Agfa Foto-Historama
An important photo-history collection with around 20,000 cameras – today part of the Photographic Collection of Museum Ludwig.
The Agfa Foto-Historama is one of Europe's most important photo-history collections. It comprises around 20,000 cameras and devices, more than 12,000 photographs from the earliest days of photography, and an extensive specialist library.
At a glance
- Core: the collection of Erich Stenger, once the world's largest private photo-history collection
- From 1955: expanded by Agfa-Gevaert
- Since 1986: at Museum Ludwig in Cologne
- Today: part of the "Photographic Collection" of Museum Ludwig
From private collector to museum
Its core is the collection of photo-chemist Erich Stenger, taken over by Agfa from 1955 and systematically expanded. In 1985 it became a permanent loan to the city of Cologne; since 1986 it has been shown at Museum Ludwig. In 2005 the photo collection was recognised as national cultural heritage and acquired by the city.
Visitor note
The Agfa Foto-Historama is not a standalone museum but part of the Photographic Collection of Museum Ludwig. Holdings are accessible there and online in the museum database.
Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-23
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