Art critics around the world know Fred Holland Day for expanding the boundaries of photography to include sensibilities and subject matter previously reserved for painters.
Along with other turn-of-the-century photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen, Day helped make the photograph an acceptable medium for fine art.
But Ronald Frazier, director of the Dedham Historical Society, wants people to know Day was an accomplished historian, publisher and genealogist in addition to being a great photographer.
"People never mention his historical work," Frazier said. "In recent years Day has become more important in photography, but not genealogy or history."
Frazier and the historical society are paying tribute to Day and recognizing his contributions to local history and culture at an exhibit lasting through the summer featuring his work and donations.
Day was born in Norwood in 1864 while it was still part of the town of Dedham. Like his father, he was a member and volunteer at the Dedham Historical Society.
Day did research for the society, took photographs of its early collections of art and the society building itself in 1887. He made detailed and intricate genealogies of Dedham families and donated valuable antiques.
The exhibit features many historic items donated by Day including a sword and hat used in the War of 1812, a coffee pot owned by Napoleon III of France and tea cups belonging to England's Queen Victoria.
It includes local Day photographs such as an 1886 shot of the Revolutionary War Powder House in Dedham, an 1886 photo of an old sawmill in Walpole and an 1886 photo of the Balch House in Norwood.
Frazier said the timing of the exhibit was partially in anticipation of a book on Day expected to be released by former Norwood Historical Society president Patricia Fanning next year.
Fanning this week said Day's photographs of nudes, recreations of biblical scenes and dignified shots of people of different races and ethnic groups were instrumental in changing early ideas of what photography could be.
But Fanning also emphasized Day's other contributions.
"He was a multitalented man and had a good collection of early artifacts and history," Fanning said. "He dedicated a lot to Dedham and Norwood."
Fanning said Day did extensive research to come up with the names of Norwood war veterans now inscribed on the veterans memorial tablets in Norwood Town Hall.
"He started collecting American history at the time around the centennial when people's attitudes were changing and they started thinking the country had a history," Fanning said.
As a co-owner of a Boston publishing company, Day helped get an eclectic catalogue of books in print, including volumes by Oscar Wilde banned in Britain.
When Day died of prostate cancer in 1933, he left possessions and money to the Dedham Historical Society on the condition that if the Norwood Historical Society ever secured its own building, much of it would be transferred there.
The next year, the Norwood Historical Society purchased Day's large Victorian home on Day Street and has been there ever since.
The Dedham Historical Society Museum is open Tuesday though Friday at 612 High St. in Dedham Square.
Daily News staff writer Patrick Anderson can be reached at 781-433-8336 or by e-mail at panderso@cnc.com.
