Reference Services for Non-Textual Materials

Non-Textual Materials provides reference services to the general public, historians, genealogists, publishers, interior designers, advertising agencies, news agencies, and any other individuals or entities desiring to use the collections. Researchers should contact the Non-Textual Materials Archivist in advance of a visit. Often our staff is able to assist researchers by e-mail and telephone, and an in-person visit may not be required. We can make copies of most of the photographs, images, videos, and digital media in our collections for reasonable fees, and we work with local vendors to provide copies of analog audio and motion picture film as necessary.

Notice: As of July 1, 2012, the Division of Archives and Records will no longer offer traditional photographic prints due to the decline in requests, expense of maintaining the necessary machinery, and the increased difficulty in acquiring and maintaining the chemicals needed for the printing process. Scans and digital prints are still available along with other digital services. See our fee schedule for more information.

Other Services

Negatives: Currently, black and white photographic negatives comprise the bulk of the Non-Textual Materials Unit's holdings and number more than one million in quantity. The negative collection includes thousands of images photographed by division photographers from the early 1950s to the present, thousands of historical and family images the public has graciously brought to our attention and allowed us to copy, as well as negatives made by staff photographers of the Raleigh News and Observer from 1938 to 1989. The negative collections are partially accessible through the State Archives Online MARS Catalog and through a tradition card catalog on site at the State Archives. Please contact the Non-Textual materials Unit for research in the negative collections.

Finding Aids: Finding aids for some non-textual materials have been put into Encoded Archival Description.

Online Catalog: Information concerning non-textual materials can also be found via the MARS Catalog.

Roster: The Roster of North Carolina Photographers provides a list of photographers names.

Photo Gallery: Selected images are available online in the Online Photo Gallery and on our State Archives of North Carolina Flickr site.

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Contact Information and Hours

Please contact Kim Cumber, Non-Textual Materials Archivist, before your visit. Non-Textual Materials is presently not equipped to handle walk-ins. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Your experience with our Non-Textual Materials will be greatly enhanced if the staff has adequate time to fully address your research needs.

Hours of Operation

Tuesday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm by appointment only

The unit is closed to the public Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and state government recognized holidays.

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Links to Other Non-Textual Resources

Online Photo Gallery
Selected photographs, posters, maps, and documents from a variety of archival and photographic collections.

State Archives of North Carolina on Flickr

Roster of North Carolina Photographers: 1842-1941
Alphabetical listing of North Carolina photographers.

Outer Banks History Center
The holdings of the Outer Banks History Center in Maneto (OBHC) include 30,000 photographs, 5,500 maps and charts, and a variety of paintings, drawings, prints, audio and video recordings, and ephemera. While the holdings of the OBHC are a major source of information about the Outer Banks, they also encompass many topics pertaining to North Carolina.

North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The holdings of this collection exceed 400,000 images with themes relating to North Carolina rural life, agriculture, industry, transportation, social and religious life and minority populations. Also, the Photographic Archives holds a number of historical images documenting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

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Last Modified: 07/27/2012