Biography File Photograph collection

Collection

Identifier: 018.BFP

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Biography File Photograph Collection comprises photographic items primarily documenting people affiliated with the university (faculty, staff), although prominent members of the community (government officials, honorary degree recipients) are also included. The images of faculty and staff are predominately formal headshots, more casual "action" shots in offices and classrooms, and social events. Photographs of university affiliates were mostly taken at public social events. Although most photograph materials are undated, the bulk of the materials that are dated range between the 1930s and the 1990s. The photographs in the collection do a good job of representing persons affiliated with Eastern Michigan University, in terms of both persons employed by and serving the University in an official capacity and those persons whose presence on campus was limited to special events. However, not all eras are equally represented, and not all persons in the Biography File Collection contained photographs to be removed and placed within this collection. Thus, there are both chronological and person gaps within the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1868 - 2003

Conditions Governing Access

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to visiting the the University Archives.

Historical Note

The photographic materials in this collection previously predominately resided within the appropriate folders within the Biography File Collection, although some of the photographic materials were housed in the Pictures - Individuals Photograph Collection. When utilizing the Biography File Collection, researchers noted that the files often contained photographs, many of which appeared to have historical importance. Given that the primary materials in the Biography File Collection are manuscripts related to individuals, typical use of the collection is review of information found in the paper documents, not the photographs. However, because the photographs were intermingled with the documents, they were receiving unnecessary wear and tear. Thus, the photographs were removed from the individual folders in the Biography File Collection, photocopied, and the copy placed back in the original folder. Each original photographic item (negative, slide, etc.) was then placed in a correspondingly named folder within the Biography File Photograph Collection. This allows researchers to be aware of what photographs are within the Biography File Collection, maintain the photographic item’s association in the file, but better preserve the photographs.

Extent

5.4 Linear Feet (13 archive boxes, 2 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection includes photographic materials representing the people found in the Biography File Collection, primarily faculty and staff of the University. Photographic formats include black-and-white prints, color prints, prints within scrapbooks, Polaroid prints, color slides, black and white negatives, and color negatives. Materials are arranged in the collection alphabetically by last name.