The ambrotypes in the Hollmann collection (possibly four in quantity)--collodion positives, or negatives bleached by silver salts and placed against a black background--are housed with the tintypes. Tintypes, or ferrotypes, are negative images created by painting or lacquiring a thin iron plate with a collodion photographic emulsion in order to create the appearance of a positive image. Tintypes could be made relatively quickly and were popular among itinerant photographers, among other photographers.

The identified portraits have a Kansas connection, either with a Kansas photographer, or the sitter(s) were located in Kansas in some point during their lifespan.

The unidentified images could possibly have their origins in the Midwestern United States, or at least in the United States of America. Many of the images include informal or candid poses of the subjects and/or unique props. The majority of the unidentified subjects are men, with fewer images of women or children.

Photographs from the Douglas County, Kansas area are more fully described when possible. Leonard Hollmann, the collector, often placed typed information regarding the image or provenance inside the mylar sleeve with the photograph, or he included information from his purchase source or from research. This material has been kept in the folder with the image.