The negatives transferred from the International Harvester Company were originally part of the picture files of various photo, publication, and engineering departments. Activities of these departments included the production of corporate publications such as Harvester World, U.S. Tractor Farming, sales literature, operator's manuals, parts catalogs, posters and ephemera, annual reports, and educational materials for use by the extension and other IHC divisions.
The over 12,000 large-format negatives were arranged in negative number order and microfilmed. A 35 mm reduction negative was created for each microfilmed image by direct-duplicate copying and an additional 4×5" copy negative was created for approximately 3200 of the more exceptional or significant images. About 4000 of the original negatives were printed and these prints have been organized into eighteen subject lots. Most of the prints are 11×14", however some were printed as 8×10", usually in cases where the negative has not been retained.
Described in more detail below are the eighteen subject photo lots and the microfilm. A portion of the original glass negatives have been retained as have the reduction negatives and the 3200 copy negatives. Additional photos and microfilm document work done on the collection. The original negatives, reduction negatives, copy negatives, and additional photos and microfilm are not described below but are recorded in the catalog entry only.
