Audio Visual Collection, 1899+ | Northern Illinois University

The Audio-Visual Collection is arranged in six major record series:  photographs; blueprints and drawings; posters, broadsides, and pennants; films and video recordings; sound recordings; memorabilia, artifacts, and ephemera.

The photographs series contains prints, negatives, proofsheets, and color transparencies [slides] collected by the Northern Illinois University's Office of Information (formerly Regional Services) and Media Production Imaging (formerly Office of University Relations and Art/Photo Services).  This series is divided into two subseries: proofsheets, negatives, and color transparencies; and quick reference photographs.

The negatives and proofsheets (779,971 exposures) are indexed chronologically and depict campus personnel, groups, buildings, and events from 1947 to 1996.  The last five years are retained in the Media Production Imaging Office.  A chronological list of the proofsheets and negatives is available to researchers.

The color transparencies (4337 mounted 35mm slides) include such subjects as aerial views of campus, Alumni, Band, Campus Buildings (entered by name), Campus Scenes, Cheerleaders, Commencement, Football, Homecoming, Lab School, Student Unrest, Taft Campus, and University Day.

The quick reference photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject heading and provide a photographic documentation of Northern Illinois University from 1898 to 2004.  Major headings include:  Alumni Relations; Annual Activities; Athletics; Benefactors; Buildings; Campus Scenes; Civil Service; Colleges and Departments; DeKalb; Dignitaries; Entertainers; Faculty; Governors; Plays; Presidents, NIU; Speakers; Student Life; Student Organizations and Workshops; Sycamore; Trustees; and Exhibits.  There are also several oversized prints picturing the NIU campus, faculty, and students located in drawer 6 in the University Archives oversize cabinet.  The quick reference photographs are included in a detailed index available at the reference desk.

The prints, negatives, proofsheets, and color transparencies are accessible through a subject index entitled, “Subject Index to the NIU Archives Photographs.”

Researchers note:  Although the photographs in this series span the period 1895 to 2004, the bulk of material documents the period 1950 to 1996.

The second and third series contain blueprints and drawings of Northern Illinois University's campus buildings, posters, broadsides, and pennants.  The blueprints and drawings in drawers 1 and 2 are arranged in alphabetical order by building name.  Each building lists dates and number of sheets for the building.  A detailed listing of drawings are included in the inventory for the drawings in drawers 4 and 5 for Founders Memorial Library.  Items of campus interest listed in the broadsides, posters, and pennants series include diplomas (1900-1921), picture calendars (1946-1950), and Northern pennants.

Series IV, films and video recordings is separated into three subseries: motion picture films (16mm), videotapes, and digital video discs (DVD’s). The motion picture films cover, for the most part, three main topics:  basketball; football; and campus views and special events.  Some subjects included in the campus views and special events section include May Fete, Alumni Weekend, Homecoming Parades, construction of NIU buildings, and general campus views.  There are also a number of films featuring the NIU Marching Band.  Additional films were added to the collection in 1993-1994 by Northern Illinois University's TV Productions.  This addendum includes films similar to the campus views and special events section as well as films produced by the motion picture section of the Communications Services of Northern Illinois University.  Of special note is a World War II propaganda film regarding the Pacific front war with Japan.

The second subseries consists of videotapes of tutorials created by the Academic Computer Services office to train people on SPSS, SAS, MICC, Wylbur, and other software packages in the 1970's and 1980's.  Also included in this subseries are videotapes relating to the University such as two tapes regarding the Student Association's candidates forum, CHANCE graduation luncheons, building dedications, and productions from the NIU Department of Communication classes.

Subseries C has the newest video technology and as of 2006 contains only two DVD’s.

Advanced notice must be given in order to view the above mentioned visual materials because of the need for special equipment.

The sound recordings series is divided into five subseries: reel to reel sound recordings; graduate recordings; cassette recordings; albums; and compact discs (CD’s).  The reel to reel recordings subseries is comprised of two sizes of tapes.  The reels are arranged by size then alphabetically by title or author.  These recordings include lectures, recitals, commencement programs, and addresses.

Subseries B, graduate recordings, includes recordings of recitals performed by Masters of Fine Arts students in completion of their degree.  The students used reel to reel sound recordings until 1978 when the performers switched to cassette recordings.

The cassettes subseries is arranged alphabetically by title or author and includes lectures, addresses, and the tapes for the Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities and the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women's open forums.  Transcripts are available for the two open forums.  Also included here are oral history tapes and transcripts.

Subseries D, albums, are arranged by title or author/performer and includes albums of varying sizes.  Subseries E, compact discs, contains as of 2006 seven CD’s produced by the NIU Huskie marching band, from 1993 to 2001.

Series VI, memorabilia, artifacts, and ephemera is part of the Edward C. Page Museum Collection and is divided into six subseries: NIU Memorabilia, Embree Artifacts, Lantern Slides, Political Memorabilia, Dr. James Alba Johnston Medical Instruments, and Stereographs.  There are over 200 individual items including class pins, medals, university seals, baseball caps, and selected pieces of antique office equipment included in the NIU memorabilia.  The remainder of the Page Museum Collection was transferred to the Anthropology Museum in 1998.  Additional lantern slides and glass plate negatives donated by Paul Sorenson are also included in this series.  A separate item level inventory is available to researchers for each subseries.