The Eadweard Muybridge Collection at the University of Pennsylvania Archives contains 702 of the 784 plates in his Animal Locomotion study as well as related correspondence and printed materials. Also included in the collection are Muybridge's zoetrope, plate film holder, gelatine plates for making photogravures, camera #20, and wooden shutter and miscellaneous photographs. Selected items are available for study on-line, including printed materials, correspondence, and photographic plates.

• Printed materials include:

  Prospectus and Catalogue of Plates Animal Locomotion: an Electro-Photographic Investigation of Connective Phases of Animal Movements by Eadweard Muybridge A total of 784 plates were created of his Animal Locomotion publication. These were sold in subscription at $100.00 per set of one hundred plates. This prospectus, available here as a PDF file (53 pages), provides detailed information about the photographic process, equipment and staff. The catalog carefully records data about each photograph, including the subject, model, costume, type of movement, camera angles and time intervals.

 

• Correspondence includes:

  E. Muybridge to Rev. J.Y. Burk, November 11, 1887, TLS Muybridge writes Burk regarding the conclusion of his four year research project conducted at the University of Pennsylvania on Animal Locomotion. He advises Burk of the method of distribution required by the uniqueness of the finished product of oversized plates -- direct subscription over the standard book trade. This solicitation letter offers the opportunity for a preview of selected plates and encloses response cards.

  E. Muybridge to Rev. J.Y. Burk, July 1, 1891, ALS Muybridge gives Burk an account of his travels in Europe promoting subscriptions to Animal Locomotion through lectures and other demonstrations. He has been given a positive reception in Berlin and requests that Burk send him additional pamphlet publications with enumerated listings of plates and subjects. He continues to lobby for favorable press at home and encourages Burkto aid him in his efforts. Muybridge did not further experimentation after 1887 deciding instead to take his findings and popularize them through lectures and commercial offerings.

 

• Plates from Animal Locomotion include:

HUMAN MOVEMENTS Plate 3 Movements, Male, Walking Plate 17 Movements, Female, Walking Plate 26 Movements, Male, Walking, carrying 75-lb. stone on left shoulder Plate 45 Movements, Female, Walking, two models meeting, and partly turning Plate 73 Movements, Female, Turning around in surprise and running away Plate 74 Movements, Male, Ascending incline, angle 1 in 4 Plate 88 Movements, Male, Ascending stairs Plate 91 Movements, Male, Ascending stairs Plate 103 Movements: Female, Turning and ascending stairs, pitcher and goblet in hands Plate 105 Movements, Female, Turning, ascending stairs, water jar on left shoulder Plate 125 Movements, Male, Descending stairs Plate 130 Movements, Female, Descending stairs Plate 133 Movements, Female, Descending stairs throwing handkerchief over shoulders Plate 134 Movements, Female, Descending stars with basin in hands Plate 137 Movements, Female, Descending stairs, turning around Plate 146 Movements, Female, Descending stairs turning water jar on left shoulder Plate 147 Movements, Female, Descending stairs turning water jar on left shoulder Plate 156 Movements, Female, Jumping: running straight high jump Plate 162 Movements, Male, Jumping; standing broad jump Plate 165 Movements, Male, Jumping; pole vaulting Plate 167 Movements, Male, Jumping; over boy's back (leap-frog) Plate 169 Movements, Male, Jumping; over boy's back (leap-frog) Plate 215 Movements, Female and Child, Placing child (70) on the ground, child running off Plate 233 Movements, Female, Lifting shawl, putting around shoulders, turning Plate 247 Movements, Female, Sitting down, placing feet on chair Plate 248 Movements, Female, Sitting down on the ground Plate 271 Movements, Female, Arising from the ground with a paper in the left hand Plate 276 Movements, Male, Base-ball; batting Plate 288 Movements, Male, Baseball, error Plate 301 Movements, Male, Foot-ball; punt Plate 311 Movements, Male, Heaving a 75-lb. rock Plate 315 Movements, Male, Heaving a 20-lb. rock Plate 320 Movements, Male, Lifting 50-lb. dumb-bell; B, posing Plate 327 Movements, Male, Rowing Plate 333 Movements, Male, Boxing; 53 knocking 52 down (shoes) Plate 350 Movements, Male, Fencing Plate 361 Movements, Male, Throwing a spear Plate 362 Movements, Male, Back somersault Plate 364 Movements, Male, Hand-spring over man's back Plate 365 Movements, Male, Head-spring, a flying pigeon interfering Plate 366 Movements, Male, Running, hitch and kick Plate 373 Movements, Male, Acrobat, "press up" from chair Plate 374 Movements, Male, Blacksmiths, two models, hammering on anvil Plate 399 Movements, Male, Emptying bucket of water Plate 400 Movements, Male, Emptying bucket of water Plate 416 Movements, Female, Toilet; putting on dress Plate 467 Movements, Male, Child, walking Plate 469 Movements, Female, Child, running Plate 475 Movements, Female, Child getting up on chair Plate 481 Movements, Female, A, lifting basket; B, running, waving handkerchief Plate 492 Movements, Male, A, 103, rowing; B 96, rowing Plate 498 Movements, Female, Miscellaneous phases of toilet Plate 510 Movements, Male, Contortions on the ground Plate 519 Movements, Male, A, throwing disk; B, ascending step; C, walking Plate 532 Movements, Movement of the hand; drawing a circle Plate 533 Movements, Movement of the hand; clasping hands Plate 541 Movements, Female, Multiple cerebro-spinal sclerosis (choreic); walking

ANIMAL MOVEMENTS Plate 566 Animals and Movements, Horses, Hauling; dark-gray Bel. Horse Dusel Plate 570 Animals and Movements, Horses, Hauling; dark-gray Bel. Horse Dusel, Hansel Plate 626 Animals and Movements, Horses, Gallop; thoroughbred bay mare, Annie G Plate 627 Animals and Movements, Horses, Gallop; thoroughbred bay mare, Annie G Plate 637 Animals and Movements, Horses, Jumping a hurdle; saddle; clearing, landing and recovering; bay horse Daisy Plate 642 Animals and Movements, Horses, Jumping a hurdle; saddle; rider, 105, nude; gray mare Pandora Plate 643 Animals and Movements, Horses, Jumping a hurdle; bareback; clearing and landing; knocking over a hurdle; rider 105; gray mare. Pandora Plate 646 Animals and Movements, Horses, Jumping a hurdle; saddle; rider 105, nude; gray mare, Pandora Plate 649 Animals and Movements, Horses, Hauling; dark-gray Bel. Horse Dusel Plate 663 Animals and Movements, Domestic Animals, Mule; A, B, refractory Plate 674 Animals and Movements, Domestic Animals, Sow; walking Plate 691 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Fallow deer; doe; galloping; and kid; jumping Plate 715 Animals and Movements, Domestic Animals, Dogs; Dogs; three, tugging Plate 717 Animals and Movements, Domestic Animals, Cat; trotting; change to galloping Plate 719 Animals and Movements, Domestic Animals, Cat; galloping; change to galloping Plate 733 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Elephant; walking Plate 755 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Pigeon; flying Plate 759 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Cockatoo; flying Plate 762 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Cockatoo; flying Plate 769 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Bald Eagle, flying Plate 770 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Bald Eagle, flying near ground Plate 771 Motion Study Photograph: Wild Animals and Birds, American Eagle; flying near ground Plate 774 Animals and Movements, Wild Animals and Birds, Adjutant; walking

 

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