At the turn of the 20th century, the Gravure Illustrated Company of Chicago published a series of photogravure portfolios, in multiple volumes, for numerous cities and regions in the United States. These publications were considered promotional ventures showcasing the appeal of each city. In 1912, one of these publications, Art Work of Memphis, Tennessee: Published in Nine Parts, showcased Memphis, Tennessee. The images in the publication, including residences, churches, and commercial buildings, projected the prosperity of Memphis’ established families and an emerging class of wealthy professionals.
In 2024, Special Collections took photographs of each location included in the 1912 publication to record any changes over the last 100 years. The Picturing Memphis Project is the result of this endeavor. Click on a location and one will see the black and white images from the 1912 publication juxtaposed with the color images taken by Special Collections in 2024. Thanks to the interactive juxtapose feature, a sliding bar reveals each image in its entirety, emphasizing drastic change between now and then, or little to no change at all.
