New York State Conservation Department Photographic Prints and Negatives

Roughly chronological.

The series consists of over 5,100 glass plate and film negatives and approximately 2,340 photographic prints compiled by the Forest, Fish and Game Commission (1900-1911), the Conservation Commission (1911-1926), and the Conservation Department (1926-1970). They constitute a visual record illustrating the many activities conducted by these predecessors of the Department of Environmental Conservation to preserve and administer New York State's natural resources and environment, and to publicize them through exhibits and publications.

Records include photographs (black and white, and color), negatives (black and white, and color inter-negatives), transparencies (35 mm color, 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 color), and index material. The majority of the series is comprised of 8 x 10 inch glass plate negatives, 5 x 7 inch glass plate negatives, and 5 x 7 inch film negatives.

Images document myriad functions including fish and game control; forest management and conservation; protecting the wilderness; and maintaining historic sites and recreational areas. The images depict wide-ranging locations and activities. Examples include tree nurseries; hatcheries; game preserves; landscapes; historic sites; department educational promotional exhibits; recreational facilities; and Civilian Conservation Corps projects of the 1930s. In addition, there are images of department officials, as well as a few negatives and prints of Kate Smith visiting Lake Placid, and of Franklin D. Roosevelt on a forestry tour.

14297-86: This accretion consists of about 175 black-and-white photographic prints depicting department exhibits and demonstrations at the New York State Fair, various county fairs, sports shows, expositions, and schools. Some prints were apparently used for publication. Most prints are 8 x 10 inches. Dates and locations are noted on the versos of most prints. Some negative numbers are also given.

14297-19: This accretion consists of a scrapbook containing about 460 black-and-white photographic prints. Photos depict game investigation activities conducted by the Bureau of Fish and Wildlife between the years 1945 and 1953. The scrapbook is divided into sections focusing on ecology, species characteristics, management, and research methods and techniques. Most prints measure 2.25 x 2.25 inches. A description of the subject depicted (sometimes including a date) is handwritten on each print's verso.

The bulk of photographic prints and negatives in this series have been digitized and are available in New York State Archives Digital Collections.

B1786Series B1786, Index to Department of Environmental Conservation Photographic Prints and Negatives, indexes this series and

B2010Series B2010, Glass Plate Negatives of Logging and Lumbering, contains related records.

An original partial card index to the negatives, arranged by negative number and using alpha-numeric subject codes which are not easily deciphered, is available at the repository.

A database indexes prints by locality, subject, date, and alphanumeric code.

An item list of reformatted negatives, giving date, title, and subject, is available at the repository.

This disposition supersedes records disposition numbers 12557 and 12559.

As part of a project funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, State Archives staff selected 5,206 photographic negatives from the original accession for reformatting. The original partial card index was superseded by a database produced by staff to provide item level access to the resulting contact prints. At the conclusion of the project, long roll interpositive film was sent to the State Records Center for secure storage; duplicate negative film of the 5,206 images (made from the long roll interpositive) was reserved at the State Archives as the series print master; and 5,206 positive contact prints (made from the duplicate negative film), accessioned as series B1786, became the State Archives use copy and graphic index.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.