Visual Resources Collection

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The Visual Resources Collection (VRC) of the College of Arts + Architecture (COA+A) develops and manages a sustainable collection of digital images, sound, and video resources used in the educational service of teaching and learning, research, public events, and programming collaborations.

The Visual Resources Collection (VRC) is a college and university resource with holdings of more than 138,000 digital images. Established in 1979, the collection has expanded to meet the needs of the art and architecture history courses and seminars, the studio classes, building technology, and elective courses for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Image holdings include collections for major historical periods from the time of ancient and prehistoric cultures through the twenty-first century. The VRC provides images for classroom and research purposes, archives student digital work, aids in College fundraising, supports student multimedia projects, and collaborates with other departments and communities.

Resources are collected through personal and published work and the purchase of commercial materials. The VRC collection is organized and cataloged following the VRA Core and CCO guidelines established by the Visual Resources Association. Approximately 10,000 digital resources are added to the collection each year.

In addition to digital resources, the VRC also provides equipment for CoA+A use, including studio lights, tripods, and backdrops. They may be checked out in the Hight Library. For more information, please see the Architecture Library’s equipment page.

The VRC is located within the Charles C. Hight Architecture Library in the Storrs Building.

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See online collections at:
Artstor: Almost 13,000 images, sound and video files of CoA+A student and faculty work, from the 1970s through the present, as well as 130,000 commercial art and architecture images; account registration required. The Artstor site and all its materials are transitioning to Jstor. Currently all VRC materials excluding videos are available in Jstor as well as Artstor. Artstor will be retired on August 1, 2024.
Jstor   Artstor is currently merging its contents with the millions of primary sources available in Jstor, making it easier than ever to find what you are looking for. All CoA+A images are available in Jstor.
vrcHost130,000 commercial art + architectural images available; campus access only, no login required.


For more information, please contact:
Jenna Duncan, Visual Resources Lecturer, Storrs 200F, phone 704-687-0096. 

For more information about the VRC and its policies, see VRC Facts and Policies.

Saving Digital Images: The COA+A has established guidelines for saving digital images. Please see the Saving Digital Images Guide for more information.

Citation of Images: Please reference this document to learn the Proper Citation of Images.

Submission of Media: Faculty and students may submit photographs, audio or video recordings, or other digital representations of their work to the Visual Resources Collection. See instructions for submission, in VRC Facts and Policies.


Use of Student and Faculty Work

The College of Arts + Architecture (COA+A) of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) may use digital copies of student and faculty work for educational purposes, including archival, teaching, research, recruitment, promotion, and fundraising. The Student Works Form and Faculty Non-Exclusive License serve as notification of this protocol and your rights.