I am researching an aspect of pre-photography history for inclusion in
my thesis and request leads on the following:

1) information on a currently active listserv for history of
photography;


2) bibliographic information and/or copy of a particular article, from
either a book or periodical, regarding an incident (below) purportedly
from the era of the camera obscura, more specific time frame of
13th-16th century, and related to pin-hole cameras.

the scenario:  a man was arrested as a heretic by the Church for
practicing various un-church authorized activities.  He was imprisoned
in a cell with a small window.  He managed to have smuggled in various
materials, possibly gum arabic, gold leaf, etc., and proceeded to turn
his cell into the equivalent of the interior of a pin-hole camera by
applying the materials to walls and blocking off the window save for a
pin-prick.  As the sun came up, he crouched in the corner for the
duration of the day, some 16 hours or so, while the day's events were
recorded on the walls.  The guard came, saw the result of the work,
reported it to his superiors and the heretic was immediately taken out
and burned at the stake for witchcraft.

The writer of the article was a photographer of sorts and the article
itself was written in the 1970s or 80s with an urgent message that the
cell was being considered for demolition and he wanted to alert the
world to this issue.


3) any suggestions for other books, past or present on the pre-history
of photography, 11th centur to mid-19th century?  I am already familiar
with the periodical, Camera Obscura.  many thanks!

-Cheryl Maslin

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