Gallery: Guide to Photographic Collections
Policy Makers
These series contain formal portraits and posed and candid images of State governors, legislators, agency officials, and employees at formal events such as ceremonies, receptions, etc., and at other State sponsored events such as State Fairs and department social events. Some images show State officials with federal officials or other dignitaries.
Governor. Press Office.
13703. Public Information Photographs, 1910-1982, bulk 1945-1982. 20 cubic feet
Contains approximately 40,000 b/w negatives, b/w prints, color prints, and b/w and color slides produced by official photographers primarily during the administrations of four New York governors: Thomas E. Dewey (1943-1954); Nelson A. Rockefeller (1959-1973); Malcolm Wilson (1973-1974); and Hugh Carey (1875-1982). There are also a few images of Governor W. Averell Harriman (1955-1958), his Lieutenant Governor Joseph Hanley, and Carey's Lieutenant Governor Mary Ann Krupsak. The majority of negatives are either 4" x 5" or 35 mm while most of the prints are either 4" x 5" or 8" x 10". While some formal portraits are included, the majority of the photographs reveal the routine activities that the governors' photographers were assigned to photograph. These include both posed and unposed images of inaugurations, annual state- of-the-State addresses, and openings of the State Legislature; press conferences; meetings with staff, State officials, and legislators; meetings with political, military, veterans, labor, religious, civic, academic, student, scouting, and other groups and individuals; award presentations; signing legislation and proclamations; and visits to State institutions, colleges, universities, and other sites.
The majority of the photographs are grouped by job assignment. For each assignment, there are usually between 12 and 20 images. The majority of the images are negatives, but a contact print and at least one 4" x 5" or 8"x 10" photoprint may be included for each assignment. The negatives and prints are usually filed together in an envelope with the assignment number, date, and description of the assignment included. Envelopes are arranged by assignment number.
The approximate number of photo assignments included for each governor is as follows: Dewey - 500 assignments, 4"x 5" negatives with occasional prints; Rockefeller - 2,000 assignments, 4" x 5" negatives with occasional prints; Wilson - 200 assignments, 35 mm negatives and contact sheets; and Carey - 1,300 assignments, 35 mm negatives, contact sheets, many 8" x 10" prints, and approximately 200 color slides.
An incomplete alphabetical card index provides names of persons included in and/or sent enlargements of Dewey photographs. A card index to the Rockefeller and Wilson 4" x 5" negatives and contact prints, arranged in the same order as the prints, provides summary information on and initial access to these images.
Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Division of Agricultural Promotion Services.
14457. Publicity Photographs, 1913-1975, bulk 1964-1975. 1 cubic foot
Contains approximately 250 b/w photoprints and film negatives depicting department activities. Subjects include portraits of department staff, agricultural marketing, milk control, food inspection, weights and measures, and State Fair and other exhibits. Many were used in various department reports and publications. Most of the photographs measure either 5" x 7" or 8" x 10". They are arranged by subject.
Department of Civil Service.
B0510. Photographs, Press Releases, and Press Clippings Files, 1945-1971. 5.5 cubic feet
Includes approximately 300 photoprints used by the department's Public Relations Office to promote Civil Service Commission and department activities. Most of the photoprints relate to social events and special occasions such as the department's annual State Fair exhibit. Also included are photoprints of commissioners and department officials. Unarranged.
Department of Commerce.
14221. Publicity Files Regarding the 1980 Winter Olympics, 1972-1980, bulk 1978-1980. 2 cubic feet
Includes seven color 5" x 7" photoprints (with negatives) showing Olympic ceremonies; also about 30 b/w 8" x 10" photoprints and contact sheets showing a reception for individuals connected with the Olympics, including Department of Commerce officials, other State officials and legislators, Olympic television broadcaster Jim McKay, and others.
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. Includes many photographs relating to Education Department staff, including images of the Board of Regents. (See more detailed description in the "State of Education" section.) 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.)
State Education Department.
President of the University and Commissioner of Education.
B1054. Photographic Prints and Negatives of Commissioner Gordon M. Ambach and Education Department Staff, 1987. 0.1 cubic foot
Ten 8" x 10" color photoprints and one 8" x 10" b/w contact sheet show Commissioner Ambach posed with other department officials and staff. Includes negative strips for color prints and contact sheet.
State Education Department.
Division of Archives and History.
A3313. Publicity Photographs of State Historian Albert B. Corey, 1948-1959. 0.1 cubic foot
Nine b/w photoprints, some cropped, show State Historian Albert B. Corey in formal poses alone or with others, including Governor W. Averell Harriman (1958). Prints are 6.75" x 8" or smaller.
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". Includes several thousand photographs relating to activities of Health Department staff. The photographs document the functions and activities 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 an envelope containing information on the photograph's subject and date taken. Most are arranged chronologically. (See more detailed description under "Safeguarding New Yorkers' Health and Well-Being.")
Department of Health.
A3269. Photographs of Health Department Offices and Employees, 1924. 0.3 cubic foot
Consists of 17 mounted 8" x 10" b/w photoprints showing office activities of Department of Health employees.
