Columbia Plastic, Undated

The William F. Patterson Photograph Collection is a representation of the lifework of the Dayton-area commercial photographer. The images include items, people, and buildings he photographed for commercial clients such as Antioch Company, Danis Corp., GM Goodwrench, motivational speaker Raymond Montsalvatge, and prominent Dayton architects William Yeck and Richard Neutra. This collection also consists of images from Patterson's travels throughout Europe and North America, as well as many images of the Dayton area, including the Dayton skyline, Woodland Cemetery, the University of Dayton, Wright State University, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Also included in the collection are local advertising publications from the 1960s through the 1980s that feature Patterson's photographs and writing.

The William F. Patterson Photograph Collection is alphabetized whenever possible. Many of the sleeved images are identified individually along the edge of the sleeve sheet. Any unmarked and/or unidentified sleeves are placed at the end of a folder containing related material or in a miscellaneous folder within the series.

Series I, Commercial Photographs, contains commercial slides, negatives, transparencies, and photographs taken between 1979 and 1996 for client advertising material. It is arranged alphabetically, with no dividers between subjects, and it contains advertising images for the Air Force Officers' Club Menu, Antioch Company, and GM Goodwrench.

Series II, Architect Photographs, contains a variety of architectural photographs, negatives, slides, and transparencies taken by Patterson for various architects. It is divided into two subseries, and it is organized alphabetically, with no dividers between subjects. Subseries IIA, Danis, contains images of the Danis Corporation, the primary client represented in this series from 1984 to 1988. Patterson photographed Danis Corporation itself, as well as the many architectural structures the company constructed. The boxes are organized according to specific architectural endeavors, including Bethany Lutheran Village, Citizens Federal Bank, Columbus Zoo, Danis Corp. Building, Dayton International Airport, Friendship Village, Good Samaritan Hospital, Greene Memorial Hospital, Rt. 35 construction, University of Dayton and Dayton's VA Hospital. Subseries IIB, Other Architects, contains other architects who were Patterson clients, including Eugene Betz, Charles Morris, Richard Neutra, architect of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and Bill Yeck, prominent Dayton architect and founder of Centerville's Park District.

Series III, Dayton Photographs, contains photographs, slides, transparencies, and negatives from Dayton and the immediate area, taken from 1972 to 1989. There are many images of Dayton's skyline, as well as historic areas, local neighborhoods, the University of Dayton, and Wright State University. Sleeves that are labeled in Box 13 are organized alphabetically according to location with no dividers, while sleeves in Box 14 are divided by subject matter.

Series IV, Travel Photographs, contains slides, negatives, photographs, and transparencies covering travel throughout Europe and North America that primarily took place during the 1970s and 1980s. There are images of the landscape and architecture of Norway, Sweden, Italy, Great Britain, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, The Virgin Islands, the United States, and Canada. The images of the United States include Ohio, the Grand Canyon, Mt. Ranier, and covered bridges. All images are organized according to country.

Series V, Recreation Photographs, contains slides, negatives, photographs, and transparencies that depict various recreational activities, including boating, sports, the Cincinnati Bengals training camp, the space shuttle Enterprise in 1983, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Series VI, Other Photographs, contains slides, negative, transparencies, and photographs primarily depicting animals, nature, schools, cemeteries, and people from 1967 to 1989. There are images of President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn, as well as motivational speaker Raymond Montsalvatge. Images of specific people in Box 26, File 3 are organized alphabetically with no dividers; however, images of Raymond Montsalvatge are filed separately in Box 27, File 1.

Series VII, General Papers, contains a variety of printed material from Patterson's professional career, including issues of the professional advertising newsletter Ad-Viser, which feature Patterson's column "Bill's Board." It also includes issues of the publication Dayton USA, which showcase some of Patterson's photographs in its advertisements. This series also contains correspondence and printed material related to the career of motivational speaker Raymond Montsalvatge.