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:

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "McHugh & Lawson window." This holiday season, the high-tech must-haves are "talking machines" and player pianos. Nestled on snow of cotton batting, a display of phonograph records and player-piano rolls. "Santa Claus Time" is, the placard says, "A Descriptive Word Roll of Christmas for Young and Old." National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size.

March 18, 1927. Washington, D.C. "Margo Couzens, daughter of Senator Couzens." An heiress whose early life might be outlined thusly: aspiring artiste; leadfoot horn-honker; teenage bride (eloped); hothead horn-honker; divorcee. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Circa 1910. "Freighter S.S. Utica, New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Line." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

New York circa 1910. "Incline from subway to suburban concourse, Grand Central Terminal." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

Circa 1900. "New York Central R.R. dining room." Full of high-class touches. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1910. "News Tribune newsboys' plunge bath." Someone make these kids a sandwich. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size.

Chelsea, Michigan, circa 1901. "Glazier Stove Company molding room." No matter where Shorpy may roam, he inevitably seems to find his way back to the stove factory. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.