Photography: The World through the Lens is a comprehensive archive exploring the transformative impact of photography in the 19th century. This resource offers visual evidence that complements textual sources, capturing the people, places, and events that shaped history.

The collection includes photographs, albums, and texts on early photography, as well as scientific records, police photography, war images, and depictions of urban and rural life. Materials are sourced from renowned institutions such as the British Library, National Archives, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Library of Congress.

Released in 2013 and enhanced in 2019, the archive supports research in areas like exploration, empire, science, archaeology, portraiture, and daily life worldwide. It is an essential tool for understanding the cultural, social, and historical dimensions of the 19th century through the lens of photography.