The Library & Archives Center has almost 400,000 photographic prints and negatives in its holdings.  These prints and negatives are available to researchers as well as anyone wanting historical photographic images. 

Almost 50,000 of the prints and negatives in the Center’s holdings are from the Randolph D. Rubin collection.  His career as a professional photographer in Midland spanned over 50 years.  As an early Permian Basin photographer, he captured the lives of the region’s residents in high school annuals, family portraits as well as other commercial uses.  The Rubin Collection also documents the development of Midland from a ranching center for cattlemen to the oilmen’s capitol of the Permian Basin.  

The Center also houses the photographic collection from the Abell-Hanger Foundation/Samuel D. Myres.  This collection contains numerous historical images that were used in his two volume history The Permian Basin, which follows the discovery, development and advancement of the cattle and oil industries in the region.  Other collections from private donors and other sources depict ranching life in the West Texas and life in Permian Basin boom towns and early oilfield camps.

View Select Photos

To obtain an image, please contact Leslie Meyer, Director of Archives and Collections, regarding your specific request.  After a search of our holdings, you will be provided a photographic review sheet from which to make your selections.  Reproduction and use fees do apply; please see the link below for more information.

Please review the following policies and forms before your visit

Archives Reference Policy for Researchers (pdf file)

Reproduction and Use Fees (pdf file)

Photo Duplication Order Form (pdf file)

Request to Publish (pdf file)

For more information, contact Leslie Meyer, Director of Archives and Collections

In an effort to make its collections available to researchers, The Petroleum Museum has participated in two digitization projects, University of North Texas’ Portal to Texas History and Texas State Library & Archives Commission’s Train to Share project.  Click on the links below to search those collections items digitized.