Thomas Annan

Scottish photographer
British (Scottish), (1829–1887)
In 1855 Annan founded the firm Thomas Annan, calotype printers at Woodlands Cottage, Glasgow, Scotland. In 1857 he photographed Glasgow houses and interiors. In 1859 Annan set up a portrait studio and photographic printing studio in Hamilton, Scotland. In 1866 Annan was hired by the Glasgow City Improvement Trust to document slum areas before their demolition. These pictures of the old districts of Glasgow were made into photogravure books. In 1873 Annan's brother Robert joins the business as a partner and T. & R. Annan & Sons was formed. In 1883 Annan travelled to Vienna, Austria with his son James Craig to learn the photogravure process from its inventor Karl Klic. Annan bought the rights for this process in Britain.