Washington, D.C., 1931. The caption for this one is NO CAPTION. What's going on here? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

        James Clair Flood Mansion (now Pacific Union Club), 1000 California Street, San Francisco. Built 1885-86; Augustus Laver, architect. Reputed cost of about $1 million. Flood died 1889; Mrs. Flood, 1897. Descendants occupied until fire of 1906 gutted interior. Acquired by Pacific Union Club about 1909 and remodeled by Willis Polk in 1910. New England brownstone shell (said to be first brownstone west of Mississippi); Italianate ornamental details. Fence of bronze by W.T. Garratt, at cost estimated from $30,000 to $60,000. Only Nob Hill house to survive fire. —HABS, 1940

March 1940. The Flood Mansion in San Francisco, last seen here after being gutted by fire following the 1906 earthquake, 108 years ago today. Photo by A.J. Wittlock for the Historic American Buildings Survey. View full size.

"The Flood Mansion, Nob Hill." After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, which was 108 years ago today. 8x10 dry plate glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., 1931. "Man with portable radio receiver and phonograph." Who seems to be using the amplifier to play a record into a microphone. Note handy "Radio Spectrum" chart. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.

Jan. 19, 1956. Wellington, New Zealand. "Anthony and Paul Banks with a Hoover washing machine." The pint-size washer for small families. View full size.

1914. "Cats in coveralls on chin-up bar." Photo by Harry Whittier Frees, patient poser of anthropomorphic puppies and kitschy kittens. View full size.

Denver, Colorado, circa 1908. "Welcome arch at Union Depot looking down 17th Street." The arch, with the Hebrew benediction "mizpah" soon replacing WELCOME on the other (departure) side, was torn down in 1931. View full size.