Throughout this talk, Kate Shannon will share discoveries from her study of a large collection of 19th-century photographs at Ohio State’s Rare Books & Manuscripts Library. Within the archive are thousands of early American cased portraits, each a tiny, unique image within a decorative container. She will discuss what the collection preserves and what it leaves out, the mysteries surrounding its mostly unidentified sitters, and the materiality of the objects themselves, marked by flaws, deterioration, and small personal annotations. Together, we will reflect on early photography as an enigmatic, tangible medium for preserving fragments of human experience and consider what might be gained and lost in an era dominated by digital precision and artificial intelligence.
Kate Shannon is an artist and associate professor at The Ohio State University’s regional campus in Mansfield. Her artwork revolves around photography and has been exhibited widely, including at the Griffin Museum of Photography, Elmhurst Art Museum, and Masur Museum of Art. She has received support from the Greater Columbus Arts Council Artist Projects Grant, the Coca-Cola Critical Difference for Women Grant Program, and The Ohio State University’s Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning. She has also received The Ohio State University at Mansfield’s awards for both Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Research. During 2025-2026, she served as The Ohio State University’s Artist Laureate, traveling across Ohio to connect with people through photography. Kate currently lives in Hilliard, Ohio, with her husband, kids, and cat.
Kate Shannon named 2025-2026 Artist Laureate
Kate Shannon on Voices of Excellence
View all Science Sundays lectures
Science Sundays is a free lecture series open to the public that provides a wide range of current and emerging topics and issues in science that touch our everyday lives. Speakers are experts in their fields from on campus and around the world with experience in making their topics interesting and accessible for audiences of all ages, with or without a science background.
Each lecture is followed by a free, informal reception from 4-5 p.m.
If you have questions about accessibility or wish to request an accommodation for a disability please contact John Beacom (beacom.7@osu.edu; 614-247-8102). With advance notice of two weeks, we can generally provide seamless access.
