This paper concerns the history of photographic conservation practices from the beginnings of photography to roughly 1980. Several examples of the increasing interest in and attempted solutions for photographic preservation problems during the 1850 - 1880 period are presented. The quality of published recommendations varied markedly. Between 1880 and about 1925, journal articles on photographic conservation began to appear with increasing frequency. The 1925 - 1970 period continued a diversity of approaches to photographic conservation, with maintaining a status quo being a common strategy. The 1970s witnessed a dramatic revitalization of photographic conservation, with the birth of graduate academic departments, and it is anticipated that more well-trained and professionally experienced conservators will come in time.