Defectives, Feeble-minded: United States. Massachusetts. Waverly. School for Feeble-minded: Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded.: Geography - Object Lesson. c. 1903

Editor: This photograph, "Defectives, Feeble-minded: United States. Massachusetts. Waverly. School for Feeble-minded" by William A. Webster, shows a classroom of students. I’m immediately struck by the stark contrast between the formal setting and the seemingly playful activity with the map on the floor. What can we tell about this work by examining its materials? Curator: Well, the photographic process itself is key. Consider the labor involved in creating this image, the chemicals, the darkroom, the printing. This was a carefully constructed image, not just a snapshot. What’s being produced here isn’t just a photograph; it’s a representation of a specific social agenda. Editor: Social agenda? You mean the way the image is composed, the setting, it's all deliberate? Curator: Precisely. The materiality speaks volumes about how these individuals were perceived and treated within the system of the time. It’s a commodity produced to reinforce certain societal views. Editor: So, understanding the materials and methods helps us unpack the social and political context of the photograph. I hadn't considered that before. Curator: Exactly. Every choice, from the photographic process to the setting, contributes to the message being conveyed.