Photographs from the pre-1962 numeric classification system [graphic material]

This sub-series contains photographic materials from the Still Photography Division and its various subsidiaries and incarnations. The materials cover a broad range of subjects that deal with Canada including industrial development, the Arctic, sporting events, state visits, war-time activities, city landscapes, etc.

National Film Board of Canada. Still Photography Division: In 1941, due to the persistent urging by John Grierson, the government incorporated the Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau, an agency that has been responsible for promoting tourism and trade through photographs and films, into the National Film Board. The resulting organization became known as the Still Photography Division of the National Film Board. The Still Photography Division's mandate was to promote Canadian unity and subsequently to document the dramatic events of the World War II. With the absorption of War Information Board Still Photo Unit in 1943 into its operation as well the operations of the Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau for production and distribution of still photography, the new NFB Still Photo Division consisted of a production department ¿ with photographers, photo editors and writers (responsible for captions and text accompanying images) on staff ¿ a still photography library and an extensive laboratory/darkroom as well as administration. During the war and long thereafter, the Still Photo Division served the Canadian government by not only producing images and captions but also supplying photo printing services and access to its stock library for a variety of federal agencies. As well, the Division served as Canada¿s ¿official photographer¿ by making portraits of foreign dignitaries, carrying out assignments sponsored by various government departments and documenting important state functions including the opening of Parliament and visits by royalty and heads of state. As well, the Division supplied newspapers, magazines and school textbooks with photographs (plus foreign governments). By 1959 the Still Photo Unit boasted the largest photo library in Canada: 130,000 b&w negatives and 10,000 colour transparencies. Around 1943 the Division became increasingly interested in photostories. These were layouts of between 4 to 9 photographs with accompanying captions and brief text. They largely focused on the Canadian civilian life during the war and on what Canadians and industry were doing at home to support the military. Prepared solely by the NFB Still Photo Division and reproduced weekly in Canadian and international newspapers, the photostories would remain the Division¿s primary means of disseminating image until 1960s, reaching its zenith in prominence and popularity during the 1950s. In 1960 Lorraine Monk became the Executive Producer of the Still Photography Division, and began to organize circulating exhibitions of the National Film Board Still Photo Division collection across Canada. At that time, the Division also began to prepare publications of photography books (Centennial Publications), generally exposing the collection to the general public and emphasizing the artistic nature of photography. In 1971 the information (documentary) side of the Still Photo Division was transferred to Information Canada Photothèque. The more artistic side of the collection remained at the NFB Still Photo Division. The Photothèque focused on the more commercial aspect of documentary photography and served as an image bank for Canadian and foreign publications. As Information Canada ceases to exist in 1975, the Photothèque operations are transferred back to the National Film Board in 1976. Only this time the Photothèque operated as a separate entity from the Still Photo Division. In 1984 the Still Photo Division became Canadian Museum of Canadian Photography, affiliated with the National Gallery of Canada. The Photothèque continued to exist as part of the Department of Supplies and Services. However, by 1990 due to financial restructuring, the Photothèque closed its operations permanently.

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1949-047 NPC
1950-041 NPC
1956-059 NPC
1959-047 NPC
1961-094 NPC
1961-097 NPC
1962-133 NPC
1971-271 NPC
1976-208 NPC
1984-001 NPC
1984-326 NPC
1985-148 NPC

RG53