Photographs may be found in many places within our collections. Many form a portion of a much larger manuscript collection. Locating photographs on a particular subject can be difficult. This guide is designed to help you navigate through our various search tools to find the image that best fits your needs.

1. Start with Alaska’s Digital Archives.
   1. Location: Online at http://vilda.alaska.edu.
   2. Contents: This online database of photographs, moving images, oral histories, texts, and maps is keyword searchable and available from any internet connection.
   3. How to search: For detailed instructions on search technique visit the FAQ and Help pages.
   4. Viewing the Photos: Digital copies of the images are right on your screen.
   5. Using the Images: You may copy the low-resolution images for educational purposes such as illustrations in a term paper or a PowerPoint presentation. For high-resolution images or public uses, contact the holding institution for their reproduction and use policies (See below for more on UAF’s policies).
      
2. Next try our Photo Indexes
   1. Location: At the Photo Collections table in the Research Room.
   2. Contents: The indexes provide access to a portion of our photograph collections, particularly those photos that were donated before 1995.
   3. How to search: There are several indexes, each with a different access point.
      
      1. Place Name Index: Lists photos by geographic region. Further information about the photos is listed in the subject and subdivision columns.
      2. Subject Sort Index: Lists photos by broad subject HEADING, but doesn’t include the above geographic locations. Secondary information has been added to the SUBJECT heading, and any proper nouns describing the photo are in the SUBDIVISION column.
      3. Index Three: Sort on Second Column: The SUBJECT column, without proper nouns, contains slightly more specific subject descriptions. This arrangement is useful when looking for subject matter, without attention to geographic location or ethnic group.
         
   4. Viewing the Photos: The indexes help you locate the collection names. You can view the image on microfiche or request the original photograph be brought to the research room.
      
      1. Microfiche: Those images that are available on microfiche are identified in the above indexes by the FICHE # column. There is also a binder labeled "Index to Photographs/Individual Collections/Fiched". This index is useful for finding particular images if one knows a photo is in a collection, or has some familiarity with the collections.
      2. Original collections: Use the REQUEST FOR ARCHIVAL MATERIALS FORM to view original photographs. Use one form for each collection. If the Photo Index does not specify a folder or album number, use the SUBJECT heading(s) to indicate the folders you want to see. The "Index to Photographs/Individual Collections/Not Fiched" is useful if one knows a photo is in a collection, or has some familiarity with the collections.
         
3. Finally, try our Collections Keyword Index.
   1. Location: On the bookshelf in the Archives Consultation Room.
   2. Contents: This index provides access to all archival and manuscript collections, including photograph collections that have not been indexed.
   3. How to search: Use your keywords to find collections, but note that many collections contain manuscript materials and no photos. Recent acquisitions will specify if photographs are included; earlier acquisitions will require more digging. See the Guide to Locating Archives & Manuscripts Collections for more information.
   4. Viewing the Photos: Use the REQUEST FOR ARCHIVAL MATERIALS FORM to view original photographs. Use one form for each collection.
      
4. Copying and Using our Photographs.
   1. Fill out a Statement of Intended Use and Purchase Agreement form. If you intend personal or research use, please check the appropriate box. This form, once approved by the archivist, grants permission to you to use the images for your specified purpose as long as you follow the conditions listed and pay any applicable use fees.
   2. Complete a Photograph Reprint Request (for photographic reprints) or a Request for Photocopies (for photocopies) for each photo. See the Reproduction Price List for fee information.
      1. Give us complete name, address and phone information on one form only.
      2. You must complete all location information on each form: collection name, accession/id number (usually on bottom or back of photo), box number, folder or album number, and any caption information or a description of the photo.
      3. Use a paper flag to mark the place of the photo in the collection box; Do Not Remove the Photo. This is especially important if the photos are not numbered—in this case, paper-clip the flag to the photo using a folded paper to keep the clip from actually touching (scratching) the image.
      4. Most photo lab work is completed using high resolution digital imaging (scanning). You may order either digital files or digital prints. If the original image is in color the reprint will be made in color, unless you specify black & white reproduction. Darkroom reproduction is available by arrangement.
      5. All public use photos must be properly cited. See our Citation Guidelines for more information