake to suppose that the task is one which appeals only to 

 practical photographers. The man with the camera may know hoir to 

 photograph, but it is impossible that he should always know ichat is worth 

 photographing. For this purpose he needs the advice of an expert, and 

 the guidance of the man with local knowledge. 



To the Society, as to the individual, the duty of having a useful 

 public task to accomplish is of great value. It binds the members 

 together, it attracts members, and it brings the Society before the public. 



(c) The Nation and the Survey. — The work of a photographic record 



