The VCU Libraries is pleased to announce the release of a new addition to the VCU Libraries Digital Collections: the Richmond Commission of Architectural Review Slide Collection.
The collection contains more than 7,000 color photographs of the city of Richmond. Taken over a period from 1965 to 2000, these images document many of the changes within the city. In some cases the images serve as a record for properties that have since been either renovated or demolished. Ranging from close-ups of architectural details and shots of single buildings to photos of entire city blocks and aerial shots, the subjects depicted include office buildings, houses, warehouses, construction sites, alleys, storefronts, historical buildings, cemeteries, gardens, and garages.
The photographs were scanned by the VCU Libraries from color slides. The slides were taken under the auspices of the Secretary to the Commission, a position housed in the Richmond Department of Community Development. The images were used for monthly Commission meetings, and were taken prior to meetings to document existing conditions of buildings and other structures before review. They show how the structures looked before rehabilitation or reconstruction.
Visit the VCU Libraries Digital Collections for more treasures from the VCU Libraries.