Through the Lens Darkly – Thomas Annan, Public Health, and Infection Control in Victorian Glasgow

This year I am delighted to be giving The Goodall Lecture 2023 on June 19th at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow on Thomas Annan, Public Health, and Infection Control in Victorian Glasgow. Click here to book tickets

Thomas Annan (1829–1887) was a Scottish photographer known for his images of the old, dilapidated buildings and narrow streets of Glasgow, Scotland during the mid-19th century. Annan is widely recognized for his early use of photography in social reform and is often remembered for his series of photographs published as “The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow”.

Born in Dairsie, Fife, Annan opened a photography studio in Glasgow in 1857. In the 1860s and 1870s, he focused on architectural photography, including notable images of the Glasgow Cathedral and country houses. However, it’s his collection of images documenting the poor living conditions in Glasgow’s slums that has been the most influential. These were commissioned by the City of Glasgow Improvement Trust, and the project lasted from 1868 to 1877.

This body of work is significant as it offers historical insight into the lives of the working class in Glasgow during the Victorian era and serves as a record of the city’s architectural history. It also highlights the role of photography in social reform, with Annan’s photographs contributing to improvements in living conditions in the city.

Annan’s vision of Glasgow through a lens cast light into the darkest areas of urban poverty, raising awareness for the crisis of health and social welfare with the Second City of Empire. The health of Glasgow in the 19th century was greatly influenced by the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the time. This period saw Glasgow transformed from a medium-sized merchant town to one of the largest and most industrialized cities in the world. This rapid growth, while economically beneficial, also led to numerous social and health challenges.

Living conditions for the working class were often poor, with many people living in overcrowded tenements in the city’s “closes” or alleys. Sanitation was a significant issue, with a lack of clean water and proper sewage systems contributing to the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhus. This was particularly a problem in the more densely populated areas of the city.

Child labor was also common in factories and mines, contributing to poor health outcomes for this demographic. The poor air quality from industrial pollution would have also contributed to respiratory problems among the population.

Efforts to improve public health were made throughout the century. The Glasgow Police Act of 1800, for example, aimed to improve the cleanliness of the streets. In the latter half of the 19th century, major infrastructure projects were undertaken to improve the city’s sanitation, including a new sewage system and clean water supply.

The photographs of Thomas Annan, taken in the 1860s and 1870s, provide a stark visual record of the living conditions in the poorer areas of Glasgow during this time. They were influential in prompting social reform and improving the living conditions of the city’s residents.

Overall, the social health of Glasgow during the 19th century was characterized by significant challenges due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, but also marked by efforts to improve public health and living conditions.

Want to find out more – come listen to the lecture in June and have a look at the resources below

References and Resources

1. Thomas Annan, Public Health, and Infection Control in Victorian Glasgow. Eventbrite. Published June 19, 2023. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/thomas-annan-public-health-and-infection-control-in-victorian-glasgow-tickets-557756252967

2. Wild G. Heritage + Health. Glasgow City Heritage Trust. Published November 28, 2017. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.glasgowheritage.org.uk/heritage-health/

3. Jeremy. Thomas Annan of Glasgow. Document Scotland. Published June 19, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.documentscotland.com/thomas-annan-glasgow-scottish-photography/

4. Gossman L. Thomas Annan of Glasgow: Pioneer of the Documentary Photograph. Open Book Publishers; 2015. doi:10.11647/OBP.0057

5. Annan T. Plate 32: Close, No. 128 Saltmarket,.; 1868.

6. Annan T. Old Vennel, Off High Street,.; 1868.

7. Thomas Annan’s Glasgow – National Library of Scotland. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://digital.nls.uk/learning/thomas-annan-glasgow/

8. Thomas Annan. Close No. 61 Saltmarket. 1868 | MoMA. The Museum of Modern Art. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/50385

9. Thomas Annan | Science Museum Group Collection. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp43552/thomas-annan

10. Thomas Annan | Portrait of D.O. Hill. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/269420

11. Thomas Annan. National Galleries of Scotland. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/features/thomas-annan

12. The Thomas Annan Collection. The WS Society. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.wssociety.co.uk/the-thomas-annan-collection

13. The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/files/special/exhibns/month/Mar2006.html

14. Events · Heritage. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://heritage.rcpsg.ac.uk/events

15. Clyde-built: Thomas Annan’s “The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow” (1871). Accessed May 31, 2023. https://victorianweb.org/photos/annan/gossman.html

16. Clyde-built: Thomas Annan’s “The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow” (1871). Accessed May 31, 2023. https://victorianweb.org/photos/annan/gossman.html

17. Annan – Glasgow Libraries Online Library. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://libcat.csglasgow.org/web/arena/annan

18. A Walk in Thomas Annan’s Glasgow: Documentary Photography, Class and Urban Space – Vladimir Rizov, 2022. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00961442221095892