Photographs: Oversize Prints

Collection

Identifier: RG 32-010

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Photographs: Oversize Prints is an artificial classification for prints larger than legal paper size (8.5 x 14”). These prints, if smaller than oversize, would have been relegated to the subject classifications used for smaller photographs such as portraits, buildings, and so on. A wide range of subject matter and types of images fall into this group. The physical sizes of the prints determined the way in which they were boxed.

When this group of photographs was first organized and described, they were boxed in order relating to their subject, with the first 20 boxes classified as Oversize and boxes 23 to 24 as Oversized Oversize and Miscellaneous. Since then new boxes have been added without distinguishing between large and extra large box sizes.

The following major headings appear in box order. See the Inventory for a more detailed description of box contents.

Dates

Creation: 1868-1993, undated
Other: Date acquired: 1966

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Those photographs taken for the college as works for hire belong to the college outright. Photographs from the late twentieth century and later with stamps from photographic firms are more likely to have requirements as to credit lines or restrictions; consult the College Archivist.

Extent

666.66 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The photographs in this grouping, with the exception of one item, are difficult to trace to specific accessions. The bulk of the photographs dating from before 1966 were transferred from the Office of the Secretary with the establishment of the Archives. A framed photograph of the Oberlin College Glee Club of 1919-20 was received in 2006 from George Bent, Oberlin College class of 1952.

The college hired freelance photographers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 1917 a college photographer position was created for Arthur Ludwig Princehorn. He and his son Arthur Ewing Princehorn produced nearly all of the college’s negatives and photographs from 1917 to 1969 (see the Princehorn Family Papers, RG 30/416). Sometimes photographers’ names appear stamped or inscribed on the backs of prints.

In 2009 the Communications Office moved to a different building on campus, and a great many photographs, negatives, and other visual materials were transferred to the Archives that year. Most of this material dated from the 1980s through the early 2000s.

Photographs of the construction of the original geodesic domes used as art studios in 1971 were received with other records about the domes in accession 2017/034, from the Art Department.

Accruals and Additions

Accession No: Various including 2006/027, 2017/034.

Related Materials

For other oversize photographs, see also Panorama and Other Rolled Photographs, RG 32/11. Additional oversize photographs are located in Paintings, Prints, Drawings and Other Framed Items, RG 40.