Administrative Information
Provenance
The Library of Congress Manuscript Division first acquired the records of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as a gift from the Association in 1964.
Processing History
Records were processed by the Manuscript Division at various intervals between 1969 and 1993 as additional inactive files were received from the NAACP national headquarters. During processing in the Manuscript Division, visual materials found interfiled with the textual records or housed in separate containers were transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division (P&P) for processing and cataloging.
Visual materials transferred to the Prints & Photographs Division from the Manuscript Division were in no particular order, thus Prints & Photographs Division staff developed a logical arrangement reflecting the activities and interests of the Association. Images have been grouped into nine categories, which approximate the overall arrangement of the NAACP manuscript records.
Within most of the nine categories, related images are subarranged into smaller, more cohesive subject groupings, called LOTs, to help researchers locate particular people, events, and topics. Within LOTs, items are organized either chronologically (to reflect the development of a specific subject over time) or alphabetically, by person's name, geographic area, or subject. Each LOT is identified by a unique five-digit call number, e.g., LOT 13074. Most LOTs contain between 10 and 200 items; the largest, in the “People and Groups” category, contains 1,001 items.
Because of subject overlap within the collection, researchers are encouraged to search among several categories for comprehensive coverage of a given subject. For example, photos of the NAACP Baltimore branch picketing the segregated Ford's Theater are in LOT 13094 in the “General Programs and Related Subjects” category, while photos of Baltimore branch administrative meetings and groups are in LOT 13075 in the “Administrative Programs” category. Additionally, individual portraits of branch members or officers may be under the sitter's name in LOT 13074 in the “People and Groups” category.
NAACP Collection motion pictures, sound and video recordings, and manuscripts are located in the appropriate custodial divisions of the Library.
Collection processed by Vickie Crawley, Philip Michel, Anne Mitchell, Charles Noble, Jeanna Penn, and Alberta Prosser.
Microfilm of the Collection
The images in the collection are not available in digital form. However, microfilm of this collection on 19 reels is available from the Library's Photoduplication Service for purchase subject to the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.)
Researchers requesting access to the collection in the Prints & Photographs Division must use the microfilm surrogate in order to safeguard original materials from deterioration that results from repeated handling. The microfilm should be used in conjunction with the finding aid, which summarizes the contents of each category and LOT and provides folder-level identifications.
Microfilm Specifications
The microfilm surrogate was made by the Library of Congress Photoduplication Service using an Elke Library Camera and Kodak direct duplicating film to maximize continuous tone capability. Items 21” x 25” or smaller were filmed at a reduction ratio of 18:1. Items larger than 21” x 25” were filmed at a reduction ratio of 21:1. A change in reduction ratio is indicated by the presence of a ruler along the lower edge of the frame.
Contents and Arrangement of the Microfilm
All cataloged images appear in the microfilm--excluding Supplementary Archives materials and some color transparencies (described in the Scope and Content Note).
Materials appear in the microfilm in the order in which they are arranged within the categories and LOTs. Reverse sides of images (versos) were filmed only when there was information present--i.e., notes, markings, photographer stamps, captions, etc. Using the microfilm surrogate together with the finding aid, researchers are supplied with all available information pertaining to the images. Versos were not filmed specifically for copy negative information; researchers must search the Library's automated system for up-to-date information on the availability of copy negatives for images.
The call number for each image--e.g., “LOT 13074, no. 1”--appears in the lower right corner of the microfilm frame, and corresponds to the number listed in the left-hand column of the Contents List in the finding aid. The storage designation for each item appears in parentheses, following the call number, only in the Contents List. If an original item is needed, researchers must consult the finding aid to determine its storage designation.
The front (recto) of an image appears with its corresponding call number in the lower right corner; the call number does not appear in frames of versos of images, nor does it appear in frames of accompanying caption information. In most cases caption information immediately follows the image to which it relates and is accompanied by the phrase: “information from previous image” (in the lower right corner of the frame). Occasionally, an image recto will be followed by more than one frame of related caption information; and, rarely, a series of related images--filmed consecutively--will be followed by more than one frame of related caption information.
In a few instances, images have the same LOT number and item number and a distinguishing letter suffix. This indicates one of the following conditions:
- Images are part of a set or album that was given one item number
- Items were inadvertently given identical numbers during processing and the letter suffix is used to distinguish among them
How to Order Copies of the Microfilm
Copies of the entire microfilm, or of individual microfilm reels, may be ordered from the Photoduplication Service, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540 (telephone: 202-707-5640).
Specify the collection's microform shelflist number (Microfilm 95/4779 P&P) and the particular reel number(s) you wish to order. Indicate whether you wish the images on the microfilm to appear as positive or negative images. (Reels may be purchased in either form.) The cost of the microfilm includes a hard copy of the finding aid, which is meant to be used in conjunction with the microfilm. The finding aid is also available on microfilm on reel 19.
Reel Concordance
REEL | FIRST CALL NUMBER | LAST CALL NUMBER |
1 | LOT 13074, no. 1 | LOT 13074, no. 301 |
2 | LOT 13074, no. 302 | LOT 13074, no. 634 |
3 | LOT 13074, no. 635 | LOT 13074, no. 843 |
4 | LOT 13074, no. 844 | LOT 13074, no. 987 |
5 | LOT 13075, no. 1 | LOT 13077, no. 6 |
6 | LOT 13078, no. 1 | LOT 13078, no. 201 |
7 | LOT 13078, no. 202 | LOT 13080, no. 53 |
8 | LOT 13081, no. 1 | LOT 13084, no. 46 |
9 | LOT 13085, no. 1 | LOT 13088, no. 211 |
10 | LOT 13088, no. 212 | LOT 13092, no. 18 |
11 | LOT 13093, no. 1 | LOT 13095, no. 20 |
12 | LOT 13096, no. 1 | LOT 13099, no. 64 |
13 | LOT 13099, no. 65 | LOT 13102, no. 151 |
14 | LOT 13103, no. 1 | LOT 13105, no. 131 |
15 | LOT 13105, no. 132 | LOT 13106, no. 195 |
16 | LOT 13106, no. 196 | LOT 13111, no. 74 |
17 | LOT 13111, no. 75 | LOT 13119, no. 102 |
18 | LOT 13120, no. 1 | PGA -Sartain (J.) -Cinqué |
19 | FINDING AID |