Collection Description
The Map Collection has an almost-complete set of aerial photographs covering Erie and Niagara counties for the years 1927-1928, 1966, and 1978. These were produced by the Fairchild Aerial Survey, Inc. Sherman M(ills) Fairchild, who was born in New York State, took great interest in the role of airplanes and photography. His company, Fairchild Aerial Survey, Inc., produced thousands of aerial photographs of the United States and Mexico. Its vast collection has been dissipated and collections of these photos are in libraries across the country. One of the largest collections of Fairchild aerial photos is the Fairchild Aerial Photography Collection at Whittier College ¹. The Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum also has a large collection of Fairchild and USGS aerial photos.

Technical Note on the Photographs
The collection is made up of contact proofs of the negatives that were shot. These vary in quality and some contain imperfections caused by the processing of these contacts. Also, some frames are missing from the collection. These prints were given to the University Libraries "as is" and what was missing when we received them cannot be replaced (neither can any of the existing images if lost).

Requesting Aerial Photographs
For this reason, requests to obtain copies of aerial photographs must be made through the Map Collection. You may set up an appointment to view and locate photographs. We will make either photocopies of the selected images or scanned electronic files. The e-files will be made available on the Index of UB Aerial Photographs for you to download. Please check this page before making a request. It is possible that the locations that you need are already available.

Other Aerial Photographs & Satellite Imagery at UB
In addition, the Map Collection contains a small collection of miscellaneous satellite imagery of United States cities. Contact the UGL/SEL Reference Desk by calling 645-2945 or via e-mail at askASL@buffalo.edu to set up an appointment to access the aerial photos. There are also 10-meter resolution satellite images of the entire U.S. on the Map Room computer workstation. Other sources of satellite imagery are available on the Internet. See: Satellite Images, Aerial Photographs, and Databases for a selection.

Additional links to Erie County Air Photos
Other photograph collections of Erie County aerial photographs are at the Erie County Aerial Photographs (Erie County Public Works Dept.) website. Currently has 1920s and 1951.

A source for Canadian aerial photography is the National Air Photo Library (Natural Resources Canada). Extensive aerial and high-altitude images of Canada. Find digital copies of images and order photos. Also has resources on aerial photography, including: Introduction to Air Photo Interpretation, a page that explains how to 'read' these photographs.

To learn more about aerial photographs and where to find them, See: Five Minute Aerial Tutorial (UCSC) and Aerial Photographs (USGS Terraserver).

Aerial Photograph Collections in Other Institutions (Selected List)

• United States: National Archives Collections.

Listed alphabetically by country or state, then by city or county, etc. Most are vertical aerial/satellite images, but a few oblique or selective collections are here because of their usefulness.

• Australia: Aerial Photographs Collection at the National Library
• California Air Photo Database (USC Berkeley). State photos and some non-California aerials (including foreign locations).
• California Aerial Photo Collection (UC Davis). Also has list of links to other states.
• California Aerial Photograph Collection (CSU Northridge). San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County images.
• California: Humboldt County (Humboldt State Univ.).
• Canada: National Air Photo Library (Natural Resources Canada).
• Canada: Aerial Photographs of Cities and Towns across Canada (Waite Air Photos).
• Canada: Ontario: Niagara Region: Aerial Photographs in the Niagara Falls Public Library (581 views). Database of thousands of photos from various periods. (Digital Collections page)
• Canada: Prince Edward Island. Browse Photographs by Community.
• Colorado: Aerial Photographs of Colorado (U of Colorado, Boulder). 1,700+ digitized aerials of Colorado taken by the U.S. Forest Service, 1938 to 1947. Also links to other Colorado sites.
• Connecticut: MAGIC: Map and Geographic Information Center (UCONN). Wonderful collection and online site. Collections of state agencies can also be accessed here.
• Denmark Aerial Photograph Collection (National Library). Over 4 million images and negatives.
• Florida Aerial Maps (University of Florida). Coverage of most of state.
• Great Britain: Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph Collection. 1 million aerial photographs and negatives covering the whole of Scotland, 1940s to the present.
• Illinois Air Photo Imagebase (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
• Illinois: Digital Archive of Illinois Historical Aerial Photographs (Illinois State Geological Survey).
• Israel: Historical Aerial Photograph Collection
• Louisiana State Aerial Photograph Collection. (LOUISiana Digital Library)
• Louisiana: New Orleans (1949) (1960). Small collection.
• Massachusetts: Boston: MIT Digital Ortho Photo Archive. Shows: Boston area digital orthophotos at several different zoom levels, with pan, zoom, and download functionality. Digital orthos provide detailed imagery with known and consistent coordinates.
• Mexico: Mexico City: Aerial Photographs. Various shots taken by an aerial photographer. Not the usual aerials, but very good for locating specific scenes of the city.
• Michigan: Detroit Area (Wayne State).
• Minnesota Aerial Photography Index. Coverage for the state of Minnesota only, with photos for all counties (1936 to date).
• New Mexico (New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources). Contact only. Collection not available online.
• Oklahoma Aerial Photographs (OK Dept. of Libraries).
• Oregon: Selected Locations (U of Oregon).
• United States and North America: NOAA Photo Library. Has aerial and remote-sensing images.
• Wales Aerial Photograph Sites on the Web. Cities and towns, mines, other features photographed from the air.

The Fairchild Aerial Photography Collection at Whittier College is one of the largest libraries of aerial photographs in North America. The Collection is estimated to consist of at least 500,000 items, including prints, negatives, photoindices, and photomosaics. All of the photographs in the Collection were produced by Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Inc., or its subsidiaries and contractors during the period of 1927-1965, and are mostly black-and-white, vertical images.

Further Information and Donations Request
If you need further assistance, please contact the UGL/SEL Reference Desk by calling 645-2945 or via e-mail at askASL@buffalo.edu. If you have aerial photographs or maps that you wish to donate to the UB Map Collection, or would be willing to loan to the Collection for creating copies, please contact us. Thank you.

Guide Author: David J. Bertuca

Last Update: 16 June, 2009