Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection Archive
Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum
National Air and Space Archives
National Anthropological Archives
National Museum of the American Indian Archives
Peale Family Papers, National Portrait Gallery
Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Smithsonian American Art Museum Slide and Photo Archives
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Smithsonian Photographic Services
Affiliated Organization: National Gallery of Art
Founded by aviation pioneer Paul E. Garber (1899-1992), the Smithsonian Kite Festival is one of the most popular annual events held on the National Mall. Photo by Jeff Tinsley.
Smithsonian Photographic
Services
National Museum of American History
Room CB-054
12th and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20560
202.633.1933
202.786.2756 fax
Hours
Monday – Friday
9am to 5pm
Appointment Recommended
The
Office of Imaging and Photographic Services is the Smithsonian's central
photographic facility, with offices in the National Museum of American
History, the National Air and Space Museum, the Museum Support Center,
and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. In addition to studio
and laboratory functions, the OIPS maintains a library of nearly one million
negatives and transparencies in an environmentally controlled cold storage
room. Primary efforts in both storage and handling of this active collection
are directed toward creating archival conditions ideal for photographic
longevity.
Highlights: Photographic materials include the work of Smithsonian photographers
dating from the late 1800s, and are continually augmented by the work
of contemporary photographers. These materials document the Museum's
exhibitions, artifacts, and related events. In addition, OIPS cares
for several other large collections, including the negatives from the
Peter A. Juley and Son Collection (see also Office of Research Support,
Smithsonian American Art Museum), the
Pullman and Chaney Collections on rail transportation, the National Anthropological
Archives collection (see also separate entry), and several other specialized
Smithsonian collections.
Prints and duplicate transparencies are available to Museum staff and
the general public. Requesters from outside the Smithsonian can obtain
research assistance and may purchase photographic materials through the
Services Branch. This office also produces and sells educational products
to collectors, schools, and libraries internationally.