Fairfax County, Virginia, circa 1926. "Freeman House Store -- Vienna, Va." A historic structure that figured in the Civil War. Our title comes from a retail detail. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

1914. "Kitten in costume with bowling ball and pins." And, if memory serves, an omen of the impending Apocalypse. Photo by Harry W. Frees. View full size.

Rob and Laura redux: Another glimpse of Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke on the "Dick Van Dyke Show" set in 1963. Photo by Earl Theisen for the article "America's Favorite TV Wife" in Look magazine. View full size.

Circa 1908. "The Boulevard, Potomac Park, Washington, D.C." Various national landmarks in a strikingly uncrowded capital. 8x10 glass negative. View full size.

Sept. 27, 1954. Smithtown, New York. "Smithtown Shopping Center. General view." Meet you at Play Mart in an hour. Photo by Sam Gottscho. View full size.

"M + Jamie Wooddale 10-19-57." Our latest slide from the Linda Kodachromes. Construct your own narrative from the various cues and clues! View full size.

Dec. 5, 1929. Ignition interference from airplane engines on aircraft is largely a myth according to C. Francis Jenkins, Washington, D.C., inventor who has designed a radio receiving set which he says does not pick up noises from a flying power plant. In this photograph is shown Mr. Jenkins (right) and his laboratory assistant.

Video pioneer Francis Jenkins, seen here last week, and an anonymous protege who has a telegraph key strapped to his leg. By our reckoning this counts as early mobile texting. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.