Bibliographies can often be daunting! This is a very brief selection of books which may be useful for those studying the history of photography.
Further advice could be sought from The Royal Photographic Society, The Octagon, BATH, Avon, England.
This Society also has a thriving Historical Group to which most of the leading photographic historians belong; one does not need to be an expert to belong to this group, and will find that there are many who are only too willing to share their knowledge and expertise.
For those studying photography for GCSE, GCE "A" levels or the City & Guilds 9231 examination, the following are particularly recommended:
Beaton, Cecil, and Buckland, Gay. The Magic Image: The genius of Photography from 1839 to the Present Day. London: Pavilion Books, 1989
Gernsheim, Helmut. The Concise History of Photography: Thames & Hudson, 1986
Langford, Michael. The Story of Photography. Focal Press, 1980. A concise and interestingly written book.
Newhall, Beaumont. The History of Photography from 1839 to the Present. Secker and Warburg, 1986
Brewster, David. The Stereoscope, its history, theory and construction: John Murray, 1856, facsimile published by Morgan and Morgan
Buckland, Gail. Reality Recorded: Early Documentary Photography. New York Graphic Society
Coe, Brian. Cameras: From Daguerreotypes to Instant Pictures. Crown Publishers 1978
Coe, Brian. The Birth of Photography. London: Ash and Grant
Coke, Van Deren. The Painter and the Photographer, From Delacroix to Warhol. University of New Mexico Press
Daval, Jean-Luc. Photography: History of an Art. New York: Rizzoli International Publications
Eder, Josf Maria. History of Photography. Dover Publications, 1945.
Long out of print, this is a fascinating and comprehensive account of the technical developments of photography up to 1900.
Emerson, Peter Henry: Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art (1899) Reprinted Arno Press
Fabian, Ranier et al. Masters of Early Travel Photography. Vendome Press
Ford, Colin (ed) An Early Victorian Album: The Photographic Masterpieces (1843-47) of David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson. New York: Alfred Knopf
Gernsheim, Helmut and Alison. The History of Photography. New York: McGraw Hill
Gernsheim, Helmut. Julia Margaret Cameron: Pioneer of Photography. Aperture
Goodridge, L et al. The Face of China as Seen by Photographers and Travellers, 1860-1912. Millerton, N.Y.: Aperture
Hannavy, John. Roger Fenton of Crimble Hall. Boston: David Godine
Hannavy, John : Fox Talbot. Shire Publications
Harker, Margaret. The Linked Ring: The Secession Movement in Photography in Britain. Heineman
Hercock, R, and Jones, G: Silver by the Ton: A History of Ilford Limited 1879-1979. McGraw-Hill
Hirsch, Robert: Seizing the Light - a History of photography. McGraw-Hill, 2000, ISBN 0-697-14361-9
Hopkinson, Tom. Treasures of the Royal Photographic Society, 1839-1919. Focal Press
Jay, Bill. Robert Demachy; 1859-1936: Photographs and Essays. Academy Edition.
Jay, Bill. Bernard Shaw on Photography: Equation, Wellingborough
Jay, Bill. Victorian Cameraman: Francis Frith's views of rural England, 1850-1898. David & Charles
Jones, Edgar. Father of Art Photography, O.G.Rejlander 1813- 1875. New York Graphic Society
Lloyd, Valerie. Photography: the first eighty years: Colnaghi, London
Martin, Elizabeth. Collecting and Preserving old photographs. Collins
Newhall, Beaumont. Latent Image: The Discovery of Photography. Doubleday
Newhall, Beaumont (ed). Photography: Essays and Images. Museum of Modern Art, USA
Pollack, Peter. Picture History of Photography. New York: Harry Abrams
Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York (1890). Reprinted New York: Dover Publications
Rosenblum, Naomi. A World History of Photography (1997) Third Edition. Aberville Press
Sharf, Aaron. Art and Photography. Allen Lane
Sharf, Aaron. Pioneers of Photography. Harry Abrams
Thomas, David B. The First Negatives. London: HMSO, 1964