Collection: Together the AFI staff creates and maintains the collection of negatives, slides, contact sheets and photographs. Each week substantial time is dedicated to the upkeep of the collection. Photographs are coded, sorted, and stored according to the name, group, and ethnicity of the photographer. Much care is taken to follow archival standards in the handling of all negatives and photographs. Numerous pairs of white gloves are always within reach. Colorful plastic boxes hold all negatives, file cabinets store photocopies and contact sheets, and binders hold a representative sampling of each photographer's work.

The collection of aproximately 75,000 images, together with their corresponding negatives, consists mostly of color photographs with some black and white work. Among the many themes are food, fiestas, animals, agricultural activities, domestic work, weaving, landscapes, craft work, and of course many portraits.

Several binders containing the AFI history of public activities and travel are available for consultation and research. International, national and local press coverage, interviews, show invitations, and photos of exhibits are included. There is a small library of reference books, photography and other publications, and a small but eclectic postcard collection.