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.) Most 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.

March 1943. Albuquerque, New Mexico. "At the Santa Fe R.R. tie plant. The ties made of pine and fir, are seasoned for eight months. The steaming black ties have just come from the retort, where they have been impregnated with creosote for eight hours." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. View full size.

September 1939. Granville County, North Carolina. "One of the Wilkins family making biscuits for dinner on cornshucking day at Mrs. Fred Wilkins' home near Tallyho." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size.

New York City circa 1905. "'L' Station, Chatham Square." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Daytona Beach, Florida, circa 1904. "Bathing hour on the beach at Seabreeze." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Houghton, Michigan, circa 1906. "Shelden Street." Houghton was nothing if not well wired. 8x10 dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

January 1941. Sarasota, Florida. "Guest of Sarasota trailer park with his family, picnicking at the beach." Photograph by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size.

March 1940. "Skiers from Boston relaxing in lodge at North Conway, New Hampshire." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size.