Collection Organization

The bulk of the Slide Library is comprised of over 200,000 35mm slides. At present, there is no catalogue or database control. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the general outline of the collection, or schedule an introduction with the Visual Resources Curator before beginning a search.

Labels on each drawer indicate contents, but are not always reliable since shifting often occurs. The collection is arranged in the following categories:

PAINTING (PTG)

This section is predominantly Western art from c. 5000 BCE to the present. It is organized by geographic region (artist's nationality) and sub-divided alphabetically by last name. Blue index cards separate countries, red index cards divide artists, and white index cards indicate particular works or time periods.

Also included are some of the following subsections:

• PREHISTORIC PAINTING (e.g. Chavet and Lascaux caves)
• ANCIENT POTTERY PAINTING
• ANCIENT WALL PAINTING (Egyptian, Minoan, Greek, and Roman)
• EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE PAINTING
• ICONS

PHOTOGRAPHY (PHOTO)

This section is organized similarly to PAINTING: by region, artist's name, and work.

DECORATIVE ARTS (DEC ARTS)

This is an expansive category meant to include a range of applied arts, including such categories as jewelry, coins, furniture, mosaics, glass and ivory, arms and armor, textiles and costumes, metalwork, illuminated manuscripts, and interior and industrial design.

Also included in this section is a sub-category named EXTENDED ART, which includes installations, videos and computer-generated art, and time-based or performance art.

SCULPTURE (SC)

This section spans sculpture from the pre-historic to the present (including relief and non-situ architectural ornamentation). "Pre-Modern" sculpture is arranged by epoch or era and region, then sub-divided by specific works. Some examples include:

• PREHISTORIC SCULPTURE (e.g. Venus of Willendorf)
• EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE from all dynasties (e.g. tomb of Tutankhamun, Amarna reliefs)
• GREEK SCULPTURE (e.g. archaic korai/kouroi to Laocoon)
• ROMAN SCULPTURE (e.g. busts, funerary reliefs, Trajan's column, Ara Pacis)
• EARLY CHRISTIAN, BYZANTINE, EARLY MEDIEVAL, GOTHIC, ROMANESQUE, ISLAMIC

"Modern" sculpture - that is, sculpture from roughly the 16th c. and the rise of capitalism and the nation-state - is arranged similarly to PAINTING: by region, artist's name, and work.

AFRICAN ART (AF)

This covers a wide selection of diverse media from the entire continent. Examples include ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE, MASKS, TEXTILES, and JEWELRY.

DRAWING (DWG)

This section is also arranged like PAINTING. Many sketches and early drafts of paintings can be found here.

CERAMICS (CER)

This section covers pottery of all kinds, including everything from ancient Chinese ceramics to the present. Techniques and tools are also represented. Here the organizational method follows the PAINTING pattern.

Please note that ancient Greek vase decoration is stored in PAINTING.

GRAPHIC ARTS (GR)

This category includes engravings, etchings, and prints. It, too, is arranged like PAINTING: by region, artist's name, and work. Didactic slides depicting techniques are also included.

EXHIBITIONS (EX)

This section covers groupings of related images and collaborative efforts by various artists created for installments and exhibitions around the globe.

ASIAN ART (SE ASIA or INDIA)

This category covers architecture and sculpture from Southeast Asia and India. It also follows the PAINTING organizational pattern. Examples include Angkor Thom and Angkor Vat, Agra, and Khajuraho.

PRE-COLOMBIAN ART (PRE-COL or NA)

This section follows the PAINTING organizational pattern. Examples include Aztec and Mayan architecture and sculpture from sites like Tenochtitlan and Teotihuacan. Also included are several drawers of NATIVE AMERICAN ART.

SENIOR I.S. PROJECTS (COW SR IS)

Included in this section are various studio art senior independent study projects spanning the years 1992 to 1995. They are organized by year and then by artist's name.

ARCHITECTURE (ARCH)

This category is strongest in Western and ancient architecture, with a good selection of Islamic sites. It is organized by time period or epoch, region or nationality, architect's name, and location of the site. Where no architect is obvious (such as in a Gothic cathedral), the location or city name is used for organizational purposes.

An organizational hierarchy has been established wherein blue cards indicate era or nationality, green cards indicate city name or architect, red cards indicate the name of the building or site, and white cards sub-divide the building by view, room, or supplemental/didactic images (plans and diagrams).

Also included are the sub-sections MAPS and ARCHAEOLOGY.

Finding Your Slides

If you have a question or need help finding a slide, ask us! We'd be happy to help!

If you've never used the Slide Library before, it's best to contact the Visual Resources Curator (ext. 2414) and arrange an introduction to the collection, particularly if you are an instructor.

Due to time constraints, we are unable to find your slides for you, and therefore recommend that you have the following information in order to find your slides quickly:

• Artist’s name and nationality
• Location and time period (especially helpful for Decorative Arts and Architecture)
• Name of building or work

Please note that the collection is not organized according to specific themes or concepts (e.g. "monolithic" or "black and white"). It is best to research images representative of your theme or idea before searching the collection.

In addition, keep in mind that many artists are cross-referenced. A prolific artist like Picasso may have slides in Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, and Sculpture.

Reading Slide Information

» Reading Slide Information