Josiah Freeman,

In the latter part of the 1800's, on the island of Nantucket, Josiah Freeman, best known for his stereopticon landscapes, also produced a magnificent body of studio portraits. His photographs are simultaneously serious and playful, and give us a portal through which we can appreciate the diversity of the community and its life through clothing, postures, and physiognomy. Seen all together, Freeman's work gives us a strong insight into the common life of the island during his era. This book was created by Walter and Marilyn Rabetz. Walter is a well known contemporary photographer who happened upon a treasure trove of Freeman's glass negatives that were being discarded. Realizing their historic and artistic value, he and his wife, Marilyn, have curated these images into this elegant compilation.