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University Archives Photograph Collection
UAC.099
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: University Archives Photograph Collection
Creator:
California State University, Northridge. University Library
Identifier/Call Number: UAC.099
Extent:
97.16 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1886-2012
Abstract: The
University
Archives Photograph Collection
consists of photographs, negatives, and slides from
the early 1950s through the early 2000s. This is an
artificial
collection,
created by assembling photographs from related collections. The images
document the history of California State University, Northridge, beginning with its
inception in 1954 to the present day. The majority of the collection depicts campus
buildings, academic activities, student activities, and employees of the college. There are
also a large number of photographs featuring the Northridge Earthquake, protests on campus,
and distinguished visitors to campus.
Language of Material: English
The library created this collection of materials for study and research.
The
University Archives Photograph Collection documents the
history of the campus, from its inception as a satellite campus to Los Angeles State College
in 1954, to its establishment as San Fernando Valley State College (SFVSC) in 1958 and
subsequent renaming as California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1971, to the
present day. A large portion of the collection documents student life, academic activities,
and CSUN employees. The photographs span several decades and demonstrate a well-rounded view
of clubs and associations, informational fairs, academic events and projects, student
support services, events on campus, performances, political activity, and demonstrations.
The collection is arranged into eleven major series:
Academics
(1956-2007),
Alumni (1966-1992),
Athletics (1959-2008),
Campus (1886, 1950-2001),
Donors (1969-1992),
Events on Campus
(1956-2012),
Earthquakes (1971-1999),
Faculty, Staff, and Administration (1956-2002),
Libraries
(1956-2008),
Students (1956-1995), and
Visitors (1960-1995). Photographic material consists of color and black and white,
negatives, proof sheets, and slides. Because this is an assembled collection, there is
little documentation to accompany the images.
Series I,
Academics, documents classroom scenes, academic
projects, programs organized by an academic department, scholarships given by departments,
and donors to a specific academic department. The series contains two subseries:
San Fernando Valley State College (1957-1972) and
California State University, Northridge (1956-2007). The names on the folders
reflect the department name that is contemporary to the photographs within. There is heavy
emphasis on the sciences, engineering, and the Theatre Department. Titles of theater
productions can also be found in the box list. This series also contains programs and
resources provided through the Division of Academic Affairs such as, the Learning Resource
Center and youth programs. The folders within the subseries are arranged alphabetically by
academic department or school (i.e. English, department of or Humanities, school of).
Series II,
Alumni, documents the activities of individual
alumni as well as alumni events and clubs. The series is arranged alphabetically by
topic.
Series III,
Athletics, documents athletes, athletic teams, and
sports games. All levels of athletics are represented in this series, from Division I to
intramural sports. The series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the sport.
Series IV,
Campus, documents campus buildings and construction
through photos, negatives, and slides. As many of the buildings have changed names several
times over the history of the campus, folder titles reflect the name of the building
contemporary to the photo taken. The series also contains photographs of outdoor artwork,
groundbreaking ceremonies, aerial photographs, and early photo albums commemorating the new
SFVSC campus. There are a significant number of slides in this series which depict the
communities and areas surrounding the campus, maps, and architectural plans. This series is
arranged alphabetically by building or structure name.
Series V,
Donors, documents donors, check presentations, and
the President's donor clubs through photos, slides, and negatives. The donor club photos
include fundraising events and groups photos. This series does not include donors to
specific academic departments; those photos will be found in the Academic Series. The series
is arranged alphabetically by name or topic.
Series VI,
Events on Campus, documents a wide range of events
that occurred on campus through photographs, negatives, and slides. Events include:
commemorative events, political forums, vendor fairs, performances, exhibits, conferences,
and demonstrations. There are many photos depicting folk art, music festivals, and cultural
events, as well as protests and political demonstrations on campus. Significant events
documented in this series include rallies and protests organized in reaction to the events
of November 4, 1968, and the George McGovern political rally which featured speakers, Cass
Elliott and Jon Voight. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic or event title.
Series VII,
Earthquakes, contains photos, negatives, and slides
documenting the two major earthquakes that caused damage to the campus. Images are divided
into two subseries:
Sylmar Earthquake (1971-1986) and
Northridge Earthquake (1994-1999). The photographs in this series
depict the aftermath of the earthquakes, damage to campus buildings, emergency workers,
temporary buildings, press statements, and building reconstruction. The subseries are
arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by topic.
Series VIII,
Faculty, Staff, and Administration, documents
anyone employed by the university, contractors, board members, and faculty wives. This
series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the individual, department, or group.
Photographs include portraits, clubs and associations, conferences, meetings, and
parties.
Series IX,
Libraries, contains photographs, negatives, and
slides documenting the Oviatt library, South Library, and temporary library buildings. There
are also images depicting staff parties, events taking place within the library, building
construction, donors to the library, and library exhibits. The series is arranged
alphabetically by library name.
Series X,
Students, documents individual students, student
life, accomplishments, clubs, exchange students, activities and resources through photos,
negatives, and slides. There is also subject matter that falls under the purview of the
Division of Student Affairs. These include images of career planning and fairs, counseling
centers, handicapped and disabled student centers, the National Center on Deafness (NCOD),
and the University Student Union programs. This series also contains photos of commencements
and incoming students at registration and orientation. Photos are arranged alphabetically by
topic.
Series XI,
Visitors, documents the notable visitors to campus
through photographs, negatives and slides. CSUN had strong ties to foreign communities and
there are many images of foreign ambassadors and visitors. There are also many photos of
political figures including Lyndon Johnson, President Clinton, Robert Kennedy, and Tom
Bradley, and visiting actors, musicians, authors and nobel prize winners. Some visitors of
note are: Cesar Chavez, Ray Bradbury, Sally Ride, Buckminster Fuller, and Andre Segovia. The
series is arranged alphabetically.
Series I: Academics, 1956-2007
Subseries A: SFVSC, 1957-1972
Subseries B: CSUN, 1956-2007
Series II: Alumni, 1966-1992
Series III: Athletics, 1959-2008
Series IV: Campus, 1886, 1950-2001
Series V: Donors, 1969-1992
Series VI: Events on Campus, 1956-2012
Series VII: Earthquakes, 1971-1999
Subseries A: Sylmar Earthquake, 1971-1986
Subseries B: Northridge Earthquake, 1994-1999
Series VIII: Faculty, Staff, and Administration, 1956-2002
Series IX: Libraries, 1956-2008
Series X: Students, 1956-1995
Series XI: Visitors, 1960-1995
Digital reproductions of selected items in this collection are available electronically as
a part of the
San Fernando Valley History Digital Library
and
CSUN University Archives
project. For more
information please see
http://digital-library.csun.edu/.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright
status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected
by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the
written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
This collection is open for research use.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Amelia Parks, 2016
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs