Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1945- (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
All quantities are approximations:
- 140,000 black-and-white photographic prints and negatives (in a variety of formats)
- 1,000 colour 35mm negatives
- 15,000 duplicate colour slides
- 29,000 35mm colour slides
Context area
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The bulk of UNESCO's historic photo collection was transferred from the Division of Public Information to the UNESCO Archives in 2015. The transfer included the Office of Public Information Photo Library negatives, prints and slides in three Kardex filing machines; the portraits collection; and photographic prints kept in a separate depot.
Other photographic materials preserved in the UNESCO Archives were transferred from the Office of Public Information beginning from the 1970s (OPI/Photo.1 and OPI/Photo.2 series).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The photographic archives span the period from the foundation of UNESCO until 2000 and contain photographic material of UNESCO programmes, activities, and events (conferences, meetings, Director General visits). In addition, the photo archives consist of images used for exhibitions or publications of UNESCO (e.g. the UNESCO Human Rights Exhibition prints and negatives found in the series MC).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Continuous accruals
System of arrangement
Chronologically and by subject
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
A significant portion of the UNESCO photographic archives is currently available online for public consultation.
Undigitized photographs are inventoried at only a basic level (see below under Finding Aids) and may be accessed upon request by contacting: archives@unesco.org
Conditions governing reproduction
UNESCO photographs are the exclusive or non-exclusive property of UNESCO or third party copyright holders. Prior written permission is required to reproduce UNESCO archival materials in print or electronic format in low or high resolutions. Permissions are granted on a one-time non-exclusive basis and may be renewed. No rights granted to the requestor may be assigned, loaned or transferred to any third party.
UNESCO cannot give or deny permission to reproduce or distribute photos found in its archives for which it does not own full copyright. It is the user's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions when reproducing or distributing materials found in UNESCO's archives.
To obtain permission to reproduce UNESCO images, please contact: publication.copyright@unesco.org. Include the link or code of the photo and the intended use. Third party permission forms are not accepted. For general questions about UNESCO photo archives, please contact: archives@unesco.org.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
AG 12/3: Register of Negatives, 1945-
AG 12/3: Register of Diapositives/Slides
AG 12/3: Transfer lists for OPI/PHOTO.1 - UNESCO events and activities - prints (1944-1996)
AG 12/3: Transfer lists for OPI/PHOTO.2 - UNESCO General Conferences - negatives (1958-1980)
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Revised