FAQ
About the Collection:
What types of vintage photographs are available in this digital library?
This digital library has photographs and postcards from the 1940s-1960s. All of the photographs were taken in Florida, and focus on underwater/water, and beach tourism themes. Photographs that were taken in the same location, or have a similar theme are grouped together in a collection. You can access collections by clicking the "Browse Collections" tab.
Where do the photographs come from? Are they sourced from archives, personal collections, or public records?
All of the photographs on this site are in the public domain and were sourced from a variety of different materials including other digital libraries/archives, books, and public records.
How are the images curated and selected for inclusion?
All of our images were selected with a clear guideline in mind:
1) They must be from the 1940s-1960s.
2) The overall aesthetic and "aboutness" must align with the mission of our project.
3) The images must be available for public use.
Usage and Access:
Can I download or print the photographs from the website?
Yes! All of these images are in the public domain, which is why our digital library site is able to use them. Because all of the images are in the public domain, you are free to download and print the photographs for any use (personal, commercial, etc.).
How do I cite or attribute a photograph from this collection?
If citing a photograph from this collection, you should first say where you accessed it from (example: Vintage Florida Digital Library). The majority of the items in our collection are found from other collections and digital archives, and that information can be found in the metadata description below each image file. You would also need to cite this source.
Preservation & Quality:
How are the photographs preserved and digitized?
The majority of the photographs on this site were taken from other digital archives, and had already been scanned and edited to their maximum quality. Some of the images on this site have also been scanned from books, and to ensure their quality we edited them slightly using a photo editor application. For preservation purposes, our team holds two different files of an image: a master file and a working file. The working files are the jpeg images you see on the site, and our master files are stored on a personal server.
Are the images enhanced or edited in any way?
Yes, some images may be enhanced or edited, especially since Omeka has specific requirements. However, all editing is done to preserve the original quality and aboutness of an image.
Contributions & Community:
Can I submit vintage photographs to be included in the digital library?
Yes! If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns, you can contact us at VintageFloridaDL@fsu.edu. We would be more than happy to take a look at any photographs you think would be a great addition to our site.
Is there a way to discuss or share information about specific images with other users?
As of right now, there are no forums or commenting enabled on our site. If we get feedback from users who want these features, our developers can certainly look into adding them!
Search & Navigation:
How do I search for photographs by date, location, subject, or photographer?
To the top right of every webpage, you will see a search bar. Click on the 3 dots next to the magnifying glass icon and there will be a dropdown menu for different search types; click the option that says "Advanced Search (Items only)." From there, you will see the advanced search page, where you can search for keywords, search by collection, etc. In the section that says "Narrow by specific fields" you can click a dropdown menu that will allow you to search by title, location, date, etc. We have also generated tags, which you can browse by clicking "Browse Tags underneath both the Browse Collections and Browse Items pages.
Because the photographs on our site are fairly niche, here are a list of common search terms you can enter to help you get started on your journey:
Mermaids, WeekiWachee, Silver Springs, Beach, 1940s(50s, 60s, etc.), Aqua Maids, Canoeing.
What do I do if I can't find a specific photograph I'm looking for?
If you are unable to find what you are looking for there are a few ways you can troubleshoot:
1) Browse Collections
2) Browse Items individually
3) Use an Advanced Search
4) Contact us at VintageFloridaDL@fsu.edu
How do I get back to the homepage?
You can get back to the homepage by clicking our logo which is located near the top left of every page!