Subseries II-D: Numeric Photographs (NUML-P), circa 1930s - circa 1950s
Scope and Contents
Subseries II-D: Numeric Photographs contains only black and white photographs, most of which date to the earlier part of the collection's overall span, and most of which concern topics of less enduring interest. (These are files that appear to have been seldom, if ever, referred to after their initial filing. Files that were frequently recalled were eventually re-classified and refiled into one of the other subseries, usually Alphanumeric, as demonstrated by the presence of numeric codes on the backs of many photographs in other subseries).
Dates
- Creation: circa 1930s - circa 1950s
Creator
- From the Collection: Dayton daily news (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
The Dayton Daily News Archive is stored off-site. Please contact the Archives staff at 937-775-2092 or library-archives@wright.edu with your research topic at least three business days in advance of visiting to allow time to retrieve files.
Extent
5 linear feet (5 record center boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Arrangement
The (Journal Herald) Numeric subseries is arranged numerically, with each subject file assigned a 4-to-6 digit number code (e.g., 9,888 or 101,135), presumably in numerical order as the files were created or received in the newspaper's archive. These files are included in the same card file index as the (Journal Herald) Alphanumeric files. The card file was converted to a database by Wright State, which is available in the archives to aid in using this subseries. The database indicates the file number at which a particular subject file may be found.
This subseries was physically subdivided according to size, originally by the newspaper. Files that are "large" or perhaps "letter" size correspond to the size code "L" in the card index/ database and are stored in record center boxes with prefix code NUML. These are the files that are in this subseries.
Files that are "card" size (about 5" x 8") correspond to the size code "C" in the card index/ database and are stored in record center boxes with the prefix code NUMC-S. However, the Numeric card-size subject files contained only clippings and were weeded in 2024.
Files in the card index/ database that are stated to be in "O" or Oversize, should be looked for in Black and White or Alphanumeric oversize files, as the Numeric oversize files no longer exist as a distinct entity.
Typically, the file number is written on the back of the individual photographs. Sometimes, a notation such as "H 12-19-34" or "J 8-15-41" may be written on the backs of the photos as well. This is likely the date of publication and whether the photo was published in the Journal or the Herald, which were separate (but related) newspapers until they merged fully in the late 1940s.
Appraisal
In 2023-2024, this subseries was weeded (reappraised) to remove photographs created by external news agencies, such as the Associated Press, United Press International, World Wide News, etc. This reappraisal and weeding was completed by Lisa Rickey.
In Summer 20024, following reappraisal and discussion with Cox Media, all newspaper clippings were discarded. In the Journal Herald Numeric subseries, this included all of the card-size files (which contained only clippings), as well as the clippings-only files from the large files.
Processing Information
People files that were originally filed in the Numeric Files were removed in 2022 and integrated into the Personality Files.
People files from the NUML files will be integrated into the Personality Large (PL) files, and people files from the NUMC (card size) files are integrated into the Personality Medium (PM) files, because these sizes match one another (NUML and PL both being 9"x12" files, NUMC and PM both being 5"x8" files).
The newspaper had begun interfiling the people files from the numeric files into the alphabetical Personality Files this process before the collection was acquired by Wright State, and Wright State finished the integration.
Genre / Form
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
