Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

 Introduction

The Brad Phalin photograph collection covers the date range 1985-1996. The collection consists of three linear feet of photograph material relating to Bowling Green State University and the surrounding area.

The material was donated to the Center for Archival Collections in August 2009, December 2011 and April 2012 by Brad Phalin. Copyright for the images in the collection are held by Brad Phalin and only he may issue permission for their use.

The register was prepared by Dana Nemeth, Library Associate II, and Latifah Street, Student Archival Assistant, in October 2009, and it was revised by Christopher Ilse, Student Archival Assistant, in April 2012.

 Biographical Sketch

Brad Phalin was a student photographer for Bowling Green State University’s yearbook, The Key from 1987-1989 and he served as its Editor for the 1989 edition. Phalin was born and raised in northwest Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Photojournalism from BGSU in December 1988 and has served as a staff photographer in the Department of Marketing and Communications at BGSU since 1999.

In 2004, Brad Phalin was awarded a fellowship from the Ohio Arts Council. His photographs have been shown in galleries in New York City, Chicago, and universities throughout Ohio. Phalin’s photograph project entitled “Archaeology of the American Dream” was exhibited at the University of Cincinnati’s Clermont College art gallery. Pieces from this series, as well as new photographs, were most recently displayed in the Las Manos Gallery in Chicago in September 2009. His work has been featured in various national publications including Photo District News and Oxford American. Phalin recently joined the New Orleans Photo Alliance where he will continue to promote and encourage the understanding of photography.

 Scope and Content

The material in the collection relates primarily to Phalin’s role as yearbook photographer for BGSU’s The Key from 1987-1989. Highlights from the 1987 portion of the collection include photographs of musical performances on campus, the “Great Peace March,” the “Free South Africa” Union Oval protest, and President Richard Nixon arriving at Woody Hayes’ funeral in Columbus. A highlight from the 1988 portion is images from an INXS concert on campus, and highlights from 1989 include images of President Reagan’s visit to campus and images from off-campus student parties. An index to The Key images compiled by Phalin can be found at the beginning of Box 1.

The collection also includes photographs and negatives taken by Phalin for class assignments during the same time period, including photo essays such as “Green House” and “Little Red Schoolhouse.” Other subjects include local musicians, community members, city scenes, and campus life. Personal portfolio and free-lance projects, including images from local professional sporting events, are also part of the collection.  Color snapshots and negatives of images of campus life, Greek events and sporting events complete the collection.  Phalin’s three day-by-day calendars, also part of the collection, contain notations regarding photo assignments, homework deadlines, and other personal activities from his college career.

The fact that these photographs are taken from a student’s perspective, where Phalin had access to aspects of student life not normally recorded by official university press, gives the collection its unique qualities. Researchers interested in images of everyday student life and local Bowling Green city scenes during the late 1980s will find this collection useful.

 Series Description

PRINTED MATERIAL

CALENDARS (1 folder)
(3 items)
1986-1989
Arranged chronologically. BGSU/University Activities Organization student daily planners for academic years 1986-1987, 1987-1988 and 1988-1989. Contain photo illustrations from campus life (including one taken by Phalin). Notations by Phalin regarding photo assignments, school projects, and personal activities are in all three calendars.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

KEY YEARBOOK NEGATIVES AND CONTACT SHEETS
(2 linear feet)
1987-1989
Original order maintained. Arranged by negative number, most likely assigned in chronological order. Includes over 400 contact prints and approximately 2,400 black and white/color negatives, mostly taken by Brad Phalin, of Bowling Green State University events. Includes typewritten inventory by donor.

CONTACT SHEETS, PHOTOGRAPHS, SLIDES AND NEGATIVES
(.5 linear feet)
1980s-1990s
Arranged by format.
Includes images taken by Phalin for class assignments, personal projects, and freelance assignments, with subjects such as local musicians, city scenes, campus life, and local landmarks. Also includes images taken at professional baseball, football and hockey games in the area.

COLOR SNAPSHOTS AND COLOR NEGATIVES
(.5 linear feet)
ca. 1980s
Arranged alphabetically by subject matter.
Appear to be images taken by Phalin and includes photographs of campus life, Greek events and sporting events.

 Inventory

Box 1

Folders

1. BGSU/UAO Daily Planners (3), 1986-1987, 1987-1988, 1988-1989
2. Key Negatives Inventory Sheets, n.d.
3. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- FK87-0011 to 252, 1987 ( Includes Pledge Day, Great Peace March, Crucial DBC concert, Bathtub Races, Greek Olympics, Free South Africa Union Oval Protest, Union Oval Shanty Town, Cathy Pratt, P.J Olscamp and Eva Marie Saint, Nixon at Woody Hayes’ funeral, and other miscellaneous prints)
4. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- FK87-254 to 298, 1987 (Includes Beta 500, Timothy Leary, Graduation, “Black Tennis Player,” and other miscellaneous prints)
5. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives-SK87-028 to 290, 1987 (Includes Homecoming, Lacrosse, Hockey, Jo Lynn Volleyball, Gymnastics, Hoop Freddy and Frieda, and other miscellaneous prints)
6. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives-SK87-293 to 341, 1987 (Includes Gymnastics, Hockey at Harvard, and other miscellaneous prints)
7. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives-FK88-013 to 185, GK88-017, CK88-009 to 012, 1988 (Includes INXS concert, Wynton Marsalis concert, Key Staff Picture, Graduation, Beta 500, Students at INXS concert, and other miscellaneous prints)

Box 2

Folders

1. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK 88-013 to233, 1988 (Includes volleyball, cheerleaders, swimming, gymnastics, “Hockey at the Joe” [Detroit], Hockey at Maine, and other miscellaneous prints)
2. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- FK89-001 to 039, 1989 (Includes Sorority Rush, Marching Band, Pledge Day, Mud Tug, and other miscellaneous prints)
3. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives FK89-040 to 093, 1989 (Includes Marching Band, Bathtub Races, Toledo Zoo, President Ronald Reagan in Bowling Green, Homecoming, Quayle in Napoleon, and other miscellaneous prints)

Box 3

Folders

1. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- FK89-101 to 186, 1989 (Includes Job Fair, University Activities Organization, UB40, Drop/Add, December Graduation, Party on East Merry, Bush Wins Election, Aerobics, and other miscellaneous prints)
2. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- FK89-192-274, GK89-003-020, 1989 (Includes University Activities Organization comedy fest, Reggae Band, Mac Beach, Party on East Merry, Student’s arrest, Mayor Ed Miller at Party on East Merry, Beta 500, Graduation, Alpha Chi Omega, Lacrosse Team, and other miscellaneous prints)
3. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-001-062, 1989 (Includes Volleyball, Soccer, Rugby, Football, Lacrosse, and other miscellaneous prints)
4. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-066-099, 1989 (Includes Football, Hockey, “Hammer at Ice Rink,” and other miscellaneous prints)

Box 4

Folders

1. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-101 to 131, 1989 (Includes boys basketball, girls basketball, hockey, swimming, and other miscellaneous prints)
2. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-132 to 162, 1989 (Includes boys basketball, girls basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and other miscellaneous prints)
3. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-164 to 199, 1989 (Includes boys basketball, girls basketball, hockey, gymnastics, and other miscellaneous prints)
4. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-200 to 230, 1989 (Includes boys basketball, girls basketball, hockey, gymnastics, and other miscellaneous prints)
5. Contact Sheets and Key Negatives- SK89-241 to 272, 1989 (Includes baseball, lacrosse rugby, softball, tennis, and other miscellaneous prints)

Box 5

Folders

1. Contact Sheets, Photographs and Negatives- B.G. News Town Project (c. 1980s)
2. Contact Sheets, Photographs and Negatives- Journalism 206 project (c. 1980s)
3. Contact Sheets and Negatives- Rollercoaster project (c. 1980s)
4. Contact Sheets and Negatives- “Sunbathers” Final Project (c. 1980s)
5. Contact Sheets and Negatives- Musicians (c. 1980s)
6. Contact Sheets and Negatives- Student teacher at work (c. 1980s)
7. Contact Sheets and Negatives- Town photos, The Cla-Zel, and Students (c. 1980s)
8. Contact Sheets and Negatives- Green House project (c. 1980s)
9. Contact Sheets and Negatives- The Little Red Schoolhouse project (c. 1980s)
10. Contact Sheets and Negatives – MLB action shots, Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers [Phil Niekro, Hall of Fame pitcher depicted], c. 1986-1987
11. Contact Sheets and Negatives - MLB action shots, Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers [professional sports photographer Tony Tomczak (sp?) depicted], c. 1985-1995
12. Contact Sheets and Negatives –MLB action shots, Cleveland Indians vs. Baltimore Orioles season opener game [Indians General Manager Pat Corrales and BGSU alumnus and news reporter Ron Fritz interviewing Oriole’s pitcher Scott McGregor are depicted], April 10, 1987
13. Contact Sheets and Negatives –MLB action shots, Cleveland Indians vs. Oakland A’s [Reggie Jackson hitting homerun and Mark McGwire depicted], c. 1985-1995
14. Contact Sheets and Negatives –Minor league baseball action shots, Toledo Mudhens, May 1, 1987
15. Contact Sheets and Negatives –MLB action shots, Cleveland Indians game, [professional sports photographer Ron Kuntz depicted], c. 1985-1995
16. Contact Sheets and Negatives – College baseball game action shots, University of Michigan vs. Michigan State [Jim Abbott, one-handed pitcher (MLB player) depicted], May 10, 1987
17. Contact Sheets and Negatives – NFL game action shots, Cleveland Browns, quarterback Bernie Kosar (#19) signing autographs [BGSU alumnus professional photographer Mark Thalman, and BGSU alumna and Browns employee Terri (?) are depicted], Jan. 9, 1988
18. Contact Sheets and Negatives –NHL action shots, Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers [Wayne Gretzky depicted], Dec. 2, 1987
19. Contact Sheets and Negatives –NHL action shots, Detroit Red Wings vs. Winnipeg Jets [BGSU alumni and Jet players Iain Duncan and Dave Ellett depicted], Nov. 24, 1987
20. Color Slides – Downtown Toledo; Port of Toledo grain terminal and lake freighter docked in Toledo; freighter on Maumee River; Owens Corning World Headquarters – construction site, construction shots, and completed building (c. 1995-1996)
21. Color Slides – Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on Martin Luther King Bridge, Toledo; Toledo Art Museum/Frank Gehry addition; Wood Co. Courthouse (1995)
22. Color Slides – Alpha Chi Omega Pledge Day (1989)
23. Color Slides – Suzanne Bell, BGSU Gymnast (1988)
24. Color Negatives – Hockey: BGSU Hockey Team, CCHA Championship (1988)
25. Color Negatives – Portraits of David N. Apple, Bison farmer, rural Wood Co. [Cincinnati Enquirer freelance assignment], (1989)
26. Black & White Negatives –MLB action shots, Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles, July 2, 1991

Box 6

Folders

1. Photographs and Negatives - Alpha Chi Omega at Kappa Alpha Kart Race (c.1980s)
2. Photographs and Negatives - Alpha Chi Omega and Pi Kappa Alpha at Kappa Alpha Kart Race (c.1980s)
3. Photographs and Negatives - Alpha Chi Omega Rush Week (c.1980s)
4. Photographs and Negatives - Campus Life, Girl at the Pond (c.1980s)
5. Photographs and Negatives - Campus Life, Students at the Pond (c.1980s)
6. Photographs and Negatives - Football Game Bowling Green vs. Western Michigan (c.1980s)
7. Photographs and Negatives -Graduation (c.1980s)
8. Photographs and Negatives - Hockey Game Bowling Green vs. University of Michigan-Dearborn (c.1980s)
9. Photographs and Negatives - Hockey Game Bowling Green vs. Michigan State University (c.1980s)
10. Photographs and Negatives - Hockey Game Bowling Green vs. Western Michigan(c.1980s)
11. Photographs and Negatives - Ladies basketball Bowling Green vs. University of Toledo(c.1980s)
12. Photographs and Negatives - Library Staircase (c.1980s)
13. Photographs and Negatives - Math and Sciences Building (c.1980s)
14. Photographs and Negatives - Phi Kappa Psi Tub Race (c.1980s)
15. Photographs and Negatives - Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon Mud Tug (c.1980s)
16. Photographs and Negatives - Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon Mud Tug (c.1980s)
17. Photographs and Negatives - Rugby Game (c.1980s)
18. Photographs and Negatives - Rugby Game (c.1980s)
19. Photographs and Negatives - Rugby Game (c.1980s)
20. Photographs and Negatives - Sorority Kissing Carnation and Rush Week (c.1980s)
21. Photographs and Negatives - Student Recreation Center (c.1980s)
22. Photographs and Negatives - Students on Campus, Administration Building, Shatzel Hall (c.1980s)
23. Photographs and Negatives - Students Protest Apartheid (c.1980s)
24. Photographs and Negatives - Students Walking on Campus (c.1980s)
25. Photographs and Negatives - University Concert (c.1980s)

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