Historical Heroines

Heroines of the past who were active at some point between the late 18th century and the mid-20th century.

From Alice to Yva, explore the archive of Historical Heroines and learn about the rich lives and careers of pioneering women photographers. As we continue our mission, our online archives will continue grow.

Researched, written and curated by our volunteers. If you would like to contribute to this valuable resource, sign up to volunteer today.

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E. Lennie

E. Lennie

E. Lennie is the acronym used by Eliza Lennie (1818 – unknown) who was a successful 19th century business owner and optician in Edinburgh, Scotland...

Edith Barakovich - Photograph of La Jana

Edith Barakovich

Serbian-born photographer whose work explored, and was influenced by, Vienna, the heart of the Austrian Empire and a prominent place within the world of art and fashion....

Edith Glogau

Edith Glogau (1898 – 1970) was a student of Madame D’Ora who opened her own Atelier Glogau in Vienna in 1925 when Madame D’Ora went to Paris....

Elfriede Mejchar

By Harper: Elfriede Mejchar (1924-2020) was a pioneering Austrian photographer who documented Vienna's social landscape through a unique lens....

Elisabeth Buchmeyer Lewis

Born in 1935, Elisabeth was a prolific photographer. By the time of her death in 2018, she had created a vast collection of images with immense social, political, and aesthetic value....

Portrait of Elisabeth Meyer by Ernest Rude. Courtesy of Preus Museum

Elisabeth Meyer

Elisabeth Meyer (1899 – 1968) was an early Norwegian photojournalist of the 1920s and 30s who documented her daring trips to Iran and India, as well as the local Sami people of Finnmark in her native Norway....

Aubry Le Blond Elizebeth Le Blond

Elizabeth Le Blond

The Irish-heiress turned mountaineering photographer, Elizabeth Le Blond (1860-1934) has not only been credited by being one of the first people to reach many European summits but also as one of the first female filmmakers....

Ellen Auerbach_Hundred_Heroines_Women_In_Photography_20th_Century_Photographer_Black_And_White_Photographer

Ellen Auerbach

One half of ringl+pit, Jewish photographer Ellen Auerbach (1906-2004) created surreal images and used photography as a means of independence....