USDA National Agricultural Library Photograph Collection

The USDA National Agricultural Library Photograph Collection contains approximately 16,000 photographs of activities and events that took place at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, Maryland. The photographs are housed in 116 albums, and include prints, negatives, and contact sheets. Photographs were primarily taken by NAL photographer Joseph Swab, as well as other photographers, including Dan Starr, who photographed from 1989 to 1993. Subjects include the NAL building and renovation efforts, employees, meetings, events, and exhibits. The bulk of the materials were produced between 1987 and 1998. Additionally, Swab served as editor of NAL's newsletter, Agricultural Libraries Information Notes (ALIN), and collected photographs and negatives used for the production of ALIN from 1985 to 1997. The entire photograph collection was transferred to NAL's Special Collections for preservation upon Swab's retirement in 2003.