Theodor Horydczak

This article is currently a draft.

Folger Library interiors. Exhibition hall at Folger Library I. LC-H814-T-L04-113 (interpositive)

Theodor Horydczak (1889-1971) was a photographer who documented the architecture, culture, and social life of Washington, D.C. in the first half of the 20th century, especially the 1920s-1940s. The bulk of his work resides in the Prints and Photographs division of the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress Horydczak collection consists of a donation by

The photographer's daughter and son-and-law, Norma and Francis Reeves, [who] presented the collection, consisting of more than 32,000 items, including approximately 17,450 black-and-white photographs, 14,000 negatives, and 1,500 color transparencies, to the Library of Congress in 1973.

Horydczak captured the progress of many Washington, D.C. landmarks including: the National Archives, Washington Monument, and Memorial Bridge. In the course of his work, he was engaged to photograph the early days of the Folger Shakespeare Library building, selected collection materials, as well as some personnel, including the Library's first director Joseph Quincy Adams and one of the founders, Emily Jordan Folger.

In January 2017, research was conducted by a Folger staff member to date the photographs taken of the Folger, using Horydczak's log book held at the Library of Congress.

Researching the collection

Logbook and call number codes

Theodor Horydczak kept a logbook of his various photography jobs arranged in the numerical order of his photographic negatives. The logbook should be consulted from the microfilm (LOT 11504), unless absolutely necessary, as it is very fragile. Each numbered line of the logbook contains a short description of the subject or client photographed. Few of the lines are dated, but enough of them are that the researcher can ascertain an approximate date of most of the photographs taken. In many cases, Horydczak took photographs of recently completed buildings, so research into various buildings' completion dates allows for a close approximation of the date of the other photographs. Along with numbering each negative in order, Horydczak's photographs were organized by the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs division by assigning a numerical code to each type of negative.

The list of these 4-digit numbers appears below:

Code	Size	Approximate number	Negative type
LC-H812	5x7 in.	450	Safety negatives
LC-H813	4x5 in.	765	Safety negatives
LC-H814	8x10 in.	7,975	Safety negatives
LC-H822	5x7 in.	575	Nitrate film negatives
LC-H823	4x5 in.	1,010	Nitrate film negatives
LC-H824	8x10 in.	2,350	Nitrate film negatives
LC-H832	5x7 in.	135	Glass negatives
LC-H833	4x5 in.	40	Glass negatives
LC-H834	8x10 in.	90	Glass negatives
LC-H8	8x10 in. and smaller	940	Color transparencies

Finding photographs of the Folger

Horydczak also, later in his career, selected some photographs for resale and renumbered them during this process. Relevant alpha-numerical codes for finding images in and of the Folger are:

L04

Folger Shakespeare Library Interior and Exterior

L03

Exterior Library of Congress and Library of Congress Annex (Adams Building)

C01

U.S. Capitol Exterior

Therefore, an example of a call number coded with the above systems would appear as such: LC-H814- L04-040—a Folger Library photograph in safety negative format, the 40th negative.

Logbook, notebooks, and subject cards

In order to find the original entry for a renumbered negative, Horydczak's logbook, notebooks, and subject cards must be used in concert. When the photographer renumbered his negatives in the alpha-numerical system, he created subject cards for his own organization and reference. After he finished listing the various negatives on the subject cards, he typed a cross-referenced list kept in alphabetized 3-ring notebooks. The Folger can be found under "L" for "Library, Folger Shakespeare" and is the fourth entry, therefore making the code for the Folger "L04."

Once the researcher ascertains the original negative numbers from the cross-reference notebooks, they should find the relevant entry in the logbook to understand the date and context of the photograph.

Full list of photographs of the Folger Shakespeare Library

Undated photos not in logbook

General undated negatives not in logbook

Coded as:	Title	Reproduction Number	Call number	PPOC URL	Hamnet URL
Capitol Exteriors	U.S. Capitol exteriors. Dome of U.S. Capitol from Folger Library	LC-H813-C01-050 (b&w film neg.)	LC-H813- C01-050	<P&P> [P&P] http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995010343/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of a house among trees	LC-H814-0188 (b&w film neg.)	LC-H814- 0188 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000041/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Miniatures of a man and woman	LC-H814-T-0059 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0059 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000018/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128741 AND http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128740
	Folger Library copy work. Lumley portrait of Shakespeare	LC-H814-T-0060 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0060 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000019/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128698
	Folger Library copy work. Bust of Shakespeare I	LC-H814-T-0083-A (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0083-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000020/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Bust of Shakespeare II	LC-H814-T-0083-B (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0083-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000021/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of Shakespeare and first page of text of a biography	LC-H814-T-0084 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0084 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000022/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Miniature of a woman	LC-H814-T-0088 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0088 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000023/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128684
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of a woman	LC-H814-T-0089 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0089 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000024/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128668
	Folger Library copy work. Sculpture of Shakespeare I	LC-H814-T-0090-A (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0090-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000025/PP/	http://luna.folger.edu/luna/servlet/s/3gqxav
	Folger Library copy work. Sculpture of Shakespeare II	LC-H814-T-0090-B (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0090-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000026/PP/	http://luna.folger.edu/luna/servlet/s/3gqxav
	Folger Library copy work. Title page from Merchant of Venice	LC-H814-T-0091 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0091 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000027/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=163955
	Folger Library copy work. Title page from Romeo and Juliet	LC-H814-T-0092 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0092 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000028/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=163932
	Folger Library copy work. Manuscript pages from Folger Library I	LC-H814-T-0093-A (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0093-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000029/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Manuscript pages from Folger Library II	LC-H814-T-0093-B (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0093-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000030/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Gravure of Henry Irving as Hamlet	LC-H814-T-0094 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0094 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000031/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=253027
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of the Globe theater in 1616 II LC-H814-T-0094-001-B (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0094-001-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000033/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portion of title page of collected works	LC-H814-T-0095 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0095 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000034/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=79031
	Folger Library copy work. Medal presented to David Garrick in 1777, text side	LC-H814-T-0096 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0096 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000035/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128681
	Folger Library copy work. Medal presented to David Garrick in 1777, illustrated side	LC-H814-T-0097 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0097 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000036/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=128682
	Folger Library copy work. Manuscript page from Folger Library	LC-H814-T-0098 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0098 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000037/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of the Globe theater in 1616 I	LC-H814-T01-0094-001-A (b&w film dup. neg.)	LC-H814- 0094-001-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000032/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Model of stage in theater	LC-H814-T-0106 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0106 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000038/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Innyard, the forerunner of playhouses	LC-H814-T-0107 (interpositive)	LC-H814- 0107 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000039/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration from a play	LC-H814-T-0108 (interpositive)	C-H814- 0108 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995000040/PP/
	Miscellaneous subjects. Scuplture of Shakespeare	LC-H824-4543-x (b&w film nitrate neg.)	LC-H824- 4543-x <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995009666/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Handwritten manuscript page of play	LC-H824-T-0008 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0008 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001474/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustrated map of London I	LC-H824-T-0028 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0028 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001494/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustrated map of London II	LC-H824-T-0029-B (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0029-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001496/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustrated map of London III	LC-H824-T-0034 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0034 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001497/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Map of London showing locations of playhouses	LC-H824-T-0036 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0036 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001499/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames I	LC-H824-T-0037 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0037 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001500/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames II	LC-H824-T-0038 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0038 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001501/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames III	LC-H824-T-0040 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0040 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001502/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames IV	LC-H824-T-0041-A (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0041-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001503/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames V	LC-H824-T-0042 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0042 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001505/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of procession in London	LC-H824-T-0043 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0043 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001506/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of West-Cheap, London	LC-H824-T-0045 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0045 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001507/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of a theater	LC-H824-T-0046 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0046 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001508/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Title page of play Roxana by Alabastro	LC-H824-T-0047 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0047 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001509/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of William Sly	LC-H824-T-0048 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0048 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001510/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of characters from a play	LC-H824-T-0049 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0049 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001511/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of John Lowin	LC-H824-T-0051 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0051 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001513/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of Nathaniel Field	LC-H824-T-0053 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0053 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001515/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of Richard Tarlton	LC-H824-T-0054 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0054 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001516/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Title page of play by Wm. Robert Armin	LC-H824-T-0055 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0055 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001517/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of Shakespeare	LC-H824-T-0057 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0057 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001519/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames VI	LC-H824-T-0061 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0061 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001522/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames VII	LC-H824-T-0063 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0063 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001523/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of buildings in Shipyard Temple Bar	LC-H824-T-0065 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0065 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001524/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London Bridge I	LC-H824-T-0067-A (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0067-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001525/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London Bridge II	LC-H824-T-0067-B (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0067-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001526/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames VIII	LC-H824-T-0068 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0068 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001527/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames IX	LC-H824-T-0069 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0069 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001528/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames X	LC-H824-T-0070 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0070 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001529/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of Palace Placentia in East Greenwich	LC-H824-T-0071-A (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0071-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001530/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of nave in St. Paul's I	LC-H824-T-0072 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0072 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001531/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of nave in St. Paul's II	LC-H824-T-0073 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0073 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001532/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of Westminster	LC-H824-T-0076 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0076 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001533/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of a town	LC-H824-T-0077 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0077 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001534/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of old buildings near Temple Gate in Fleet St.	LC-H824-T-0079 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0079 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001535/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of Royal Exchange of London	LC-H824-T-0080 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0080 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001536/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of Durham, Salisbury and Worcester Houses	LC-H824-T-0081 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0081 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001537/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of Somerset House	LC-H824-T-0082 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0082 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001538/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustrations of sculpted bust of unidentified man	LC-H824-T-0084 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0084 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001539/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustrated map of London IV	LC-H824-T01-0035 (b&w film dup. neg.)	LC-H824- 0035 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001498/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Frontispiece of a Shakespeare play	LC-H824-T01-0050 (b&w film dup. neg.)	LC-H824- 0050 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001512/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Portrait of Shakespeare	LC-H824-T01-0052 (b&w film dup. neg.)	LC-H824- 0052 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001514/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Sculpture of Shakespeare	LC-H824-T01-0056-001 (b&w film dup. neg.)	LC-H824- 0056-001 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001518/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames XI	LC-H824-T-0104 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0104 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001544/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Illustration of London showing buildings along the Thames XII	LC-H824-T-0105 (interpositive)	LC-H824- 0105 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995001545/PP/
Capitol Exteriors	U.S. Capitol exteriors. Dome of U.S. Capitol from Folger Library	LC-H824-T-C01-071 (interpositive)	LC-H824- C01-071 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995012966/PP/
Capitol Exteriors	U.S. Capitol exteriors. Dome of U.S. Capitol from Folger Library window I	LC-H824-T-C01-083-A (interpositive)	LC-H824- C01-083-A <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995012967/PP/
Capitol Exteriors	U.S. Capitol exteriors. Dome of U.S. Capitol from Folger Library window II	LC-H824-T-C01-083-B (interpositive)	LC-H824- C01-083-B <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995012968/PP/
	Folger Library copy work. Title page of Titus Andronicus, 1594 I	LC-H833-2844-001-x (b&w glass neg.)	LC-H833- 2844-001-x <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995010049/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=161161
	Folger Library copy work. Title page of Titus Andronicus, 1594 II	LC-H833-2844-002-x (b&w glass neg.)	LC-H833- 2844-002-x <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995010050/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=161161
	Folger Library copy work. Folger Library manuscript II	LC-H834-0085 (b&w glass neg.)	LC-H834- 0085 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995002290/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=161161
	Folger Library copy work. Page from Titus Andronicus	LC-H834-0086 (b&w glass neg.)	LC-H834- 0086 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995002291/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=161161
	Folger Library copy work. Folger Library manuscript III	LC-H834-0087 (b&w glass neg.)	LC-H834- 0087 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995002292/PP/	http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=161161
Color Transparencies	Folger Library. Front of Folger Library	LC-H8-CT-0006-x (color corrected film copy slide)	LC-H8- 0006-x <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995002232/PP/
Color Transparencies	Folger Library interiors. Seven ages of man, stained glass window at Folger Library	LC-H8-CT-F03-000 (color corrected film copy slide)	LC-H8- F03-000 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995013834/PP/
Color Transparencies	Folger Library exteriors. Exterior of Folger Library	LC-H8-CT-F03-001 (color corrected film copy slide)	LC-H8- F03-001 <P&P> [P&P]	http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/thc1995013835/PP/

Resources

The resources listed below provide some information about the little-known photographer Theodor Horydczak.

Digitized photonegative collection at Library of Congress

"Searching for Theodor Horydczak, elusive photographic chronicler of Washington" by John Kelly, The Washington Post, 13 September 2013. Accessed 12 January 2017.

"Waverly Rare Books in Falls Church to auction iconic Washington photos by Theodor Horydczak" in Art Daily. Accessed 12 January 2017.