Finding Aid for the University Photographs Collection

Repository: Kent State University. Special Collections and Archives.
Title: University Photographs Collection
Inclusive Dates: 1910-2025
Author: Finding Aid prepared by Kristin Silvestro, March 2026.
Origination: Kent State University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and Archives.
Extent: 25 File Cabinets, 104 boxes, and born digital files.
Physical Location: 10th Floor and 11th Floor
Abstract: This collection contains photographs going back to Kent State University's founding in a variety of formats including positive prints, negatives, large format negatives, and digital files. 
Language: English
Descriptive Rules: DACS 2nd Edition

Scope and Content: This collection is organized into 8 unique series based on a number of factors including provenance and format. The photographs cover a broad range of topics including people, places, events, awards, athletics, activities, and other subjects pertinent to the history of Kent State University. 

Series 1-4 are photographs that were transferred to the archives by the university's photographers. They are still identified and organized by the numbering systems used by the university photographers. There have been a few different numbering and identification systems used over the years, which is why there is overlap in the years covered by each series. These four series also contain a variety of formats including prints, negatives, and digital files which are reflective of the change in technology used by the office over the years.

Statement of Arrangement: The records are organized into 8 series.

• Series 1: Photographs- 1910s-1960s
• Series 2: Photographs- 1960s-2000s
• Series 3: Photographs- 2000s-2010s
• Series 4: Subject Files- 1910s-2010s
• Series 5: Book of Memories
• Series 6: Chestnut Burr Negatives, 1969-1971
• Series 7: Faculty and Staff Headshots
• Series 8: Large Format Negatives, 1946-1967

Preferred Citation: Series # and Title. University Photographs Collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Related Materials: Additional images of campus can be found in the Kent State University Buildings and Grounds photographs. 
Restrictions on Use: Rights for the photographs in this collection vary by series. 
Technical Access: Special equipment may be required to view some of the materials.
Acquisition Information: The bulk of this collection is comprised of internal transfers of images taken by University Communications and Marketing photographers for Kent State University. Some images have no acquisition or provenance information. The subseries of Chestnut Burr negatives was donated by Howard and Margaret "Peg" Ruffner. 
Accruals: The collection is added to regularly. 

Please contact the specialcollections [at] kent.edu (Special Collections and Archives) for information about how to access the University Photographs Collection.

Series 1: Photographs- 1910s-1960s
Extent: 5 File Cabinets [4 drawers each]
Scope and Content: A series of negatives and prints which are organized using the original legacy numbering system. These are primarily images from prior to 1965. Many images have multiple copies. 
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Kent State University 

Series 2: Photographs- 1960s-2000s
Extent: 20 File Cabinets [12 cabinets with 5 drawers and 9 file cabinets with 4 drawers]
Scope and Content: This series contains images, primarily negatives and proof sheets, taken by the University Photographer, a division of University Communications and Marketing (formerly known as News Services). Photographs were generally used for university publications and marketing. The original chronological numbering system used by the University Photographer's office has been retained. Some photographs may be from before the 1960s. 
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Kent State University. 

Series 3: Photographs- 2000s-2020s 
Extent: 25 boxes as well as Digital Files [16 large CD boxes, 4 medium CD boxes, 4 small CD boxes, 1 record center box]   
Scope and Content: In the late 1990s the University Photographers began using some digital photography as well as film photography. For this reason for the years 2000-2013 the archives received many images as digital files on CDs and stopped receiving physical prints. Around the early 2010s, the University Photographer began transferring photographs digitally.
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Kent State University. 

Series 4: Subject File, 1910s-2010s
Extent: 16.17 cubic feet [18 boxes =15 record storage boxes and 3 small newspaper boxes]
Scope and Content: This collection contains university photographs that had no number identification from the University Photographer's office, but some may be prints or duplicates of the images from other series. The photographs have been sorted by subject matter and most contain multiple images. The bulk of the photographs dates from 1960-1989.
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Kent State University in most cases, though some images may have specific photographers or studios noted as well. 

Series 5: Book of Memories
Extent: 1 CF [1 box= 1 record center box]
Scope and Content: Series contains photographs used in the published book A Book of Memories. All of the photographs in this collection were scanned and are available online.
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright varies by individual photographs.

Series 6: Chestnut Burr Negatives
Inclusive Dates:  1969-1971
Extent: 3 CF [3 boxes=3 record storage boxes]
Scope and Content: These photographic negatives were taken by Howard and Margaret Ruffner for inclusion in the Chestnut Burr from 1969-1971. Topics cover a variety of school-related activities, events, sports, etc. They are arranged by the number assigned to the negatives. Captions were provided by the photographer.
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Howard and Margaret Ruffner.

Series 7: Faculty and Staff Headshots
Inclusive Dates: 1920s-2000s
Bulk Dates: 1960s-1980s
Extent: 8.3 CF [49 boxes = 46 negative boxes; 2 slim document cases; 1 slide box]
Scope and Content: Professional headshots of faculty and staff, typically taken by the University Photographers.
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Kent State University. 

Series 8: Large Format Negatives ​​​​
Inclusive Dates: 1946-1967
Extent: 1.52 CF [8 boxes =7 negative boxes and 1 document case]
Scope and Content: This collection contains large-format negatives produced by the University Photographers. The original chronological numbering system used by the University Photographers has been retained. 
Restrictions on Use:  Copyright is retained by Kent State University.