Skip to main content

Brandeis University photography collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 07-MWalB00286A

Scope and Contents

Files in this collection contain prints, contact sheets, and some negatives and slides of images documenting the history and development of Brandeis University (1940-2004, undated; bulk 1946-1997). Most photographs were taken by university photographers Ralph Norman and Julian Brown. The collection complements a much larger photo negative and slide collection, which is cataloged in a separate, in-house database.  Many prints and contact sheets in this collection contain negative numbers assigned by the university photographer that correspond to master negatives in the larger negative/slide collection.  For contact sheets, the corresponding negative numbers are listed in brackets in the folder title, unless otherwise specified.

Dates

  • Creation: 1940-2004, undated
  • Creation: Majority of material found in 1946-1997

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Access to the collection is in accordance with the policies of the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.  Please contact the department for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests to reproduce or publish material from the collection should be directed to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.

Biographical or Historical Information

From 1948-1950, Ralph Norman documented the founding of Brandeis University as a commercial photographer. In 1950, he became the first University Photographer and remained in that position until his retirement in August of 1981. Ralph Norman was followed by Kevin Strauss, a Brandeis 1974 graduate who had previously worked with Ralph, who was University Photographer between August 1981 and the Spring semester of 1983. Julian Brown then served as University Photographer from Fall of 1983 to 2001. Michael Lovett succeeded Brown as University Photographer from November 2001 to October 2022. The current University Photographer is Dan Holmes (December 2022 to the present).

Extent

24.00 Linear Feet

17 record center boxes, 5 manuscript boxes, 9 oversized flat boxes, 5 irregular boxes, 3 loose photographs, 2 large posters other_unmapped

24.00 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged in eleven alphabetical series: 1. Board of Trustees Photographs, 1985-1990, undated; 2. Julian Brown Photographs, 1983-1997, undated; 3. Campus Photographs, 1940-1984, undated; 4. Contact Sheets, 1950-1983, undated; 5. Albert Einstein Photographs, 1946-1947, undated; 6. From the Beginning Photographs, 1950-1987, undated; 7. Negatives, circa 1950-1995, undated; 8. Photographs of Individuals, 1948-1997, undated; 9. Photographs of Subjects, 1947-2000, undated; 10. Slides, circa 1950-1994, undated; 11. Ephemera, 1978-2004.

For more information about each series, please consult the series descriptions in the box and folder listing.

Source of Acquisition

Transferred over time from the Office of Communications.

Related Materials

Most university photo negatives and slides are located in another collection.

Title
Brandeis University Photography collection
Author
Kim Allegretto
Date
2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Brandeis University Repository

Contact:
415 South St.
Waltham MA

About Us

The Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department at Brandeis University consists of two collecting units, the University Archives and Special Collections. University Archives documents the history and development of Brandeis University and its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Special Collections features a broad array of unique primary source materials across a wide range of disciplines that support research, teaching and learning at Brandeis. Learn more about our collections