DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Basic Information On The Availability Of Photographs Of U.S. Navy Subjects
There are several institutions that hold large collections of photography
of U.S. Navy Subjects. Four major ones are briefly discussed here. Three
are agencies of the U.S. government, and one is a private organization.
The three government agencies' collections can be roughly differentiated
chronologically:
The Naval Historical Center's Photographic
Section has a very large collection that is the best source of Navy
photography predating the 1920s. In addition, its collections include supplemental
coverage for later dates.
The National Archives' Still Picture Branch holds the Official U.S.
Navy photo collection predating 1982, and is generally the most complete
source of Navy photographs from the 1920s through 1982.
The Department of Defense Still Media Records Center holds the Official
U.S. Navy photo collection from 1982 to the present.
The privately operated U.S. Naval Institute
has an extensive collection of Navy photographs from all eras.
Further information on each of these organizations is provided in brief
form on subsequent pages. In contacting these institutions, you should keep
in mind than none of them can support general requests or requests for more
than three or four specific subjects at a time.
NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
The Naval Historical Center's Photographic Section has extensive pictorial
reference files on all aspects of Naval history. Its own collections are
the principal source of photographs and other illustrations of U.S. Navy
subjects made prior to 1920, and contain a wide selection of unique photography
from later years. It also holds thousands of references to Naval photographs
held by other repositories.
The Photographic Section provides LIMITED RESEARCH SERVICES in response
to written and telephone inquiries. Such requests should be as specific
as possible concerning names, dates, places, ship hull numbers and other
details of the views wanted.
Send RESEARCH requests to:
NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER (CUP)
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
901 M STREET SE
WASHINGTON, DC 203745060
TELEPHONE: 2024332765, or: DSN (Autovon) 2882765
If EXTENSIVE RESEARCH is required, it must be conducted in person. The
Naval Historical Center's photographic reference facilities are located
in the Dudley Knox Center for Naval History, Building 44, in the Washington,
D.C. Navy Yard. They are open to the Public from 9:30 A.M. to 4 P.M. on
weekdays (Holidays excluded). APPOINTMENTS ARE RECOMMENDED to ensure the
availability of reference staff.
AVAILABILITY OF REPRODUCTIONS OF NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER PHOTOGRAPHS
The Naval Historical Center's Photographic Section has no official photographic reproduction system, and budget
limitations preclude correcting this situation.
If patrons wish to visit the Section's offices to copy file photographs,
or can arrange for a private photographer to do this work, unrestricted
photos will be available for this purpose IN THE SECTION'S OFFICES ONLY.
THERE WILL BE NO LOANS. There is one copy stand, available for visitors'
use, but no other photographic equipment. Working areas with nearby electrical
outlets can be provided for patrons who bring their own copy equipment.
In addition, the Naval Historical Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization,
has made arrangements to reproduce photographs in the Naval Historical Center's
collections at no expense to the Government. This service is offered to
the Public as a possibly more convenient alternative to the copy access
mentioned above, and rates are comparable to those charged by other institutions
for similar services. NATIONAL ARCHIVES PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
The National Archives' Still Picture Branch maintains most Official
Navy Photography taken from about 1920 to 1982, including pictorial coverage
of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. It also holds older
photographic files of the Army, Marine Corps and many Civilian Government
Agencies.
The National Archives can provide VERY LIMITED RESEARCH SERVICES in
response to written and telephone inquiries. Such requests should be as
specific as possible concerning names, dates, places and other aspects of
the pictures wanted.
SEND REQUESTS TO:
STILL PICTURE BRANCH (NNSP)
NATIONAL ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMIN.
8601 ADELPHI ROAD
COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740-6001
TELEPHONE: (301) 713-6660
If extensive research is required, it is advisable to conduct it in
person. The National Archives' research facilities are open to the public
on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are located in College Park, Maryland,
a northern suburb of Washington, DC.
OBTAINING REPRODUCTIONS OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES PHOTOGRAPHS:
Reproductions of most photographs in the National Archives collections
can be obtained through several private firms that have made arrangements
to reproduce the National Archives' photos. These private firms offer varying
types of services and prices.
Since this system is complex and can not be summarized briefly, persons
interested in obtaining National Archives photos should contact the Still
Picture Branch (NNSP) to obtain a complete information package on the services
and fees of the various private firms involved in the National Archives'
photographic reproduction system. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STILL PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
The Department of Defense (DoD) Still Media Records Center maintains
the official still photographic collections of the Armed Forces from 1982
to the present. Earlier official photography of the Navy, Army, Marine Corps
and Army from 1955 and Air Force have been transferred to the National Archives,
except for Air Force photography up to 1954, which is held by the National
Air and Space Museum.
HOW TO OBTAIN DoD PHOTOGRAPHIC RESEARCH SERVICES:
The DoD Still Media Records Center has recently been moved from
Washington, DC, to March Air Force Base, California. Its collections are
expected to be reopened early in 1996. For details on the services they
provide, persons should contact:
DVICOMPA
1363 Z Street
March AFB, CA 92518-2717
TELEPHONE: 919-413-2522 or (DSN) 348-1522
U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES
The United States Naval Institute,
a privately-funded professional organization for the sea services, has a
large collection of Naval photography. Subject matter covers all eras, but
emphasizes the 20th Century. The Naval Institute has also obtained a number
of important independent photo collections, notably including those of the
late Naval author, James C. Fahey, and of the old "Our Navy" magazine.
The Naval Institute Photographic Library can provide LIMITED RESEARCH,
emphasizing services to members of the U.S. Naval Institute. It also can
provide reproductions of many photographs in its collections.
For further information, CONTACT:
Photo Service
U.S. Naval Institute
118 Maryland Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21402-5035
FAX: 410-269-7940
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