DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE 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 (301-837-3530) 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.
Their address is Photo Service, U.S. Naval Institute, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402-5035
FAX: 410-269-7940.
(410) 269 295-1022
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
805 KIDDER BREESE SE WASHINGTON, DC 20374-5060 TELEPHONE: (202)433-2765, 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) 837-3530
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 (NWCS-Still) 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 291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5035
FAX: 410-269-7940