Research Guides

Theatre and Performance

Finding Video

Theater on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT), NYPL

Since 1970, the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT) at the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts has preserved live theatrical productions and documented the creative contributions of distinguished artists and legendary figures of the theatre.  With the consent and cooperation of the theatrical unions and each production's artistic collaborators, TOFT produces video recordings of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre productions as well as dialogues between notable theatre personalities.

Please Be Advised: Limited Walk-ins
Due to class screenings, TOFT will at times be unable to take walk-in appointments. Please call their screening room in advance to confirm availability:  (212) 870-1642.

Finding Images

Selected Image Sites

  • Google Images
    Searches images available via Google, of mixed size and quality.
  • Reel Poster Gallery
    Online gallery of vintage movie posters.
  • World Digital Library
    Includes primary materials from world cultures, including manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, archi­tectural drawings, and more.
  • WorldImages
    Contains thousands of images on a range of global topics. This free site also includes some coverage of clothing and dress.
  • LIFE Photo Archive
    Growing historical photo archive for LIFE magazine, hosted by Google.
  • Getty Images
    Includes stock photography, editorial photos, and some moving images.
  • VADS
    Thousands of visual arts images, including fashion, design, prints, and sculpture.
  • Flickr Commons
    A free public collection of photographs from major photography archives. Contributors include the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and more.
  • American Memory
    From the Library of Congress, including many photographs and other visual elements documenting American history.
  • Ad*Access
    Images and database information for over 7,000 advertisements printed in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955.
  • Still Images: Finding and Using Digital Media
    U.K. site with advice on finding images online, getting permissions, and other tips.
  • Empire Online
    Includes documents segment called "The Visible Empire," which includes color plates, maps, and more.
  • Images from the History of Medicine
    Keyword-searchable images from the National Library of Medicine. Includes portraits, pictures of institutions, caricatures, genre scenes, and graphic art in a variety of media.
  • CalPhotos
    From UCB Biodiversity Sciences Technology Group, this site contains thousands of photos, including plants, animals, fossils, people, and world cultures.
  • Fotosearch Stock Photography