Binghamton University Libraries Ask a Librarian

Visual Resources

Contents

Caution: copyright restrictions apply to most visual images owned by the following sites. See specific listings below for links to copyright information.




Binghamton University Visual Resources Collection BU ONLY
The Visual Resources Collection (VRC) contains approximately 216,000 slides, 55,000 photographs and a growing number of digital images (currently 13,000). The collection spans the medias of painting, architecture, sculpture, photography, graphic arts, bookarts, advertising and drawing, in addition to material and cultural arts. We support the classroom image needs of Binghamton University and the local community. Independent from the Binghamton University Libraries, the Visual Resources Collection is a subset of the Department of Art History


Collections by Topic

American Memory Project (Full Text)
A gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.

For copyright information see http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/copyrit2.html


Films and Videos

For videos owned by the Binghamton University Libraries search the Libraries' catalog. Select advanced search, film format and type in the film title or subject.

Film Finder BU ONLY
Indexes films and videos available through the Binghamton University, Educational Communications Center. It also provides links to other University Film and Video Libraries, Educational and Commercial Film Libraries, documentary film collections, and MediaSleuth, a comprehensive source for educational and training products to purchase.


Museum and Library Collections

Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Collection of 350,000 objects encompasses some of the most rare and important artistic treasures in the world. The collection includes American, European, Asian, African and Oceanic, ancient and contemporary art, prints, drawings, photographs, musical instruments, textile and fashion arts. Search online collections database by keyword, artist, title, geographic area, medium, culture, etc. and limit to show records with images.

For image reproduction information see http://www.mfa.org/ip/drl.htm

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Online collection currently includes the entire Department of European Paintings, the Provenance Research Project, and fifty highlights from each of the Museum's seventeen other curatorial departments, as well as fifty each from the Museum's libraries, from the Antonia Ratti Textile Center, and The Cloisters. Search the collections by keyword, artist, title, country or culture of origin, and date of creation.

For copyright information see http://www.metmuseum.org/copyright.htm

NYPL (New York Public Library) Digital Gallery
NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to over 275,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, printed ephemera, and more.

Online Photo Collections
The Office of Imaging, Printing and Photographic Services is the Smithsonian's central source for the creation, processing, distribution and archival storage of photographs and digital images.

Smithsonian Archives of American Art
The largest source in the world of primary source doucmentation on the visual arts in America. Over five thousand collections which include letters, diaries, sketches and sketchbooks, photographs, exhibition catalogs, scrapbooks, business records, art periodicals, and other types of documents, totaling about fourteen million items.

For Smithsonian's copyright information see http://www.archivesofamericanart.si.edu/exhibits/pastexhibits/piano/copyright.htm


Timeline of Art History

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Provides a basic geographical and chronological context for the history of art around the world, from prehistory to the present. The content of the Timeline is based on the collection and scholarship of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is not encyclopedic. Navigate using world map or select a time period in which to search.

For copyright information see http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/copyright.htm


Visual Images Search Engines

The following search engines provide image selection options.

WorldCat BU ONLY
This link will take you to "Other Library Web Sites and Catalogs". Select "WorldCat" and then check box to select "Visual Materials". Search by topic and limit to items owned by BU Libraries or items on the Internet.

Google
The best engine for speed and accuracy, Google ranks every website's importance based on which other sites link to it.
Copyright information appears with image(s).

FAST (alltheweb)
FAST is one of the largest and fastest growing search engines.
Copyright information appears with image(s).

TOP