Photographic Prints and Negatives

The Library and Archives Center has almost 400,000 photographic prints and negatives in its holdings. These prints and negatives are available to researchers as well as anyone wanting historical photographic images.

Almost 50,000 of the prints and negatives in the Center’s holdings are from the Randolph D. Rubin collection. His career as a professional photographer in Midland spanned over 50 years. As an early Permian Basin photographer, he captured the lives of the region’s residents in high school annuals and family portraits as well as other commercial uses.

The Center also houses the photographic collections from the Abell-Hanger Foundation, as well as others. This collection contains numerous historical images that were used in Samuel Myres’ two-volume history of the Permian Basin, which follows the discovery, development and advancement of the cattle and oil industries in the region. Collections from private donors and other sources depict ranching life in West Texas and life in Permian Basin boom towns and early oilfield camps.

View a selection of archival images

To obtain an image, please contact the Archives and Collections Manager regarding your specific request. After a search of our holdings, you will be provided a photographic review sheet from which to make your selections. Reproduction and use fees do apply; please see the link below for more information.

Please review the following policies and forms before your visit:

Archive Reference Policy (pdf file)
Photo Duplication Order Form (pdf file)
Reproduction and Use Fees (pdf file)
Request to Publish (pdf file)

For more information, contact the Archives & Collections Manager.

In an effort to make its collections available to researchers, The Petroleum Museum has participated in two digitization projects, University of North Texas’ Portal to Texas History and Texas State Library & Archives Commission’s Train to Share project. Click on the links below to search those collections items digitized.
The Portal to Texas History
Texas State Library and Archives Commission