The Marcus Smith photography comprises photographs and one engraving. Two hundred and twenty-nine of the photographs and the engraving are found a nineteenth century album, covering the period from about 1870 to 1880 (although there are some photographic copies of earlier images such as paintings, miniatures, and at least one daguerreotype). At the beginning of the album is a two page listing of the contents, identifying to some extent the images; and further identification is occasionally found within the album.
The album includes 142 portraits of the Marcus Smith, Sandford Fleming, Brock, Brophy, Street, and Chester families. The photographs were taken by professional photographers, who would appear to include Topley, Notman, and others. Notable are three group shots of identified individuals involved with the creation and construction of the InterColonial Railway. Only a handful of portraits were taken outside of Canada
There are also 87 views, which include images from various areas of Britain, Mexico, the United States and Switzerland as well as Canada. These include castles belonging to the Duke of Northumberland, views in the north of England, Durham cathedral, Redhill (Surrey), Earlswood (Surrey), Ely Cathedral and various views of Wales. There are several unidentified views of residences and flora in Mexico, as well as two views of the Castle of Chillon and Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. Finally, there are a couple of views of Yosemite, in the United States. These are not attributed views and may have been cut down from larger images.
The Canadian views include eight by Alexander Henderson, taken when he was photographing for the InterColonial Railway. The National Archives appears to have copies of five of these but not the remaining three. There are also several views of Ottawa by Topley. Remaining views are not identified as to photographer, but include thirteen views of Brockville and area (including several tiny prints which have to be looked at under a loupe); Upper Canada College; University of Toronto; the Cathedral at Fredericton.
Photographs were extracted from three files found in the textual documents. They include the following:
1. Clarisse Smith file: Two views of a park in Victoria, B.C., c 1905. Photographer unidentified; Three Notman photos of the Rockies, c 1904; A view entitled Burgess Mountain, Emerald Lake, by S.J. Thompson, c 1900; Ford Castle, Northumberland, 1867. Photographer unidentified; An unidentified view of a mountain.
2. Adam Smith file: Four portraits of or including Adam Smith, late 19th / early 20th centuries; Two views of Reigate.
3. T. Rhys (Tom) Smith file: Two views (including a snapshot) of his home at Cos Cobb, Connecticut; Two views including his wife Mayne; One snapshot of one of his dogs.
4. Brock Family file: One photograph of Colonel Henry Brock's miniature medals and Order of St. John of Jerusalem; one portrait of a unidentifed woman photographerd by F. Gutekunkst Company of Phildelphia; one photograph of a lily pool in late august with house in background; one snapshot of M.C.B. at Fort George, Niagara on the Lake, 1940; one photo of a memorial plaque for THomas Rees Brock at Guelph cemetary; one photo of a memorial plaque for Colonel Henry Brock at St. James Cathedral in Toronto.
Four Loose photographs were also found in the album, and have been sleeved separately: A group portrait of some members of the Brock family, c 1885 by Jarvis, Ottawa; Anne Clarice Smith in a wedding gown, 1899, by Topley, Ottawa; Anne Clarice Smith, 1884, by Stanton, Toronto; A cut-down autographed photograph of what appears to be A. Chester, ca. 1905.
