Exhibit created by Henry Caiazzo, Digital Archivist & Content Manager, and Tom DiGiovanni, Guest Contributor and Intern
Crime photography became a defining feature of early 20th-century newspapers, captivating readers with stories documenting exhilarating burglaries, horrid murders, bootlegging, corruption, and so much more.
The rise of photo-centric crime coverage coincided with the creation and widespread adoption of the halftone printing process, which, around the turn of the century, made it possible to reproduce photographs consistently and affordably in newspapers worldwide.
This technological breakthrough fueled the rise of tabloid newspapers—compact, visually driven publications that catered to urban working-class readers. Unlike traditional newspapers, tabloids relied heavily on photography, using gripping images to draw readers into sensational stories of crime, celebrity scandals, and gossip.
Maine publishing tycoon Guy Gannett recognized the public’s appetite for this visual storytelling style and made photography a cornerstone of his suite of Maine newspapers. As a result, crime coverage became a staple for photojournalists and reporters at the "Portland Press Herald" and "Evening Express." Beyond simple crime reporting, their work included intimate portraits of criminals, murderers, and, in some cases, stark and unflinching images of bloody crime scenes.