Allan Janus (1881-?) was born in Washington DC and worked for many years as an itinerant tintypist throughout Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Michigan. Janus also pursued other unsuccessful careers in book and fine art selling, as a government clerk, and as a free-lance dirigible pilot. Further biographical information has not yet been found, and all traces of him vanish after c.1915.

His photographs are in several museum collections, including the National Museum of American Art, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and in a few private collections. By far the most important collection of Janus' work is held by the Janus Foundation of Washington Grove, Maryland, which maintains the virtual Janus Museum. The Museum welcomes serious scholars; the collection is open by appointment only.


From time to time, photographs by Allan Janus are made available for purchase by the public. For further information, kindly contact: