The arizona state museum will preserve and improve access to the tucson urban renewal (TUR) photographic collection

The Arizona Board of Regents, operating through the University of Arizona, received a $358,118 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture program (CFDA 45.033) to preserve and provide enhanced public access to the Tucson Urban Renewal (TUR) Photographic Collection. The award, effective October 1, 2025, with completion by September 30, 2027, will support the digitization of over 3,000 photographic negatives, slides, and archival materials documenting Tucson's neighborhoods before, during, and after the urban renewal period.

The primary deliverable is an interactive story map, developed using ArcGIS, that enables users to explore Tucson's urban renewal history by accessing historical photographs and associated metadata indexed to specific map locations. The platform will be publicly accessible and integrated with an online portal designed to facilitate community contributions and allow users to upload contemporary photographs of TUR-affected areas for comparative context. The resulting digital archive will include enriched metadata and detailed contextual information, providing a comprehensive visual narrative of this significant period in Tucson's urban development and enhancing community access to this historical resource.

The project will digitize over 3,000 photographic negatives, slides, and archival materials, providing a comprehensive visual narrative of tucson's neighborhoods before, during, and after urban renewal. The project will enhance public access by creating an interactive story map that lets users explore tucson's urban renewal history by clicking on map locations linked to historical photographs and metadata. The map will integrate with an accessible online platform, allowing community contributions and adding contemporary photos of TUR-affected areas for added context. The project team will use arcgis to create this dynamic map that situates these images within tucson's urban landscape. The resulting digital archive will be publicly accessible, with enriched metadata and detailed contextual information.