IMAGE: BHC Museum Curator Amber Vroman alongside a portrait of Dr. William A. Haman. Photo taken by Amy Fulton, BHC Communications & Marketing Manager.
The Berks History Center (BHC) is pleased to announce the grand opening of A Snapshot in Time: The Photography Collection of Dr. William A. Haman, a new temporary exhibit that celebrates the photographic mastery of Reading’s Dr. William A. Haman (1861-1942). The exhibit will be open to the public on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and be on display inside the Palmer Gallery of the BHC Museum, located at 940 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19601.
Curated by BHC Museum Curator Amber Vroman, A Snapshot in Time will showcase Haman’s unique glass plate negatives and glass lantern slides. Each slide was developed into a crystal clear image that offers a glimpse into the daily lives of diverse people in Berks County and beyond during the late 1800s.
“Although William Haman’s photographs are well over 100 years old, it is surprising how certain themes are comparable to the lives of Berks Countians today,” said Vroman. “I am so excited to share these rare and never-before-seen images with the public!”
William Albright Haman and his family moved to Reading in 1870. He graduated from Reading High School at the top of his class and went on to study medicine. In 1883, Haman graduated from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, and immediately returned to Reading where he joined the staff of the Homeopathic Hospital in 1891. In 1916, Haman became the hospital’s chief radiologist, which he remained until his retirement in 1941. He was considered one of the county’s greatest physicians of his time.
Along with his impressive accomplishments as a doctor, Haman was also a loving family man and an incredibly talented amateur photographer. His subject matter normally included members of his family, however, Haman also captured city life, agricultural and domestic scenes, as well as landscapes and animals.
A Snapshot in Time will consist of two exhibit phases. The first phase will feature approximately 75 of Haman’s original historic images, and will remain on display until Fall 2022. Phase Two will be a collaborative exhibition between BHC and members of the Berks Photographic Society. Fifteen “highlight” images will be selected from the main exhibit for local amateur photographers to reinterpret as a contemporary composition. One “modern” photograph will be chosen to represent and be displayed in front of it’s original counterpart in the gallery. Additional details will follow regarding rules of submission and the Phase Two exhibit opening date.
Beginning April 6, 2022, visitors can view A Snapshot in Time: The Photography Collection of Dr. William A. Haman during the BHC Museum’s hours of operation from Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call the BHC at (610) 375-4375, or visit www.berkshistory.org.
