Gallery: Guide to Photographic Collections
Safeguarding New Yorkers' Health and Well-Being
These series contain images documenting public health activities, health-related working conditions, and programs and activities for the visually impaired.
Department of Health. Bureau of Communications Production.
Photography Unit.
14655. Photographic Prints and Negatives of Department Officials, Facilities, and Activities, ca. 1920-1983, bulk 1950-1983. 41.4 cubic feet
Consists of approximately 35,000 b/w film negatives and photoprints used in department publications and publicity. Most measure either 4" x 5" or 8" x 10". These photographs are a significant resource for documenting public health concerns and health care techniques from 1950 through the early 1980s. Included are scenes of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, health institutes, offices, food processing centers, recreation areas, and other places related to health care and public health. The photographs document the functions of Health Department officials, administrators, doctors, nurses, aides, technicians, inspectors, teachers, students, volunteers, and patients. These functions include examining, treating, testing, inspecting, rehabilitating, immunizing, vaccinating, etc. Most of the negatives and corresponding prints are filed together in envelopes containing information on the photograph's subject and date taken. Most are arranged chronologically.
Factory Investigating Commission.
A3029. Glass Plate Negatives and Photographic Prints of Factory and Housing Conditions, 1911-1912. 0.5 cubic foot
Contains approximately 100 glass plate negatives and photoprints taken as part of an investigation of conditions in factories throughout the State. Most are views inside factories, usually showing workers. Includes views of chemical, food, glass, clothing and other industries illustrating conditions such as inadequate ventilation, unguarded machinery, overcrowding, child labor, and inadequate sanitation. Most of the photographs measure either 5" x 7" or 8" x 10". Many were published in the commission's reports. Available on microfilm.
Commission for the Blind.
A3309. Photographs of Occupations, Programs, and Activities for the Blind, 1923-1963. 0.4 cubic foot
About 260 b/w photoprints and 23 negatives ranging from 2.5" x 3.5" to 8" x 10" show blind and visually impaired individuals working in office, sales, and factory settings; walking with seeing- eye dogs or canes; reading Braille; in classroom and training settings; and engaged in recreational activities such as roller skating, swimming, and card playing. Many of the photographs are identified by subject and date.
