Date of use : 1896 USA

Underwood & Underwood: Pioneers of Stereoscopic Photography

Underwood & Underwood was an American photography agency and publishing company that was a pioneer in stereoscopic photography in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was founded in 1881 in Kansas by two brothers, Bert Elias Underwood (1862–1943) and Elmer Underwood (1859–1947). The company initially focused on the sale and distribution of stereoscopic images. As the demand for stereoscopic images grew, the Underwood brothers expanded their company to meet this demand. Stereoscopes used photographs taken with a twin-lens camera to create a three-dimensional effect.

The company offered stereoscopic photographs taken from all around the world, allowing many people to experience different geographies and cultures. By the late 1920s, the popularity of stereoscopic photographs began to decline with the rise of cinema and print media. During this period, Underwood & Underwood also focused on other areas, including photojournalism, but was unable to sustain its previous success. By the late 1940s, Underwood & Underwood began selling a large portion of its photographic archives and copyrights, a process that ultimately led to the company's closure.

Underwood & Underwood left an important legacy in both stereoscopic photography and photojournalism. The company played a significant role in popularizing stereoscopic images and made important contributions to news photography worldwide. Today, the photographic collections of Underwood & Underwood are held in many museums, libraries, and private collections and are considered valuable historical documents.

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