Photographic Archives
The Photographic Archives houses almost 2 million photographs and associated records and manuscripts. Its mission is to collect significant documentary photograph collections, to organize the collections and to make them available to both the researcher and the casual browser. This is accomplished through our reference service, searching our photocopy files (copies of photographs arranged by subject), exhibitions, publications, and other programs.
Hundreds of discrete collections include national documentary projects, local history photographs and an excellent museum collection of fine prints. Use of our reading room and exhibitions gallery is free and open to the public.
Significant collections include
The Roy Stryker Papers
- Manuscripts,
correspondence and vintage prints from the Stryker-directed
projects--Farm Security Administration (FSA), the Standard Oil (New
Jersey) Co. and Jones & Laughlin Steel
Appalachian photographs
- The Arthur Y. Ford Albums
- The Jean Thomas Collection
- The Claude C. Matlack/Oneida School Collection
- The Henderson Settlement School Collection.
Local History Collections
- Over one-half million Local History photographs.
- Caufield & Shook Studio (1904-1978)
- Lin Caufield Studio (1954-1980)
- James N. Keen photograph collection (1932-1974)
- Royal Photo Company (1903-1973)
- R. G. Potter Collection
- Kate Matthews Collections
Fine Art photographs
- Ansel Adams, Stern J. Bramson, Paul Caponigro
- Walker Evans, Arthur Fellig (Weegee),
- Phillipe Halsman, Dorothea Lange, Lisette Model
- Edwin and Louise Rosskam, Arthur Rothstein
- Ben Shahn, Edward Weston, Minor White, Marion Post Wolcott.
- Hundreds of contemporary American artists
The Acetate Negative Survey Final Report
Horvath, David G. (1987). The Acetate Negative Survey Final Report. Louisville, KY: Ekstrom Library Photographic Archives, University of Louisville.
David Horvath's 1987 definitive survey of cellulose acetate film, funded by the National Museum Act, covered 29 collections held in 16 institutions. Manufactured on various bases as "safety" film from 1921 to 1955, some types of cellulose acetate film have proven subject to deterioration. Horvath's survey identifies particularly vulnerable base materials through specific information such as the name of the manufacturer, manufacturing code data, and notch codes.
Services
The Photographic Archives has a fully staffed reference desk offering service during all operating hours. The Photographic Archives Print Service is capable of producing prints and slides of items from our collections as needed by researchers.
The Photographic Archives gallery hosts changing exhibitions of prints from the Archives collections and from contemporary American photographers.
A full service darkroom can produce prints, slides and photocopies for research or publication. Price List .
Publication, broadcast and other re-use of the Archives' photographs is allowed in those instances in which we hold copyright or other reproduction rights. Please speak to a staff member about your particular needs. Publishers, broadcasters and others wishing to re-use our photographs are asked to pay the going commercial rate for art used in similar publications.
Bibliographic Citations for Archival Photograph Resources
PDF files require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (download).
