Department of Commerce Building

Building a Nation - Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection

A previously unknown collection of over 25,000 black and white architectural photographs were discovered in a dilapidated house owned by the Indiana Limestone Company in Bedford, Indiana. These images of residences, churches, universities, museums, businesses, and public and municipal buildings, many of which were designed by prominent architects, document the use of Indiana limestone throughout the United States from the late 1800s to mid-1900s. Remarkably holistic in scope, these photographs and their accompanying metadata can be studied across major disciplines such as American history, architectural history, history of technology, urban studies, history of photography, historic preservation, labor history, and the history of geology. The Indiana Geological Survey, the custodian of the Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection, in partnership with the Indiana University Libraries has been cataloging, digitizing, archiving, and publishing online a growing subset of the photographs thanks to funding provided by Indiana University’s Office of the Vice Provost for Research and an LSTA grant awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Indiana State Library.

Image

Department of Commerce Building Public Deposited

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Location

Street Address: 1401 Constitution Ave NW

ILCO ID

DC6856_7_0

Caption

Photographer/Studio: Leet Brothers., 731 14th St. at New York Ave., Wash DC
Caption: First shipment of stone for the Department of Commerce Building, Wash DC

City