Chicago Tribune: Digitizing 130 years of photos

The venerable Chicago Tribune has begun digitally archiving its extensive photo library, which includes historic photos and negatives dating back to the 19th century. The original vintage archive photos will be available to collectors once re-archived in digital form.


There are 130 years of photographs - most never published - in the archive.

The paper is partnering with Image Fortress Corporation and Masterpiece Marketing Group, on the multi-year initiative, to provide the online digital archiving of these photographs, integration with the paper’s editorial and business systems and to market the photos.

Once digitally archived, the original vintage photos are now being sold to collectors and individuals worldwide who are interested in these unique, authenticated, historical collectibles. The revenue will support the program.

Thousands of photos are digitized each week and include Hollywood stars, musicians, singers, politics, space, places such as Chicago and New York, sports, transportation and military.

For more information, view the The Tribune Photo Archives website.