50 HIGHLIGHT PETER J. COHEN COLLECTION IN 2016, SCMA RECEIVED A GIFT OF VERNACULAR photographs from the extensive collection of Peter J. Cohen. Cohen has been avidly collecting snapshots for decades, long before the existence of an established market for these objects. Guided by instinct, he has amassed an astonishing collection of work that ranges widely in subject matter, time period and country of origin. With the advent of the digital age, these objects preserve a history and aesthetic of photographs that is quickly disappearing, and they have recently become of great scholarly interest. The 150 objects donated to SCMA were hand-selected by museum staff with assistance from Anna Lee, post-doctoral fellow in art history, who became intrigued by the wide range of hand-colored photographs in the collection. Selections from this gift were featured in the installation A History of Handwork: Photographs from the SCMA Collection on view at SCMA from September 8– December 3, 2017. ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHTS ABOVE LEFT: Unknown. American, 19th century. Untitled [woman and girl on stone wall]. Cyanotype. Gift of Peter J. Cohen in honor of Margaret Edson, class of 1983. ABOVE RIGHT: Unknown. American, 20th century. Untitled [woman at podium]. Gelatin silver print with applied color. Gift of Peter J. Cohen in honor of Margaret Edson, class of 1983.