Most of the photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs, 20 to 200 megabytes in size) from the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) Many were digitized by LOC contractors using a Sinar studio back. They are adjusted by your webmaster for contrast and color in Photoshop before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here.

Robert Ellen pulling the tooth of baby elephant "Futz" in 1924. View full size. 4x5 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection.
I sent this to Buckles Woodcock,Elephant Man Extraordinaire to see what he knew about this wonderful picture. He posted it on his blog: This is a publicity shot for the famous Singer Midgets Vaudeville Revue. I love the name "Futz" but I'm sure someone misspelled "Fritz."
There are also photos of one of the Singer Midgets and of Fritz all grown up.
[So is it Fritz or Fritzi? - Dave]
Sweet Cuppingcakes, that's a great picture. A baby fellefant (the way a friend's daughter used to say it) named "Futz," of all things, a pachy-dentist wearing knickers, and a little person watching bemusedly. Perfection, I tells ya.
Today's Top 5