About the project | Copyright | How to order reproductions | Contact us | Processing notes | Technical information | Preferred citation | Send us feedback | Back to home page

About the project

This collaborative effort began in the fall of 2000. Twelve representatives from the Wichita Public Library, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and the Wichita State University Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives, met to discuss the creation of a single Web-based source where researchers could view and study images of Wichita.

A smaller subcommittee representing the three participating repositories was formed in early 2001. This subcommittee was charged with the selection of images for the project as well as the application of technical standards, preparation of image descriptions (metadata), submission of digital images, configuration of the prototype and expanded Web site, and investigation of site hosting opportunities. This subcommittee was responsible for the expansion of the Web site from 150 images to over 1000 images. Over the next 18 months, the project fulfilled its goals and developed into the present Web site.

In April 2002, the Kansas Library Network Board awarded a $15,000 grant to the Wichita Photo Archives. Wichita physician James C. Mershon, M.D., and other private donors also contributed funds toward the project.

The Wichita Photo Archives has enhanced the active cooperation between the three participating repositories, provides access to images unique to Wichita that have value in documenting the area's history, and is intended to increase the general public's awareness of local history resources.

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Copyright

The partners in this project are providing access to these materials for educational and research purposes. Downloading materials from this Web site for personal use with proper attribution of the source is permitted;  however, this does not grant permission to publish.

Fair Use provisions of the United States Copyright Law allow people and organizations to reproduce copyrighted materials under certain circumstances. For example, copying may be considered fair use for the purpose of criticism, comment, teaching, scholarship or research. Activities such as publishing (including Web publishing), commercial products, broadcast, and other uses that do not fall under provision of Fair Use require written permission.

For copyright information about specific images found on these Web pages, please contact the appropriate repository.

When permission is granted to examine the images, it is not an authorization to publish them. Images cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.

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How to order reproductions

Photographic and digital reproductions are available from the individual repositories. Please check the description accompanying the image for the repository name and call number. Click for fee schedule for digital image processing and commercial use.

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Contact us

Wichita Public Library
711 W. 2nd
Wichita, KS 67203
e-mail: reference@wichitalibrary.org

Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
204 South Main
Wichita, KS 67202
e-mail: jtracy@wichitahistory.org

Special Collections and University Archives
Wichita State University Libraries
1845 Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0068
Contact Special Collections

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Processing Notes

• The record for each image contains these elements from the Open Archives Initiative: Title/Object Name, Creator, Date Original, Physical Details, Description, Keywords, Subject, Type, Collection Name, Repository Name, Date Digital, and Identifier.
• In many cases, the photographer (creator) was unknown.
• Date of image reflects the content if the exact date is not known. "Circa" signifies an approximate date. Exact dates if known are noted in the image descriptions.
• Any accompanying text or identification is noted in the descriptions.
• Standardized keywords are included in each record. These standard terms form the basis for the "Browse subject categories" section.
• Versos of images were not scanned.
  
• The Web site is best viewed in 800 x 600 monitor resolution.

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Technical information

The digital images were created by scanning the original images on flatbed scanners. Each repository was responsible for creating its own master images using standardized resolution per Colorado Digitization Standards and file format (TIFF). For Web presentation, access and thumbnail display images were created. The images were not enhanced or altered in any way. The metadata resides in a Microsoft Access database. The site is best viewed at 800 x 600 monitor resolution.

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Preferred citation

When using materials from this collection, please acknowledge their source by clearly stating the name of the collection in which you found the materials and the appropriate repository as well as the URL (Web address) of the Web page on which you found them.