The invention of motion pictures wasn’t a single eureka moment, but rather a complex interplay of science, technology, art, and law. During Dr Claudy Op den Kamp’s Lemelson Center fellowship, she explored this rich history through an unexpected lens: copyright registration practices.

At the centre of this story is the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, a landmark event that drew 27.5 million visitors. The Exposition’s strict photography policies provide fascinating insights into how technological innovations were controlled, documented, and remembered. Looking at who could photograph what—and under what conditions—reveals much about the mechanics of innovation itself.

Two key figures emerge in this research: Eadweard Muybridge and W.K.L. Dickson. Though historically overshadowed by their employers Leland Stanford and Thomas Edison, their work challenges the myth of the lone inventor. Instead, we see a rich network of cultural and technological practices that collectively birthed motion pictures.

Dr Op den Kamp’s video essay, ‘Evidence of Things Not Present,’ documents these investigations, exploring both the elusive nature of historical evidence and the crucial role of archival preservation. By examining issues of originality, competition, and attribution, the research demonstrates how public domain materials and accessible archives are vital for understanding our technological past.

Featured image: World’s first and largest Ferris wheel, with guard in the foreground, World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893