Visual Resource Center

The Providence College Visual Resource Center is at the very heart of the Department of Art and Art History. The VRC provides unique research resources to students and faculty and also offers work study positions to interested students.

Find Art Images & Research

Explore digital images and art reference resources for your coursework, presentations, and research. Available to the PC community on and off campus. Sign-in may be required.

History

The foundations of the VRC’s collection were laid by the Reverend Lawrence M. Hunt O.P., Ph. D, who worked tirelessly to build up resources for the Department during his 44 years as an educator at PC. Hunt-Cavanagh Hall, where the VRC is located, is named in his honor for this reason. The collection that was begun by Father Hunt has been expanded greatly in recent years and now touches on numerous areas of interest including Architecture, the Arts of Asia, Modern Art, Classical Greece, Medieval Manuscripts, and Sacred Space. There are also volumes on technical instruction for studio artists, reference works, faculty publications, and senior thesis journals from past classes.

Research & Study in the VRC

Students and faculty from all disciplines are welcome to use the Visual Resource Center for research and study. The VRC offers a private reading area and access to books, print materials, and videos/DVDs for use within the center. Art History faculty offices are also located in the VRC.

VRC staff offer guidance on finding and using digital images for coursework, teaching, and presentations, including support with online image databases and presentation tools such as PowerPoint.

Explore Museums, Libraries & Digital Collections

Explore independent museum, library, and archival websites for further research and discovery.

Museums & Galleries

• Harvard Art Museums
• Yale University Art Gallery

Libraries & Research Collections

• The British Library
• Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
• Library of Congress
• New York Public Library – Digital Collections

Specialized Collections & Projects

• LIFE Picture Collection
• Inscriptifact – Ancient Inscriptions and Artifacts
• Art Conservation Projects – Bank of America
• Great Buildings Collection (archived website)

Collections & Equipment in the VRC

Books & Publications

The VRC houses more than 2,500 books, scholarly journals, magazines, and other volumes covering a range of topics.

Video & DVD Collection

The VRC houses approximately 700 video and DVD resources, available to view at a media station in the center. These materials do not circulate.

View the Video & DVD Catalog (PDF)

Computers & Equipment

• Six PC and Mac computer workstations, reservable during select hours
• Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat on each workstation
• Two flatbed scanners and a copy machine
• A copy stand for photographing flat artwork
• Computer training upon request

Student Work Opportunities

Art and Art History students are welcome to apply for work study positions within the Department. They may work as an aid to Art History and Studio Art professors, or in PC Galleries. Students gain real world experience working on our web page, photographing images for the department, cataloging images of artwork, supporting the galleries or aiding Art History professors in their research and writing projects. These positions give students the opportunity to work closely with their professors and to take an active part in the research being undertaken by the faculty of Providence College.