Blog Video What's on Education Families Christmas Lectures Our history About Join and support About → Heritage and Collections → Iconographic → Katharine Reynolds → Katharine Reynolds and the Ri Further information about the photographic collection of Katharine Reynolds from the 1890s. About Katharine Reynolds Very little is known about Katharine Reynolds (c.1855-1932) and her work. She was the sister of the company secretary to the engineering business formed to market James Dewar's hydrogen jet. This relationship was clearly sufficient to give her entrée to the Royal Institution to take a very large number of photographs inside the building in the late 19th and early 20th century. Reynolds was even able to photograph the basement rooms. She produced remarkably detailed photos despite the lack of light by using very long exposures. The first example shown below had an exposure time of nearly 40 hours. Previous Next "The Laboratory, looking West. Exposed from about 6 pm on Sat April 18 till 9.15 am on Mon April 20 1891. ff 22." Credit: Royal Institution Reynolds' photos Reynolds was taking photos at the Ri during a time of great change to the organisation and its building. The photograph above shows the library on the first floor in the early 1890s. The one below shows the library after two openings into number 20 Albemarle Street had been made in 1896 following its acquisition for the Royal Institution. While most of the photographs taken by Katharine Reynolds show the rooms of the Royal Institution empty of people there are a few images of people. In the final photograph above it seems that some of the employees of the Institution have been asked to pose as audience members on the balcony of the theatre. The Reynolds collection contains several hundred images and three albums which were recently conserved with a grant from the MLA PRISM fund. Share this Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Learn Masterclasses L'Oréal Young Scientist Centre Events for the whole family Science in schools shows Interactive games CHRISTMAS LECTURES Visit News What's on Food & drink The Faraday Museum Heritage tours Visiting the archive Find us Support Donate to the Ri Become an Ri Member Become an Ri Patron Corporate support Jobs Keep in touch Keep up to date with regular emails from the Ri Subscribe now Go © Royal Institution Facebook Twitter Youtube Tumbler Instagram Venue Hire Press Terms and conditions Privacy Policy Accessibility Contact Us