The German Photographic Society visiting the collections of the Institute of Applied Physics at TU Dresden

The German Photographic Society (DGPh - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie) is a key hub of the German photographic scene. As a central network, it promotes photography and related media in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from art and journalism to science and education as well as business and politics. This includes photographic collections and archives, which contribute to DGPh's activities via a specialized division. The two historical collections of the Institute of Applied Physics at TU Dresden which focus on photography, the Hermann Krone Collection (KAD) and the Scientific Photography Collection (WPS), are active on the DGPh platforms as well, and have recently been intensifying their cooperation with this important institution.

On January 16, 2026, Else Schlegel, head of the collections, welcomed approximately 10 members of the DGPh division"Archive und Geschichte (Archives and History)" from all over Germany to the Hermann-Krone-Bau, which has been home to the Institute of Applied Physics and its collections since 2017. The event was part of a day-long excursion themed "Fotostadt Dresden" ("Dresden - city of photography"). Besides TU Dresden, the day's program included visits to important photographic collections such as the Deutsche Fotothek as well as the photographic collections of Dresden University of Fine Arts and the Kupferstich-Kabinett of the Dresden State Art Collections.

For one and a half hours, Else Schlegel presented the collections of the KAD and the WPS, introduced current projects and discussed the specifics of working with photographic collections in an academic context. Highlights of the visit included Hermann Krone's famous "Historisches Lehrmuseum für Photographie" ("Historical Didactic Museum of Photography")  as well as other unique items rarely shown in public, such as the plaster model of a honorary medal for Hermann Krone, minted in 1907, and a Petzval lens from around 1850.

The animated exchange between colleagues uncovered new insights into the objects from the KAD and the WPS, and highlighted cross-connections between the various Dresden collections. The integration of the TUD's collections into the excursion program greatly increased their visibility within specialist circles focusing on the study of historical photography. A number of new ideas emerging from conversations held throughout the day opened up exciting prospects for future cooperations, especially with regards to the 200th anniversary of Hermann Krone's birth in 2027.