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About the Photos
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.
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No Problem: 1939
Submitted by Dave on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 6:45pm.
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January 1939. "Small truck farmer from North Carolina. His neck was broken and is in a brace. Near Belle Glade, Florida." And then he found work as a meme. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Resettlement Administration. View full size.
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- 2 comments
- 3064 reads
Live Third Rail: 1910
Submitted by Dave on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 1:55pm.
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Detroit circa 1910. "Michigan Central R.R. tunnel." Another in a series of views of the approach to the train tunnel under the Detroit River. Please note: LIVE THIRD RAIL, DO NOT TOUCH. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size.
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- 6 comments
- 4596 reads
Streets of San Francisco: 1957
Submitted by rsyung on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 12:55pm.
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UPDATE: By amazing coincidence, the photographer here (the late father of Shorpy member rsyung) seems to have stumbled upon a shooting location for the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Vertigo," with the same cars lined up along the curb as in a scene from the movie. Scroll down to the comments for details. -- Dave
Taken by my dad in August, 1957. Bay Bridge in the background. I'm sure someone with an intimate knowledge of "The City" and / or Google maps will figure out which street this is. Kodachrome slide, Contax camera. View full size.
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- 20 comments
- 26339 reads
Out and About: 1905
Submitted by Dave on Tue, 07/22/2014 - 12:03pm.
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Nov. 22, 1905. "Lake Shore Drive, Chicago." A nice day for a carriage ride, and look out for that omnibus. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size.
Balcony Scene: 1954
Submitted by Dave on Mon, 07/21/2014 - 10:58pm.
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Aug. 16, 1954. "Stamford (Conn.) Housing Authority. Balcony A4. W.F.R. Ballard, architect." Six-shooter optional. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size.
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- 8 comments
- 4545 reads
Illinois Central: 1942
Submitted by Dave on Mon, 07/21/2014 - 2:40pm.
November 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. Engine taking on coal at an Illinois Central Railroad yard." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano. View full size.
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- 2 comments
- 2945 reads
Fox News: 1919
Submitted by Dave on Mon, 07/21/2014 - 11:55am.
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News item: "A photograph of the fox and its capture in the 'fox hunt' staged in the Capitol grounds Monday, in which more than a score of persons aided the Capitol police force to run the brown animal in. George M. Green, foreman of the garage of the Adjutant General's office, who was passing the Capitol on a motorcycle, won all the honors when he succeeded in capturing the fox. It was discovered that the fox wore a leather collar, indicating that he is domesticated." (Washington Times, Dec. 23-24, 1919.) National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.
THE 100-YEAR-OLD PHOTO BLOG
Shorpy.com | History in HD is a vintage photo blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.
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