June 1924. Washington, D.C. "Carl W. Mitman, Curator of Engineering, U.S. National Museum [Smithsonian Institution], holding what is believed to be the first radio tube, made in 1898 by D. McFarlan Moore of New York. Radio waves emanating from this tube ignited a bomb a city block away and blew up a miniature of the Battleship Maine." Harris & Ewing glass plate. View full size.

"Adams Reunion, 1962." Somewhere in Maryland or Pennsylvania, it's Kermy at left with the glasses, sister Janet on the right with tot and Dale with the watch, relationship unknown. A nice day in the cemetery-cornfield. View full size.

Circa 1905 near Christchurch, New Zealand. "Young people with camping gear, having tea and cake in front of tent with 'Clover Camp' sign." These natty campers have even brought umbrellas. Glass plate by Adam Maclay. View full size.

May 1941. "In the convict camp at Greene County, Georgia." The guitarist is bluesman Buddy Moss. Photo by Jack Delano. View full size.

Circa 1914. "Cat in costume piloting toy airplane." Photo by Harry W. Frees, the Ansel Adams of feline kitsch. Or would that be catsch? View full size.

Cos Cob, Connecticut, circa 1908. "Owanoke Prospector's Camp -- Wyndygoul." Camping on the estate of writer-naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, a founder of the Boy Scouts of America. Points of interest in this 8x10 glass plate: many trees camouflaging one ambush. Bain News Service. View full size.

Circa 1906. "YMCA Building, Springfield, Massachusetts." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

      Fifty years ago today in Washington on the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous address under the gaze of Abraham Lincoln, signer of the Emancipation Proclamation 100 years earlier.

August 28, 1963. "Emancipator looking down on demonstrators. Participants in the March on Washington in front of the Lincoln Memorial and massed along both sides of the Reflecting Pool, viewed from behind Abraham Lincoln statue." Photo by James K. Atherton for United Press International. View full size.

Circa 1917. "Motor cars in New Zealand Farmers Co-Op Garage." Glass plate by Samuel Heath Head, Christchurch. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Victory Tire Co., 14th Street N.W." Guaranteed 6,000 miles! National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.

May 1941. "In the convict camp in Greene County, Georgia." A show of hands. Photo by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

October 1937. "Family of Joe Kramer, farmer near Williston, North Dakota." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1919. "U.S. Fuel Administration." What seems to be the Department of Coal. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

1939. "Glascock House, 1109 21st Ave., Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Built 1844 for John Glascock of Virginia." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size.

Detroit circa 1912. "Elliott, Taylor & Woolfenden, first floor." In Dry Goods: New Spring Ginghams and Fine Scotch Zephyrs, as well as a tempting array of Notions. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.