Collection Guide
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University Archives Photograph Collection
UA0099
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, Robert E. Kennedy Library, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Title: University Archives Photograph Collection
Creator:
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Identifier/Call Number: UA0099
Physical Description:
66 Linear Feet
(124 boxes and minimally processed negative boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1900-2017
Abstract: Photographs, negatives, and photographic slides created and collected by campus staff, faculty, and students between 1900-2017.
Images include campus buildings and landscape, student activities, special events, classrooms and coursework, faculty and
staff events, and aerial views of campus and the surrounding area.
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open to researchers by appointment. For more information on visiting, access policies, and reproduction requests,
please visit our Reference Services page online at http://lib.calpoly.edu/search-and-find/collections-and-archives/reference-services/.
Digital copies are provided to researchers for the purpose of study, research, and personal use only, unless otherwise specified
in writing. Materials that are the property of Cal Poly Special Collections and Archives require written permission prior
to publication. No complete collection may be reproduced. For print and online publication, please visit our Reproduction
Services page online at http://lib.calpoly.edu/support/sca-policies/reproduction/. Special Collections and Archives reserves
the right to review all reproduction requests and to withhold permission if scanning would endanger the material, would violate
copyright law, or would violate institutional restrictions.
University Archives Photograph Collection. Special Collections and Archives, California Polytechnic State University, San
Luis Obispo.
Multiple transfers.
Biography/Administrative History
Photographs were created and collected by the staff, faculty, students, and alumni of Cal Poly. Many were created by a former
centralized communications and technology department (ITS), by the former Public Affairs Department, the former Public Affairs
Office, and by the former Audiovisual Department. The collection also includes candid photographs captured by students as
part of student club events, campus activities, and formal campus events; created by campus faculty and staff during course-related
activities or campus events; and, photographs taken by the student staff of the Mustang Daily newspaper.
History of Audio Visual/ITS department
The Information Technology Services Department, known originally as the Audio Visual Department, began documenting campus
activities circa 1962. In addition to the center being a space for students and faculty to utilize audiovisual equipment,
an original purpose of this department was to document student activities, campus buildings, and portraits of faculty as well
as other miscellaneous subjects. The department supported public relations needs, yearbook images, athletics portraits, Physical
Education workshops, local historical events, and Rose Float construction among other subjects. The Audio Visual department
was renamed "Audiovisual" in the 1981 Course Catalog.
The Audiovisual Department was transferred to Information Systems in 1987 following the publishing of a Resolution on Developing
Goals for Cal Poly in the 1990s. In 1994, the Information Systems was renamed into the Information Technology Services Department
following budget cuts in the early 1990s, and the responsibility of photographing campus was transferred out of ITS.
Scope and Content of Collection
Contains over 100 linear feet of photographic images that chronicle the growth and development of colleges, departments, campus
events, and student life including Poly Royal, Homecoming, the annual Rose Float, and athletics. The collection also includes
aerial photography, campus landscape, buildings and grounds, students and faculty in classroom settings or involved in "learn-by-doing"
field work. Portraits of administrators, faculty, students, staff, athletes, and well-known alumni and visitors are also included.
The collection is organized into multiple series:
Series 1: Photographs organized alphabetically by subject, the bulk of the collection, organized alphabetically by subjects
assigned by archives staff;
Series 2: Photographic slides and contact sheets;
Series 3: ITS negatives and contact sheets, created by the campus photography unit from 1962-1990
Series 4: Additional minimally processed negatives and prints
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly students
Commencement
Graduation
Poly Royal
San Luis Obispo
Photographs
Negatives
Slides
Portraits