Illinois State University Photographic Services Collection, 1931-2004 | Dr. JoAnn Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University

Approx. 40 linear feet of negatives, 60 linear feet of photograph proof cards, and 14 linear feet of photographic prints

The Illinois State University Photographic Services Collection is arranged into seven series by subject type and sorted chronologically. The first series holds images of campus buildings during and after construction. The second series contains images of campus departments. The third series includes images of campus events, organizations, student and faculty groups, and subject based photograph files. The fourth series holds images of people associated with the university while the fifth series contains images of university sporting events, teams, and individuals. The sixth series includes miscellaneous groups of images, sorted alphabetically as well as copies of various sections of the larger collection. The seventh series holds a sub collection of photographic prints (most derivatives from the larger proof cards with some originals) and is organized by subject.

The Illinois State University Photographic Services Collection holds the photographic prints, negatives, and photograph card proofs created by the office. Though the majority of the materials are comprised of photographic prints and negatives, some special formats can be found in this collection such as glass plate negatives and film reels.

Illinois State University. Photographic Services.
Illinois State Normal University. Photographic Services.
Illinois State University at Normal. Photographic Services.
Smith, Nelson R., Jr.

In 1939, just six weeks into his first year at the university and at the suggestion of Dean Ralph Linkins, Nelson R. Smith Jr. was asked by President Fairchild to take pictures that would be used in university publications. With the hiring of Smith, Illinois State Normal University established its first photographic services office. Prior to 1939, the university used local commercial photographers to document important events. Smith spent the next three and a half years as the university’s official photographer. Smith left ISNU for a short time to serve in World War II as a Sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps. Smith returned to ISNU after the war, earned his bachelors and master’s degrees, and became the Director of Photographic Services. The office continued for the next fifty two years with Smith at the helm, documenting university events and offering photographic services to the campus community such as passport and application photos. The Photographic Services office was scheduled to be closed in 1991, along with the University Museum, due to university budgetary constraints. However, the office was saved but significantly scaled down. After the changes, Smith stepped down from the directorship. Though the university retained an official photographer, the Photographic Services office eventually went dormant. Jerry Libenstein, a friend and longtime colleague of Smith’s, worked as the university photographer until his retirement in 2002. Jon Muzzarelli worked in the position from 2003 to 2007. The current university photographer, Lyndsie Schlink, was hired in 2007. The work of the photographer was moved under the umbrella of University Marketing and Communications. In 1996 the General Services Building (opened 1970) was officially renamed the Nelson Smith Building, in Smith's honor. Author: April Karlene Anderson

Illinois State Normal University - Photographs.
Illinois State University - Photographs.
Illinois State University at Normal - Photographs.
Smith, Nelson R.