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University of Connecticut University Libraries Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center

Collection Development -- Multimedia Collection

Photography and Film

Archvies & Special Collections holds approximately 800,000 photographs, including some 6,000 examples of early photographic processes, including albumen, collodion and other non-silver prints on paper, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, glass plate negatives, lantern slides stereographs and tintypes, as well as modern negatives, positive transparencies, gelatin prints on paper, polaroids and other photographs. The earliest photographs in the archive date from the 1850s, however the bulk of the collection covers the 20th century. The Center also holds approximately 1,000 motion picture films, including 16mm, 8mm and super 8mm formats from the mid 1920s - 1980.

Photographs and motion picture films appear in most of the organizational records, personal, and family papers held by the Dodd Research Center. The largest and most comprehensive collections in the archive document University of Connecticut history (from its beginnings to the present), regional railroad history (late 19th and early 20th centuries), Connecticut manufacturing and products (19th and 20th centuries), literary authors performing their work, political activities of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation and Senator Thomas J. Dodd, the life and work of the naturalist Edwin Way Teale, and South Africa and the anti-apartheid movement (1983-1999). Artistic photographs are represented by Camera Work, Ansel Adam's Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras, the Charters Collection of portraits of Beat writers and blues musicians, and various artists' portfolios.

Collecting Areas:

Connecticut History and Culture

  • Life and experiences in Connecticut, 1839-present
  • Connecticut-based civic and professional organizations, emphasizing UConn affiliations and Mansfield, 1839-present
  • University of Connecticut history, upper administration, significant events, actions and activities, 1881-present
  • Connecticut congressional delegation, 1950-present
  • Archaeological reports, documentation studies, 1980-present

Human Rights

  • The work of photojournalists documenting human rights issues
  • Activities of Connecticut-based social justice organizations, 1960-present
  • Activities of US-based human rights organizations
  • American participants in international tribunals
  • Significant figures in social movements in Connecticut, 1960-present

Railroad History

  • New Haven railroad and predecessor railroad lines, post steam era, 1950s-1960s

History of the Medium

  • Examples of 19th century photographic processes that also document life and experiences in Connecticut

Video and Audio

Archvies & Special Collections holds approximately 2,300 videocassettes and over 6,500 sound recordings. Formats include 16mm film, Betamax and VHS cassette tapes, wax cylinders, vinyl discs, reel to reel tapes, and audio cassettes, electronic files. The collection dates from 1908 to the present.

Audiovisual materials serve as important historical records and Commercial audio and video productions are held in the areas of African American vernacular music, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural musical collaborations, and literary authors. Non-commercial audiovisual materials document the history of the University of Connecticut, political activities of Connecticut politicians, Connecticut business and industry. Oral histories are also held documenting a variety of topics.

Collecting Areas:

Connecticut History and Culture

  • Connecticut-based civic and professional organizations, emphasizing UConn affiliations and Mansfield, 1839-present
  • UConn history, upper administration, significant events, actions and activities, 1881-present
  • Amateur film documenting life and experiences in Connecticut, changes in industries
  • Activities of the Connecticut congressional delegation

Human Rights

  • Connecticut-based social justice organizations, 1960-present
  • US-based human rights organizations

Commercial Music Recordings

  • African-American vernacular music, 1920-present
  • Activist music

Literature

  • Children's literature audio books
  • Performances by literary authors


For inquiries about the collection or possible donations please contact the curator, Kristin Eshelman or (860) 486-4506.

This page is maintained by K. Eshelman