Gallery: Guide to Photographic Collections
The State of Education
These series contain images of school buildings, facilities, students, and activities, as well as State Education Department officials, staff, and activities. Included are photographs of the Cornell University and Syracuse University campuses. Also included is a major collection of educational lantern slides showing images of people, places, buildings, activities, and works of art in New York and around the world.
State Education Department.
Division of Visual Instruction.
A3045, A3134. Instructional Lantern Slides and Negatives and Positive Transparencies of Instructional Photographic Images, 1856- 1939, bulk 1911-1939. ca. 29,000 items
The State Archives holds an outstanding collection of photographs compiled by the State Education Department's Division of Visual Instruction, mostly between 1911 and 1939, as instructional aids for the public school curriculum. (Most pre-1911 slides were destroyed in a fire.) More than 20,000 unique images dating from 1856-1939 document a wide variety of subjects including New York State, North American, and world geography, history, natural sciences, fine arts, trades, industries, education, and schools. The collection includes views of scenery, sites, structures, and human activities in the United States and other countries; copies of historical images of individuals, works of art, and events; and unique contemporary scenes in factories, schools, and agricultural settings.
The photographs were reproduced in the form of lantern slides for use in classrooms. A lantern slide is a positive photographic transparency sandwiched between two 3 1/4" by 4" glass plates, and projected onto a screen by means of a "Magic Lantern" projector. The photographs document one of the earliest uses of audio-visual techniques for classroom instruction and include numerous rare or unique images. Thousands of slides were produced by the Division of Visual Instruction and sets of slides were loaned to schools throughout the State from 1886 to 1939.
The State Archives holds approximately 17,000 lantern slides comprising the master set of this loan collection classified by subject (series A3045) and approximately 12,000 glass plate negatives and positive glass plate transparencies used to produce the lantern slides (series A3134). In addition, among other related records there are subject card indexes, published study guides and lists which accompanied the slides on loan, and slide accession registers. Portions of the slides and glass plates may be unavailable due to their fragile condition. Classified slides available on microfilm.
State Education Department. Bureau of Publications.
A0471. Publicity Photograph Negatives, 1942-1971. 8 cubic feet
Contains approximately 3,000 b/w film negatives varying in size from 35 mm to 8" x 10". They were used for department publicity and publications and for documenting departmental functions. Included are views of Convocations of the University of the State of New York, the Board of Regents, department staff, department awards ceremonies, school exteriors and interiors, individual and group views of students and teachers, historic sites, and visitors to the department. There are many reproductions of historical documents and artifacts from the collections of the New York State Library and State Museum. Each negative is filed in an envelope that lists the negative number, date, department division, photographer, and subject. They are arranged by envelope number. (Series A4196, Subject Index to Publicity Photograph Negatives, is a subject index to these negatives.)
B0426. Photographs, ca. 1900-1920. .5 cubic foot
Consists of approximately 75 b/w photoprints that were gathered for inclusion in various department publications. Most of the prints are approximately 5" x 7" and relate to Arbor Day activities, orchards, fruit, and fruit trees. Most are labelled on the back although few are dated. They are arranged by subject.
State Education Department.
Assistant Commissioner for Elementary Education.
A3042. Historical Sketches and Photographs of School Systems in Cities and Villages, ca. 1850-1920. 2.4 cubic feet
Includes approximately 300 photoprints depicting school buildings, classrooms, facilities, students, teachers, and administrators. These prints were collected from school systems around 1915 and were intended to illustrate a report on the history of school systems in cities and villages. This report was never published. Most of the prints are labelled with name of school and subject of print. They range in size from 4" x 5" to 8" x 10". They are arranged by name of city or village.
Department of Public Instruction.
A0300. Exhibits of Public School Students' Work, 1888-1893. 10 cubic feet (20 volumes)
Consists of several hundred examples of public school students' work that were collected for exhibit at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The examples were collected from students in New York City, Buffalo, and Plattsburgh. They include drawings, photoprints, and other works relating to languages, mathematics, music, government, history, home economics, and other subjects. Most of the works are pasted into 24" x 30" portfolios arranged by city, then by subject.
State University Construction Fund.
Physical Plant Support Services.
15592. Documentation Photographs of Comstock Hall, Cornell University, 1986. .5 cubic foot
Ninety-four b/w photoprints show primarily interior views of Cornell's entomology building, completed in 1912. Most photographs were taken in January 1986; one, an exterior view, was taken in March 1971. A list of captions and historical background information on the building accompany the photographs. Images ranging from 5" x 7.5" to 7.5" x 9.75" are printed on 8.5" x 11" paper. Arranged by floor (first, second, third, fourth, basement).
New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
B0926. Photographs and Plans of Roberts Hall, East Roberts Hall, and Stone Hall, Cornell University, 1905-1985, bulk 1985. 1 cubic foot
Consists of approximately 125 photoprints and architectural drawings depicting interiors and exteriors of several buildings at the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. Most date from 1985 although there are several from as early as 1905. Most are 8" x 10" b/w photoprints of interior views. Arranged by photoprint number.
New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University.
B1067. Photographic Display Panels of College Activities, ca. 1928. 3 cubic feet
Contains 19 photographic display panels (approximately 2 ft. by 4 ft.) depicting students, faculty, classrooms, buildings, and special facilities at Syracuse University's College of Forestry. Arranged by subject.
Department of Social Welfare. Thomas Indian School.
A1913. Photographs of Activities and Facilities, ca. 1895-1950. 1 cubic foot
The Thomas Indian School, in existence from 1855 to 1957, was responsible for the custody, care, and education of orphaned, destitute, or neglected Native American children. This series contains approximately 174 photoprints depicting individual and group portraits of children and staff, class and work activities, interior and exterior views of buildings, and aerial views of the grounds. Most of the prints are unlabelled and undated. Sizes range from 3" x 4" to 8" x 10". Arranged by subject.
