Collection Description
The Map Collection has an almost-complete set
of aerial photographs covering Erie and Niagara counties for the years
1927-1928, 1966, and 1978. These were produced by the Fairchild Aerial
Survey, Inc. Sherman M(ills) Fairchild, who was born in New York State,
took great interest in the role of airplanes and photography. His
company, Fairchild Aerial Survey, Inc., produced thousands of aerial photographs
of the United States and Mexico. Its vast collection has been dissipated
and collections of these photos are in libraries across the country. One
of the largest collections of Fairchild aerial photos is the Fairchild
Aerial Photography Collection at Whittier College 1.
The Smithsonian Institution, National
Air and Space Museum also has a large collection of Fairchild and
USGS aerial photos.
Technical Note on the Photographs
The collection
is made up of contact proofs of the negatives that were shot. These vary
in quality and some contain imperfections caused by the processing of these
contacts. Also, some frames are missing from the collection. These prints
were given to the University Libraries "as is" and what was missing
when we received them cannot be replaced (neither can any of the existing
images if lost).
Requesting Aerial Photographs
For this reason,
requests to obtain copies of aerial photographs must be made through the
Map Collection. You may set up an appointment to view and locate photographs.
We will make either photocopies of the selected images or scanned electronic
files. The e-files will be made available on the Index
of UB Aerial Photographs for you to download. Please check this page
before making a request. It is possible that the locations that you need
are already available.
Other Aerial Photographs & Satellite Imagery
In addition, the Map Collection contains a
small collection of miscellaneous satellite imagery of United States cities.
Contact the UGL/SEL Reference Desk
by calling 645-2945 or via e-mail at askASL@buffalo.edu to set up an appointment to access the aerial photos. There are also 10-meter
resolution satellite images of the entire U.S. on the Map
Room computer workstation.
Other sources of satellite imagery are available on the Internet. See: Map & Satellite
Images Online for a selection.
Additional
links
Other photograph collections of Erie County aerial photographs are at the Erie
County Aerial Photographs (Erie County
Public Works Dept.) website. Currently has 1920s and 1951.
A source for Canadian aerial photography is
the National
Air Photo Library (Natural Resources
Canada). Extensive aerial and high-altitude images of Canada. Find
digital copies of images and order photos. Also has resources on aerial
photography, including: Introduction
to Air Photo Interpretation, a page that explains how to 'read'
these photographs.
Another resource is the Five Minute Aerial Tutorial (UCSC).
Aerial Photograph Collections in Other Institutions (Selected List)
Listed alphabetically by country or state, then by city or county, etc. Most are vertical aerial/satellite images, but a few oblique or selective collections are here because of their usefulness.
- Australia: Aerial Photographs Collection at the National Library
- California Air Photo Database (USC Berkeley). State photos and some non-California aerials (including foreign locations).
- California Aerial Photo Collection (UC Davis). Also has list of links to other states.
- California Aerial Photograph Collection (CSU Northridge). San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County images.
- California: Humboldt County (Humboldt State Univ.).
- Canada: National Air Photo Library (Natural Resources Canada).
- Canada: Aerial Photographs of Cities and Towns across Canada (Waite Air Photos).
- Canada: Ontario: Niagara Region: Aerial Photographs in the Niagara Falls Public Library (581 views). Database of thousands of photos from various periods. (Digital Collections page)
- Canada: Prince Edward Island. Browse Photographs by Community.
- Colorado: Aerial Photographs of Colorado (U of Colorado, Boulder). 1,700+ digitized aerials of Colorado taken by the U.S. Forest Service, 1938 to 1947. Also links to other Colorado sites.
- Connecticut: MAGIC: Map and Geographic Information Center (UCONN). Wonderful collection and online site. Collections of state agencies can also be accessed here.
- Denmark Aerial Photograph Collection (National Library). Over 4 million images and negatives.
- Florida Aerial Maps (University of Florida). Coverage of most of state.
- Great Britain: Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph Collection. 1 million aerial photographs and negatives covering the whole of Scotland, 1940s to the present.
- Illinois Air Photo Imagebase (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
- Illinois: Digital Archive of Illinois Historical Aerial Photographs (Illinois State Geological Survey).
- Israel: Historical Aerial Photograph Collection
- Louisiana State Aerial Photograph Collection. (LOUISiana Digital Library)
- Louisiana: New Orleans (1949) (1960). Small collection.
- Massachusetts: Boston: MIT Digital Ortho Photo Archive. Shows: Boston area digital orthophotos at several different zoom levels, with pan, zoom, and download functionality. Digital orthos provide detailed imagery with known and consistent coordinates.
- Mexico: Mexico City: Aerial Photographs. Various shots taken by an aerial photographer. Not the usual aerials, but very good for locating specific scenes of the city.
- Michigan: Detroit Area (Wayne State).
- Minnesota Aerial Photography Index.
Coverage for the state of Minnesota only, with
photos for all counties (1936 to date).
- New Mexico (New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources). Contact only. Collection not available online.
- Oklahoma Aerial Photographs (OK Dept. of Libraries).
- Oregon: Selected Locations (U of Oregon).
- United States and North America: NOAA Photo Library. Has aerial and remote-sensing images.
- Wales Aerial Photograph Sites on the Web. Cities and towns, mines, other features photographed from the air.
The Fairchild Aerial Photography
Collection at Whittier College is one of the largest libraries of aerial
photographs in North America. The Collection is estimated to consist of
at least 500,000 items, including prints, negatives, photoindices, and photomosaics.
All of the photographs in the Collection were produced by Fairchild Aerial
Surveys, Inc., or its subsidiaries and contractors during the period of
1927-1965, and are mostly black-and-white, vertical images.
Further Information and Donations
Request
If you need further assistance, please contact
the UGL/SEL Reference Desk by calling 645-2945 or via e-mail at askASL@buffalo.edu. If
you have aerial photographs or maps that you wish to donate to the UB Map Collection,
or would be willing to loan to the Collection for creating copies, please contact
us. Thank you. |
