IWM Photographic collection

[pietro]

Hi,

Following on from my question about accommodation near the Imperial War Museum, has anyone any advice or experience regarding the photographic collection? I have some reference numbers of images that I want to look up, but I have no experience of how they have the collection organised or catalogued. Anyone been there, got the T-shirt, etc?

TIA,

Peter

[Sue Light]

Peter

I've been there recently. It's fairly 'low tech'. The photographic archive is in one large room, full of library type shelves, with the images contained in 'albums' and arranged on the shelves by range of image numbers. You need to phone them to book an appointment, and if you tell them roughly what you're looking for, when you arrive you'll be pointed in the right direction to find the numbers you need. But you're quite free to browse around and look at anything you want, but unless you actually have some image numbers you'll need to ask for advice. Of course there's so much there it's difficult not to get sidetracked. The main drawback is that there are no facilities for eating/drinking there, so you'll need to walk back to the IWM (or elsewhere) when you need feeding. It's hard to tear yourself away, so make sure you stop off and have a full breakfast and a pint of tea before you start!

Sue

[armourersergeant]

Peter,

Ditto Sue.

You can photocopy images and the staff were on my visits friendly and helpful, but not in your face.

I always drop a tenner in the donations box as the photocopying is free, unless the 'rules' have changed.

regards

Arm

[pietro]

Thanks for the replies Sue and Arm, I'm glad to hear its low tech, so there might be the possibility of discovering something by accident rather than checking a giant database.

I now realise my previous hotel question should have included a requirement for suitable early morning calorie intake!

Regards,

Peter

[ororkep]

Woa… slow down…"photocopying is free"?

Then there has been a big change,

Photocopies are now 40p each (upto A3) payable in advance. That is per page of an item, and not a spread, even if a spread of a book will fit comfortably on an A4 page. If over a certain quantity then you have to wait until they can do them for you and post them on to you, postage is free or you can collect. This can take upto a week. You also have to be escorted to and from the library room so best eat/drink first. Cameras for digital copies are not allowed but are in the actual museum. Some people were using laptops when I was there only last week. Also be aware that the copyright laws are strick and you have to sign a disclaimer, eg you can only photocopy i think it was 5% of a book or one chapter if there is a named author who has not been dead for 70 years. The silly thing is that you can transcribe as much of the same book as you want on your laptop if you had the time. Even having the references from the internet site you still had to fill in request cards for each item, which the on site operative sourced and brought to your alloted table, but this did not take long.

Rgds Paul

[bmac]

For details about visiting the IWM photo library go here: http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1249

and here: http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.694

To search the photo archive on line go here: http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/qryPhotoImg.asp

To order photographs go here: http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.692

For information about the use of photographs go here: http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.693

Also, although Paul mentions that digital cameras are OK in the main museum that does not apply to the library where pencil/paper and photocopying are the only options.

[awakefield]

Hi Folks

As a curator in the Photo Archive I notice that there appears to be some confusion creeping in regarding the Photograph Archive and the main IWM Reading Room. The latter is in the main building and is shared by the Depts of Documents and Printed Books. Most of the material is stored away from the Reading Room - hense the need for chits as one of these has to be left on the shelf when something is moved from the store. Also, they do charge 40p for photocopying.

The Photograph Archive's Visitor Room is located in the All Saints Annex building on Austral Street - just off St Georges Road, 5 min walk from the main IWM building. Anyone wanting to visit should call 020 7416 5333 to make an appointment - please bear in mind we are only open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week (main Reading Room is open Mon - Sat). Most of the British, Australian and Canadian official photographs are held in albums in the Visitor Room - additional foreign official and some private collections are held in an on site store (other material, mainly original private albums, are held at off site but can be made available in London on request). Photocopying of reference prints is generally allowed and the cost is 10p per A4 sheet. The photocopier is coin operated and takes anything from 5p upwards - however, it does not give change. Also, the Photo Archive is unable to provide change as our cash till has been removed, so come with plenty of coins or you'll have to walk to the shop on St Georges Road to get change! Copies of photographs can be ordered either as prints of digital image files. The latter option is only available for material that has already been scanned (those images viewable via www.iwmcollections.org.uk). Payment for photographic orders is OK by either cheque or card. There is a kitchen in the All Saints building with, table, kettle, filter water machine. This can be used by visitors but you will have to provide your own food.

If anyone has additional questions feel free to ask.

ALAN

[Jim Strawbridge]

If anyone has additional questions feel free to ask.

ALAN

Alan, If someone wishes to use photographs from the IWM collection in a publication how does one go about it? Is copyright totally with the IWM or does it depend on how the IWM originally received them? What is the cost for reproducing photographs if permission is given? Thank you, Jim

[awakefield]

Hi Jim

The majority of photographs held by IWM have repro rights administered directly through the museum. We hold some press agency material (mostly WWII vintage), which we cannot license for use but will let an enquirer know who holds the copyright. There are also one or two private collections where donors have not handed over rights. Should you select images from these collections we would let you know the situation and you would have to draft a letter to the donor stating which images you wish to use and for what purpose. This letter would be sent in to the Photo Archive and we would then forward it.

Re Reproduction fees: There should be some information and scale of standard rates on the IWM website. However, publication projects with small print runs or for special interest groups are generally dealt with on a case by case basis. The best person to contact about this is our Licensing Manager, Yvonne Oliver (020 7416 5464). Once you know the number of images to be used, contact Yvonne with the details and info on the project (book print run etc) and she will get back to you with a costing. Sometimes letters of waiver are issued for small projects. In this case it is generally only needed to credit the images as coming from the IWM.

Hope this provides the info you need.

Regards

ALAN

[bmac]

Can I just say that with reference to Alan's point about their flexibility when it comes to reproduction fees they were certainly very helpful on my books which may not be 'small projects' as far as the end product is concerned but definitely are in terms of sales!