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.
Vintage photos of:

April 4, 1963. "Morgan Library, East 36th Street, New York City. Conservation room. Alexander P. Morgan, architect." A clean, well-lighted workspace. Large-format acetate negative by Samuel H. Gottscho. View full size.

March 1923. Washington, D.C. "Western Union telegram -- electric code machine." Jazz Age cryptography? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Circa 1908. "North Adams, Massachusetts -- Wilson Hotel." With "first-class moving pictures" at the Empire Theatre. 8x10 glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas, Texas." A second look at the auto-tourists seen here yesterday, and their modified Model T Ford. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas, Texas, in auto tourist camp." A novelty that would evolve into tourist cabins of the 1920s and '30s, the motor courts of the '40s and '50s and culminate in the motor hotel, or "motel." Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.

UPDATE: The Library of Congress has given this photo a caption.
September 3, 1929. "Maryland youth breaks pole sitting record. William Ruppert, 14-year-old youth of Colgate, Maryland, as he appeared atop the flagpole in the yard of his home yesterday after breaking the pole sitting record of 23 days set by Shipwreck Kelly. Young Ruppert, who started his sitting on August 1, has worn out three pairs of trousers so far. He says he expects to stay up 30 days more. The pole is 18 feet high." Note the light bulb rigged to the seat. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Harvey and William Peck and pets, E Street N.W." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.