The Caltech Image Archive, 1862- , bulk 1910-1999

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Summary

Creators:
California Institute of Technology Archives
Abstract:
The Caltech Image Archive is a digital collection of more than 10,000 images from the Caltech Archives. It includes historical and contemporary photographs of people and locations, images of historical artifacts from Caltech's laboratories, and reproductions of fine art and illustrations from rare books pertaining to the history of science and technology. The collection continues to grow.
Extent:
Approximately 10,000 photographs
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], The Caltech Image Archive, 10001-Image, Caltech Archives, California Institute of Technology.

Background

Scope and content:

The Caltech Image Archive documents in pictorial form many aspects of life and work at the California Institute of Technology.

Over 10,000 images are currently represented in this digital collection. The main body of images is derived from Caltech's historical Photo Archive, which records the early years of Caltech's predecessor school, Throop Polytechnic, founded in 1891, and onward to the present day. Photographs of faculty, students, trustees, administrators, and eminent visitors, as well as buildings, grounds and laboratories are included. Additional photos with provenance within faculty papers and other manuscript collections have been added to the Photo Archive over time and are represented in the Image Archive.

The Archives' collection of historic apparatus has been photographed for documentation purposes, and those photos have been included in the Image Archive as well. Instruments built in Caltech's shops, among them Robert A. Millikan's cosmic ray measuring devices, may be viewed, as well as models from noted European and American makers such as Cambridge & Paul, Kelvin & James White, Adam Hilger, Otto Wolff, Zeiss, Beckman Instruments, Fred C. Henson Company, J. A. Brashear, Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation, Western Electric, Leeds & Northrup, Keuffel & Esser and many others.

Finally, reproductions of fine art and cartographic prints in the history of science assembled largely by Professor Earnest C. Watson, as well as reproductions from Caltech's valuable rare books also appear. In this latter group are more than 250 images from first editions of Nicholas Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Johann Bayer, Galileo, Johannes Hevelius, Isaac Newton and many others from the Scientific Revolution.

Physical location:
Archives, California Institute of Technology.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Finding aid prepared using: "Describing Archives: a Content Standard."

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright may not have been assigned to the California Institute of Technology Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote must be submitted in writing to the Caltech Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the California Institute of Technology Archives as the owner of the physical items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], The Caltech Image Archive, 10001-Image, Caltech Archives, California Institute of Technology.

Location of this collection:
1200 E. California Blvd.
MC B215-74
Pasadena, CA 91125, US
Contact:
(626) 395-2704
archives@caltech.edu
Website