This post was written by guest blogger Carrie Hoffman.

I’ve always loved pictures of dead people because they look like nobody I’ve ever seen, like just a hundred and fifty years ago, the people were of a different species. I wonder if it’s the clothing, or the technology, or just that we’ve evolved ever-so slightly that it’s detectable to me. The women, in particular, interest me because of how hard-looking and tough they seem when everything you read suggests delicacy and femininity.

Anyway, I have always liked looking at daugerreotypes, and happened upon the website for The Daguerrian Society, where you can view lots of wonderful examples. Here’s one of my favorites: