ONLINE PHOTO COLLECTIONS
The Library of Virginia's Prints and Photographs collection houses more than 240,000 prints, photographs, postcards, posters and ephemera. Over the years, we have digitized not only parts of our own collections, but also some very interesting local photograph collections housed at public libraries across the commonwealth. As with all of our digital collections, the digital photograph collections are searchable by keyword, creator, and title. Our older digital photographs are managed in our online catalog, and all can be searched simultaneously here.
In addition, our newer digital photograph collections offer thumbnails by which you can browse the collections. These collections can also be searched simultaneously using DigiTool, our new digital asset management system. We are making strides to combine these resources into one place for easier, more thorough searching. Check back periodically to see what's been added!
1939 World's Fair Photograph Collection
This VCC collection, displayed in the Virginia Room at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City, contains more than 3,000 photographs representing twelve aspects of Virginia life: scenic tours; recreation; historic homes; culture; history; colonial archaeology; scenery and natural wonders; physiography; agriculture; education; government and the people; and industry, commerce, and transportation.
Adolph B. Rice Photograph Collection
The Adolph B. Rice Studio Collection constitutes a unique photographic record of life in Richmond, Virginia, from 1949 to 1961. The Library offers here digital versions of over 400 of the 16,000 images from Rice's commercial studio, covering studio portraits, aerial views, advertising shots for local department stores, and local religious and educational events. This collection is also available on Flickr. If you're familiar with the people, places, and events covered in the Rice Collection, you can add comments and metadata that will help us identify this content even better.
Callahan Photograph Collection, Eastern Shore Public Library
Photographs from the Doran S. Callahan collection depicting scenes from the counties of Accomack and Northampton. Subjects include homes, churches, gravestones, important landmarks, courthouses, and other buildings. 85 photographs taken between 1895 and 1900.
Fairfax County Public Library Photograph Collection
two photographic collections -- the Henry H. Douglas Collection of Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Photographs and photographs relating to Fairfax County Extension Service activities.
Hamblin Studio Photograph Collection, Suffolk Public Library
1,300 photographs taken by four photographers associated with the Hamblin Studio 1910-1975. Subjects include business, commerce, manufacturing, government, education, religion, social and cultural activities, and African American community life.
Hampton Public Library/City of Hampton Historical Collection Photographs
1,400 photographs from the Christopher E. Cheyne collection depicting businesses, the seafood industry, the hotel and resort industry, prominent Hampton families, Confederate veterans, and other subjects; taken between 1894 and 1945.
Harry C. Mann Photograph Collection
A fully-searchable index to the Harry C. Mann Photograph Collection of glass plate negatives located in the Picture Collection at the Library of Virginia
Newport News Public Library Photograph Collection
two photographic collections — more than 40 photographs of the Hotel Warwick taken before 1925 which are part of the Old Dominion Land Company Records and more than 230 photographs of Hilton Village taken during the construction phase in 1918 and 1919.
Portsmouth Public Library Photograph Collection
two photographic collections; more than 800 photographs of the Olde Towne historic area depicting homes, churches, streets, commercial structures, and other historic sites and the Lee F. Rodgers collection of approximately 1,500 photographs primarily of African American subjects.
Radford Public Library Photograph Collection
Photographs published in The Radford Record Album in 1915. More than 225 photographs depicting residences, commercial and manufacturing buildings, churches, educational institutions, monuments, railroads, community activities, individuals, and views of the New River.
Richmond Esthetic Survey/Historic Building Survey
An online search engine providing interactive access to maps, photographs, and detailed written survey reports documenting the architecture of central Richmond, Virginia, in 1965. Report, photograph, and map images are available online.
Roanoke County Public Library Local History Photographs
Roanoke County Local History Photograph Collection located in the Local History Room at the Hollins Branch of the Roanoke County Public Library.
School Buildings Service Photographs
a visual record of hundreds of elementary and secondary school buildings across Virginia from the 1920s to the 1970s.
Stereograph Collection
Stereoscopic views were a popular 19th century recreational pastime that enabled photographs to be viewed in three dimensions. What appear to be two identical images adjacent to each other on a cardboard support are actually slightly different. When viewed through the lenses of a stereoscope, they "merge" to form a single 3-D image. The Library of Virginia's Stereograph Collection contains 318 images from many prominent and well-known photographers from the early 1860s to the early 20th century.
Tazewell County Public Library Photographs
Photographs originally published in a series of volumes by the Tazewell County Historical Society. Subjects include civic, agricultural, commercial, industrial, educational, social, and religious topics. The nearly 3,900 photographs taken between the late 19th century and the 1960s also include many individuals, families, and groups.
U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection
Photographs from the Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation series, 1942-1946, taken by Army Signal Corps photographers assigned to the port historian's office. The nearly 3,500 photographs depict the arrival and departure of U.S. military personnel and equipment, the preparation and loading of war materials, civilian employees, Red Cross workers, wounded personnel, and German and Italian prisoners of war.
Virginia Chamber of Commerce Photograph Collection
Primarily covering the years 1922–1972, the VCC collection documents a wide range of subjects, including bridges and dams; the cotton, peanut, textile, commercial fishing, and tobacco industries; farming and harvests; the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive; hunting and fishing; and numerous local festivals.
Virginia Historical Inventory
photographs, maps, and detailed reports documenting the architectural, cultural, and family histories of thousands of 18th– and 19th–century buildings in communities across Virginia. This collection was originally assembled by the Virginia Writers' Project, part of the depression-era Works Progress Administration.
Waynesboro Public Library Photographs
photographs and post cards depicting a variety of subjects from the cities of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Harrisonburg and the surrounding counties of Augusta, Rockingham, and Rockbridge. More than 1,500 photographs and approximately 380 post cards.