Scope and Contents: The John T. Seyfried Photograph Collection comprises prints, negatives, slides and transparencies produced by Seyfied for Oberlin College as freelance work. They cover college events, people, buildings, performances, and guest visitors to campus in the 1980s through the 2000s. Many of the images were used by the Office of Communications for college publications. The collection is arranged in three series.
Series 1. Prints, 1997 and undated, (0.8 l.f.)
The prints in Series 1 are those images most likely used in college publications. They are nearly all in 8 x 10-inch format, with some in 5 x 7 inches, in color, and black and white. Music, theater and dance performance photographs predominate. Nearly all of the prints are undated.
Series 2. Negatives with or without Contact Sheets and Prints, 1985-90,
1992-2000, 2002-2007, 2010, n.d. (1.6 l.f.)
Prints, contact sheets and negatives were kept together in original order in this series. The bulk of the series comprises negatives arranged by Seyfried by cut rolls of film which did not have corresponding prints or contact sheets. The negatives, in 35 mm and 2 1/4-inch formats, are restricted from handling without permission from the College Archivist. Seyfried enclosed them in negative envelopes with identifying notes. This series holds the majority of the collection.
Series 3. Slides and Transparencies, 1987, 1998, n.d.
The slides were taken of Archbishop Desmond Tutu as commencement speaker in 1987, and two Conservatory faculty in 1998. The transparencies, accompanying negatives and contact sheets are views of the campus. The transparencies are color, 2 1/2 inches square.