Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. collected most every kind of art object—except photography. The Chrysler Museum of Art’s photography collection is primarily the result of collecting activity since 1978, when a permanent photography gallery was inaugurated. That year the Chrysler actively began building a collection with gifts of 15 Aaron Siskind photographs and two by Robert Mapplethorpe. The latter were given by the artist in thanks for the Chrysler’s organization of his first museum exhibition and the publication of his first catalogue.

Since those humble beginnings, the Chrysler now possesses a substantial collection of more than 4,000 photographic objects from 19th-century daguerreotypes to contemporary digital and installation works. While the collection endeavors to be encyclopedic, its greatest strength is in 19th-century American and European photographs, with a core of works made in the Commonwealth of Virginia that any institution would covet. There are strong holdings in photographs of the American Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, both of exceptional relevance to the history and culture of Virginia.

With five galleries dedicated to the exhibition of photographs, visitors to the Chrysler can always view a meaningful survey of the history of the medium as well as a special exhibition dedicated to a specific aspect of photography.

• photography >

• highlights from the collection
• photographs from the civil war
• photographs from the civil rights movement