Special Collections Division: Image Collections

These are non-circulating, closed-stack collections. Patrons wishing to access these materials should inquire at the service desk. These collections consist entirely or predominantly of images or graphic materials. Links to finding aids in PDF format are provided where available.

Bill Goodman Photographs, 1951

Photographs taken by Bill Goodman who served as a Marine Corps combat photographer with the First Marine Division in both South and North Korea in 1951 during the Korean War. Images include candid scenes of soldiers in camp and on the march; American tanks, trucks and equipment on the move and damaged by enemy fire; combat scenes including tanks and infantry on the attack, a rocket team in action, and a flamethrower in use; American and North Korean casualties, including a scene of hundreds of North Korean bodies in a valley; military religious services; operations in the division headquarters photo section; winter scenes of troops on the move; and Korean civilians and street scenes. Locations include scenes in and around Pusan, Yanguee, events during "Operation Punchbowl," and unidentified locations in North and South Korea.

Bruce I. Crabtree Architectural Photography Collection, ca. 1960-ca. 1988

A photographic collection of 2133 images donatedby the Johnson Johnson Crabtree architectural firm, of Nashville, Tennessee, documenting four decades of the architectural project work of Bruce I. Crabtree, Jr., F.A.I.A., a senior founding partner in the firm. The collection is comprised of photographic images of design projects of the architectural firm, Taylor & Crabtree, comprised of photographic prints, contacts sheets, and 35 mm color slide transparencies, with a few data sheets related to the construction projects and specific buildings. The photographic images depict buildings chiefly in the Greater Nashville area, with representation of the architect’s design projects in other locations in Tennessee, as well as North Carolina. The collection includes a few 35 mm color slides of Florida Southern College buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Photo Inventory List

Charles Warterfield Architectural Collection (MS Word)

The Charles W. Warterfield Slide Collection contains 6,302 slides that span a period c. 1958-1998. The collection consists of slides taken by architect Charles W, Warterfield over the course of his adult life. The primary focus of this collection is on architecture in Tennessee, especially in Nashville. The subjects of this collection are of various styles of architecture in Tennessee that includes: pioneer log cabins/houses, vernacular architecture, Greek Revival Mansions, Victorian residences and commercial buildings. There are also included a number of nature shots and images taken on personal and professional trips. Images include: log, brick and frame structures from the Pioneer through Federal period; antebellum structures found in Middle Tennessee including Woodlawn, Tulip Grove, Rippavilla, Rattle & Snap, Belle Meade, Belmont, Tiptop and the Tennessee State Capitol; structures from outside Nashville area; structures representing Arts & Crafts and Art Deco style buildings in Nashville and Knoxville; buildings that represent the evolution of residential architecture in Middle Tennessee from the 1780s early log structures to the 1850s Greek Revival mansions; commercial and government buildings in the major cities of Tennessee; privates residences such as Cheekwood, Governor's Mansion, Auburn, and other unidentified homes; various structures built in Nashville between 1869-1929; residential and commercial buildings in Nashville built from 1950-1993; interior and exterior views of the Tennessee State Capitol and grounds, including the interior restoration during 1987 and 1950s exterior restoration; nature scenes; structures that appear to be projects that Mr. Warterfield was involved with or designed; and structures in Davidson County built during the nineteenth century.

Edward E. O'Connor Jr. Papers, 1940-1945 (bulk 1943-1945)

A wide variety of materials including numerous greeting cards, letters and photographs document the service of Edward E. O'Connor Jr. in the Army Air Force during World War II. Many cards and letters written to and from him during his service are significant for the information they contain about homefront life and life on stateside air bases. These materials are especially notable for the story they tell during the anxious month when O'Connor was reported missing near the Austria/Yugoslavia border in April 1944, and when news of his return to American lines was received in May. Snapshots taken of and by O'Connor show his family and relatives in Nashville, Tenn.; scenes at various military bases in Florida and the western U.S.; airstrips in North Africa and Italy, as well as local civilians and allied military personnel; scenes of aircraft, especially B-24s including some photographs of nose art, especially O'Connor's own plane, "Hubba Hubba;" and a variety of other scenes on and off base. A colored pencil drawing of the nose art for "Hubba Hubba" is in the back of his "Edward E. O'Connor Jr. - Snapshots" album, from which most photographs have been removed.

Floyd Melvin Hooper Snapshots c.1942-1955 (bulk c.1942-c.1945)

Holdings consist of 83 images, most of them snapshots taken while serving with the 105th Observation Squadron, later part of the 820th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group, 7th Air Force. They include images of training early in the war when wooden dummy guns stood in for anti-aircraft guns, and when first aid training took place on a dog. Scenes include training activities on base and on maneuvers; a beach party, probably held near Langley Field, Virginia; and images of B-25 Mitchell bombers (some identified) and their crews on duty near the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific.

Harold Lowe Civil Rights Photographs, 1960-1964

Sixty-three framed black and white photographs of civil rights activities (boycotts, sit-ins, arrests, arraignments) in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, taken by Harold Lowe, Jr., for the Tennessean newspaper during the years 1960-1964. These images were donated for display only and may not be reproduced.

Joe Thompson, Jr. Papers, 1942-2005

The heart of the Joe Thompson Jr Papers is the nearly 600 photographs taken by Thompson while serving in the Army Air Force in Europe during World War II. They begin in England, where Thompson served initially as a U.S. flier attached to the Royal Air Force for training. They go on to document his experiences and those of his comrades in the 67th and 109th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons of the 9th Air Force. They include scenes showing the push from the Normandy beachhead through France and the liberation of Paris; airbase scenes including candid portraits of American pilots and ground personnel at leisure; civilians in England, France and Belgium; aircraft and wrecks; scenes of Army infantry and armor in camp or advancing; scenic landscapes and street scenes including some taken in war-torn villages and streets; and a variety of similar images. These photographs are supplemented by a series of interviews in 2005 with Thompson by Nashville Room volunteer Alice Swanson, in which Thompson provides commentary on his photographs, and recalls many of his military experiences. Earlier interviews conducted with Thompson by Lucas Boyd around 1995 are a photograph-by-photograph narration of selected images, in preparation for an exhibit at Montgomery Bell Academy, which was later adapted by the Tennessee State Museum. Thompson's materials also include a number of aerial reconnaissance photographs, a written memoir, and other items. Part of the Veterans History Project.

John Edwin Parchman Papers 1936-1945 (bulk 1936-1937)

Holdings consist of 74 snapshots taken circa 1936-1937 in the vicinity of Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. Many images are unidentified, but they are telling photographs of America's level of preparedness prior to its entry into World War II. They show a time when the Army still relied upon horses for mobility of artillery and weapons, and there are numerous photographs of weaponry which could easily be mistaken for World War I-era arms. There are a few images of Pearl Harbor, including the battleships Idaho and Pennsylvania. Photographs also show troops training and on parade; mingling with local females; and other images of life on and off base.

Morris Levine Papers, 1942-c.1950 (bulk 1942-1945)

Morris Levine served in the Army Air Corps and as a Judge Advocate in Karachi, India, part of the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of operations during World War II. His materials include maps, military records, a 1942 diary, documents relating to Jewish services and celebrations, Karachi newspapers, and a variety of other items. Over 500 snapshots and negatives document a wide variety of scenes and activities relating to Levine's service. A substantial portion of the collection shows troops on base, visiting officers, military vehicles and equipment, and related military subjects. A few images show Jewish religious services on base and a military funeral. Many other images show soldiers engaged in recreational activities, including an athletic competition, taking camel rides, seeing the sights, and spending time at the beach. One group of photographs shows the festivities during the crossing of the equator by the T.S.S. Katoomba. There are also a large number of photographs of the local Indian population, including street scenes, vendors, an outdoor dentist, and scenic images of Indian landscapes and animals, including two trips to the Himalayas. Only 71 negatives have been matched to prints. A small number of unprinted negatives, some taken in Nashville, are of unidentified civilians, and presumably date from the early post-war period. Part of the Veterans History Project. Finding aid available.

Naff Poster and Photograph Collection (pdf)

Advertising announcements, descriptive folders, letters and telegrams, librettos, newspaper clippings, photographs, posters, programs, realia, scripts, and souvenir booklets gathered by Lula Naff over her many years as manager of the Ryman Auditorium. The materials span Ryman performances between 1901 and 1956, and document Nashville appearances by such cultural, political, and entertainment notables as Gene Autry, Fanny Brice, Jack Dempsey, Nelson Eddy, Helen Hayes, Bob Hope, Guy Lombardo, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Will Rogers, and John Phillip Sousa.

Nashville Banner Archives

Nashville Room Historic Photograph Collection

Active collection consisting of over 4,000 photographs with emphasis upon Nashville people, places, buildings, and landmarks. Photos of Tennessee people and places apart from Nashville and of historical interest are also included. Nashville persons, places, landmarks and events commonly depicted in this collection include the various Nashville libraries, Centennial Park, the Cumberland River and its floods, historic homes (the Hermitage, Belmont, Cheekwood, etc.), Nashville political leaders, Nashville street scenes, and scenes from everyday life. Most photos date from the twentieth century.

Nashville Room Post Card Collection

Over 15,000 postcards, color and black & white, including some art prints and photocards. While the collection includes cards from many U.S. states and some foreign countries, the emphasis is upon Nashville and Tennessee scenes of the twentieth century, among which are Nashville street scenes, businesses, colleges and universities, homes and parks. The art prints include cartoons, greeting cards, and oversized postcards.

Nashville Room Slide Collection

Slides of Nashville's landmarks, which include historic homes, churches, cemeteries, parks, schools, and libraries. Persons pictured in this collection include Alfred Leland Crabb, Jesse Burt, E. A. Keeble, John Shelby, J. Percy Priest, William Shy, and Tom Tichenor. Historic homes herein pictured include Belaire, Belle Meade, Belmont, Carter House, Cheekwood, Cragfont, Fairvue, the Hermitage, Lockeland Mansion, Oaklands, Riverwood, Talbot House, Traveler's Rest, Tulip Grove, and Two Rivers. Other Nashville landmarks included are the Parthenon, Centennial Park, the State Capitol, many area forts, most of Nashville's libraries, and the Life & Casualty Building.

Victor Cooley Papers, c.1943-1994 (bulk c.1943-1945)

Holdings consist of 1 folder of items such as military documents, correspondence, and a reunion brochure, and 70 photographs taken circa 1943-1945 aboard the destroyer escort, USS Mosley (DE-321), one of several Navy vessels manned by Coast Guard crews. The Mosley served on patrol in the Mediterranean, primarily in the vicinity of Tunisia and French Morocco. Images show life aboard ship, including drills, deck guns, and refueling operations, and there are numerous, mostly unidentified photographs of crew members. There are several identified images of Victor Cooley. Other photographs include recreational scenes at a beach or dune area, a few images of a Mediterranean city, and numerous photographs of sister ships in convoy with the Mosley, including identified images of: USS Stern (DE-187); USS Pride (DE-323); and the USS D.E. Campbell (D-70).

WSIX Radio Program Posters, [ca. 1930-1960]

Posters featuring photographs of ABC Network radio personalities, ca. 1930-1960, advertising programs and broadcast times on WSIX. Some of the celebrities featured include Fran Allison, Lionel Barrymore, Richard Crenna, Alan Ladd, Adolphe Menjou, Robert Montgomery, and Drew Pearson. Famous shows advertised include "Abbott and Costello," "The Breakfast Club," "Dr. Kildare," "The Original Amateur Hour," and "The Lawrence Welk Show."

Ryman Auditorium Collection

Posters, photographs, art prints, and sound recordings gathered by Ryman Auditorium Marketing Department, documenting selected Ryman Auditorium events since the 1994 renovation, with emphasis on concerts and performances since 2000. Performing artists depicted on the show posters (the most numerous part of the collection) are a stylistically diverse lot, including George Jones, Merle Haggard, Marty Stuart, Harry Connick Jr., Elvis Costello, and Wayne Newton.

Schofield Photograph Collection

This collection contains images of studio portraits, baby photos, weddings and building shots from the Nashville, Davidson County area.