Geographic file, 1887-1911, 1919-1951

Like his postcard collection but far more extensive in scope and size, Kimball's "Geographic" files document architectural styles around the world. Unlike the postcard subseries, most of this material focuses on architecture of the United States. Documentation consists primarily of photographs and clippings, but also includes lantern slides, glass plate negatives, notes, drawings and a map. Both public and private structures are documented--from palaces and cathedrals to country manors and colleges. Images consist of exterior and interior views and details of architectural elements. Many of the Pennsylvania images are of structures Kimball became well acquainted with while director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In addition to the museum, there are files pertaining to several of the colonial homes in Fairmount Park as well as the Philadelphia home of Samuel Powel. The photographic prints and negatives housed in Box 238 may have been taken by Kimball during his student days as they appear to be relatively early in date and of a somewhat personal nature. They document places in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, and Christmas Cove, Maine.

While the architecture of Europe and America dominate these files, a few pertain to other locales such as Barbados, Egypt and East Asia. There are also some non-architectural images, such as the historic portraits and witch trial documents pertaining to Salem, Massachusetts.