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Syracuse University Lantern Slide Collection

An inventory of the collection at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Natalie Pace
Date: 2019

Historical Note

The Lantern Slide Collection was created and compiled by various sources connected to Syracuse University, notably Thomas Cramer Hopkins. Hopkins served as a professor at Syracuse University and was head of the Geology Department from 1900 to 1931 when he retired. Other photographs of Syracuse University and the city of Syracuse were created by brothers Clarence and Edgar Brown. The various slides were likely compiled over many years for use in the Syracuse University Geology Department and classes.

Another section of slides are all of Yates Castle. Yates Castle construction was completed in 1855 for Cornelius T. Longstreet, who traded the house to Alonzo Yates in 1867. The Yates family then lived in the castle until 1898. Syracuse University purchased the castle in 1905. The castle was occupied over the years by Slocum Teachers College, the School of Journalism, as well as professors and special students. In 1954 Yates Castle was demolished in order to make room for the expansion of SUNY Upstate Medical School.

Scope and Content Note

The Lantern Slide Collection contains over two thousand slides. The slides cover a period of approximately 80 years, and depict both national and international geographic features and landscapes, including locations in China and Italy. Heavily represented locations in the collection include Syracuse University, Yates Castle, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming and Alaska, and waterfalls and mountains of New York state. Recurrent geographic features include volcanoes, acts of wind/water erosion, mountain ranges, and natural bridges. The Syracuse University images include photographs of the campus and buildings, as well as architectural drawings of various locations at the university. The vast majority of the images are black and white, although there are a small number of hand-colored slides.

Alternative Formats

All materials in this collection have been scanned.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

This collection is restricted due to the fragile nature of the materials.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The University Archives holds other collections of slides and photographic material, the Syracuse University Slide Collection and Syracuse University Photograph Collection. The University Archives also holds collections related to the Geology Department, Geology Department Records and Thomas Cramer Hopkins Papers.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Hopkins, Thomas Cramer, 1861-1935.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.
Syracuse University. Department of Geology.

Subjects

College buildings.
College campuses.
Geology.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Lantern slides.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Syracuse University Lantern Slide Collection,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The Lantern Slide Collection has been assembled by Archives staff from multiple donations and transfers over the years.

Processing Information

Lantern slides were enclosed in individual four flap enclosures and placed in boxes.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged by subject.

Table of Contents

Lantern slides

Inventory