Over the past two decades the research of photo albums as historical sources has grown in popularity. This issue presents an overview of theoretical and methodological developments, both in the fields of interdisciplinary and contemporary album research. It offers contributions that analyse album practices in different geographic regions, societies, contexts, and political regimes from the 1920s to the present. The present issue also shows various perspectives on the research of albums and highlights the importance of these special visual sources for contemporary historical research.