V&A Royal Photographic Society collection

The collection numbers around 270,000 photographs and negatives, 10,000 cameras and other technical equipment, a library of 27,000 books and journals, and an archive of letters and documents.

The Royal Photographic Society was founded in 1853, publishing a monthly journal ranging from artistic to technical content, and providing spaces for meetings and exhibitions. It soon established a photography collection and library which were housed, along with the Society, at various locations in London until 1980 when it moved to Bath. The collection was sold to the Science Museum Group and relocated to its National Science and Media Museum, Bradford in 2002, supported by the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund. The collection was transferred to the V&A in 2017. The RPS collection remains distinct, but is now enhanced by its integration with the pre-existing V&A photography collection.

The transfer of the collection to the V&A has been a catalyst for reimagining how photography is understood and presented at the museum and beyond. This includes the V&A Photography Centre, a major expansion of exhibition space, programming and resources for study, access, creativity and enjoyment.

In 2025, we began a major five-year initiative to catalogue, conserve, digitise, research, activate and open access to the globally important RPS collection. The project is designed to enable and drive new research, discoverability and collaborations around a collection previously only accessible in analogue form. The collection is an invaluable resource, showcased as part of the ongoing programming of permanent gallery space dedicated to photography in the V&A Photography Centre, and available to access digitally, with more content added weekly as the project progresses, on Explore the Collections, and physically via the Prints and Drawings Study Room.

Paper and glass-based photography

These pdf downloads provide an overview of the collection contents for both paper and glass-based photography in the RPS collection.

Pamphlets, handbooks and trade catalogues

A digitised collection of RPS pamphlets, handbooks and trade catalogues, dating from 1839 to about 1907, can be found in the National Art Library. Supported by the V&A Americas Foundation through the generosity of The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, 2021.

The Digitisation Project is made possible with the generous support of The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation, The William Brake Foundation, The Ampersand Foundation and other generous donors.

Visit our project blog to find out more about the RPS collection, its contents and new discoveries, as well as the latest news about related events, publications and presentations.

Every volunteer role with the V&A is a chance to make a difference and have fun doing it. Whether you are into creativity and design or this is a whole new world to you, the V&A can be a platform for you to do something you care about. We have a rolling recruitment for volunteers, supporting both cataloguing and rehousing the RPS collection.

We are actively fundraising to enable us to deliver this vitally important project to catalogue and digitise the RPS collection. This work will directly support us to tell powerful stories about the collection, inspire audiences, and drive new research.

As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters who share in our passion for art and design. No matter what size, every donation will make a difference to ensure the V&A can continue its vital work to conserve and grow our collections, produce world-class exhibitions and deliver innovative educational programmes.

Please contact fundraising at development@vam.ac.uk to discuss supporting the project.

The RPS collection is available for individual and group study, and loan requests to UK and international venues as a key means of making our collections more widely available to the public.

We would love to hear from you, whether you have a question about our collection or comment. Your feedback helps to inform our decisions. You can contact the team directly at: rps@vam.ac.uk

For all press requests, please contact: press.office@vam.ac.uk