Funds for acquisitions are from various sources through the university, student fees, and special donations. Regardless of the funding source, all slides acquired become a permanent part of the collection and are for the use of the entire department faculty. Reproduction of slides from the collection is not permitted. Selection of slides for purchase is done by the faculty in consultation with the curator.
Faculty members are responsible for the selection of slides required for their classes.
Published slide sets from museums and other commercial vendors that relate to classes currently offered in the department will be brought to the attention to faculty members who might be interested in using such images. Special effort is made to assure that all materials acquired are of the best possible quality, that they are maintained and handled in a manner conducive to longevity, and that they are cataloged accurately and classified to provide logical physical access. All 35mm slides are enclosed in glass mounts to protect the film from damage through handling and projection. The holdings reflect the department's curriculum over the years and what is currently being taught. Major areas of strength are in Pre-Columbian art, Ancient Roman and Greek art and architecture, Native American art, illuminated manuscripts, Medieval art, Northern Renaissance, Italian Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque, Twentieth Century art, American art, colonial and modern Latin American art, and History of Photography.