Capturing History: The Story Behind "Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow" Introduction: In the mid-19th century, Glasgow was a city in transition. The industrial revolution had transformed it into a bustling urban center, but with progress came challenges. The old parts of the city were plagued by overcrowding, poverty, and unsanitary living conditions. It was against this backdrop that Thomas Annan, a pioneering Scottish photographer, was commissioned by the Glasgow City Improvement Trust in 1866 to document these slum areas. This commission would lead to the creation of his landmark series, "Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow," a body of work that would capture the essence of the city's historic transformation. The Commission: In 1866, Glasgow's civic leaders recognized the need for urban renewal to address the dire living conditions in the city's oldest quarters. To preserve a record of the areas slated for redevelopment, they turned to Thomas Annan,