Photographs

Capturing images of actual people and places, "pictures tell a thousand words," helping a researcher to better visualize events - whether everyday happenings or historical occurrences. While photography may seem to be an obvious primary source, it is important to question the perspective of the person holding the camera and to ask what was left out of the photograph. The subjects in photographs often are posed, so the user must attempt to determine the original purpose for creating the photograph. The visual impact of pictures often cause researchers to suspend judgment, but in an era where digital alteration is simple, pictures must be approached with some skepticism.

Since photographs frequently lack captions, researchers often look for clues in the pictures and accompanying documentation to determine the specific content and context of the image. Some archives choose to store their photographs in a separate location since they require different preservation conditions and can react chemically with the materials around them.

	Wood cut for welfare use as part of Works Progress Administration (WPA) Project No. 94. Kildaire Avenue and Old Harford Road. c. 1930s. Archives of the Work Projects Administration in Maryland, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries
	Vice President's Capitol Office. Left to right: Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, Prince Charles, Senator Hugh Scott, and Princess Anne. July 17, 1970. Official Photograph of the White House, Washington. Papers of Spiro T. Agnew, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries