Other Finding Aids

The photographs are indexed in a database, which is available in the Archives Department. The database includes the following fields:

Field Name

Description

Serial Number

Original customer order number assigned by Kwasniewski, sometimes ending with an "A" or "B." The significance of these ending characters is unclear. Archives staff assigned numbers beginning with "A" to unnumbered photographs (e.g., A08036).

Additionally, staff frequently added a suffix to serial numbers to indicate the topical heading, or subdivision thereof, to which the photograph was assigned. This suffix consists of a hyphen followed by a number (e.g., -1). For example, serial number 15913-1 is associated with topical heading 5E1, "Weddings—Bride"; 15913-2 with 5E2, "Weddings—Bride and groom"; and 15913-3 with 5E5, "Weddings—Other." There is no logical relationship between suffixes and topic heading codes.

The topic heading code does not always indicate a subdivision when one exists. For example, photographs 31390-1 and 31390-2 are both assigned to topic heading 5A, "Anniversaries." Photos associated with 31390-1 show couples, while those associated with 31390-2 show groups. A subdivision is clearly implied by the presence of a suffix, but in this case is not represented in the topic heading schema.

Name

The content of this field is ambiguous. It may refer to the name of either the customer or subject (name of the individual or group or description of the scene depicted in the photograph).

Address

The content of this field is ambiguous. It may refer to the address of either the customer or the location depicted in the image. Note: The City of Milwaukee changed street names and the street numbering system in 1930. The database contains the original street addresses prior to 1930. Therefore, it is important to check the date of the image to verify the address. The Milwaukee City Directories are helpful for verification.

Date

The date on which the photograph was taken or developed. Many of the photographs are undated; others are dated only to the month and day, but not the year. However, in many cases the specific year of the image can be ascertained through the serial number. See the Guide for Dating Photographs by Serial Numbers elsewhere in this finding aid.

Topic

Each image was assigned a topical heading code. See the Guide to Topic Headings elsewhere in this finding aid.

Print

Indicates the availability of a photographic print that matches the negative -- y (yes) or n (no). Oversize items have been assigned an alphanumeric code to indicate the approximate size. Many oversize items are photographs mounted on board. Oversize items up to 12" x 14" are coded as "o1"; items from 8" x 20" to 10" x 22 1/2" are "o2"; items measuring approximately 16" x 20" are "o3"; items measuring approximately 10" x 28 1/2" are "o4"; and items measuring 30" or more on any side are "o5".

Documents

Indicates if a document was included in the original customer order -- y (yes) or n (no).

Dimensions

Dimensions of the negatives and slides. Dimensions are not provided for prints.

Quantity

The number of images associated with a particular serial number.

Form

The form of the photograph or photographs. Values are: "Safety film negatives," "Nitrate negatives," "Glass negatives," "Lantern slides," and "Photographic prints."

Condition

Condition of damaged glass negatives or lantern slides. Values are: "Cracked" and "Broken." Condition is not provided for prints and undamaged glass negatives and lantern slides.

Item Location

Container in which the photograph or set of photographs associated with a single serial number is housed.