The repository that I chose to explore was the UCLA historic photographs collection. A majority of the photographs in this collection were taken by Thelner Hoover who has documented the history of university since it’s inception. The images in the archive range from the State Normal School in 1925 through 1982. One interesting aspect of his photography is that many of his images are aerial documentations of the university, a more uncommon technique for early times. Through the archive I could tell many stories that reflect upon UCLA’s growth throughout the years. Some of the photographs include in this repository include alumni events on lake arrowhead, sorority composites, and photos building being completed. Though initially the images focus on the university and how the campus has changed since the early 20th century, the breadth of the collection goes beyond the school. Not only dose the archive have early images of the campus but the photo collection also has early images of Westwood Village and surrounding neighborhoods. Many famous figures, specifically figures whom have been associated with the inception of UCLA are also documented in the collection, such as donors and important professors. Because the scope of what has been included in the collection is so large one could include pieces of this collection in various different narratives. Possible narratives include the growth of the school, the growth of the city of Los Angeles, how neighborhoods have grown to change in Los Angeles in the past 100 years or so, or one could even reference this collection when exploring a specific donor or professor who played a large role in UCLAs existence. Some narratives that would not be possible to tell through this collection include any questions on what the interior of many of the buildings on the campus look like or basic data regarding the school or what it was like during the specific times. Also, many of the photographs have no information attached to them. Most pieces of media only have a date and a basic description of the subject. There are also many images of people who do not have indicators who the people in the image actually are. One means of fixing this is to reference other collections of photographs of the university. Also by exploring written records of the university would help to complete many narratives that could be explored through the records.
