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Collection consists of hundreds of albumen prints mounted on linen. The prints are of historic monuments and architectural and decorative details in European countries such as Italy, France, and Spain. These types of study prints were commonly found in many architectural firms during the late 19th and early 20th century. Though it is unclear how this particular collection of albumen prints was amassed by the office of G.A. and H. Boehm, Architects, it is possible that either brother purchased the prints while traveling in Europe during the 1890s-1900s. Many of the prints in the collection are from the core of historic images of art historical monuments. The majority of the prints are from the Italian firm Fratelli Alinari. In 1852 Leopoldo Alinari established a studio in the Via Nazionale in Florence. Two years later, his brothers Giuseppe and Romualdo (1830-1891) joined him in the venture which they then named "Fratelli Alinari, Fotografi Editori." Giuseppe and Romualdo managed the business while Leopoldo traveled, photographing monuments in Rome, Florence, Naples, Pompeii and elsewhere in Italy. By the 1860s the business expanded to a portrait studio and then publishing firm.

The Philip Lacy Collection of European Study Prints contains 2,362 images of historic monuments and architectural and decorative details in Italy and France. These types of study prints were commonly collected by art historians and architects traveling in Europe.