Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Characters" is all they wrote on the label of this National Photo glass negative. Library of Congress annotation: "Photograph shows two African American men sitting on bales of hay and playing instruments outside a barn or stable. One man plays guitar and the other plays a bowed instrument similar to a cello; both men simultaneously play kazoos." View full size.

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1925. "Children" is all it says here. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

January 7, 1925. Washington, D.C. "Scientists of Naval Observatory with special camera to photograph eclipse of sun." 5x7 glass negative. View full size.

January 24, 1925. "President & Mrs. Coolidge viewing eclipse of sun at White House." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1928. "Fussell-Young Ice Cream Co. trucks." Harking back to the days when ice cream was local. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size.

Prince George's County, Maryland, circa 1923. "First National Bank, Mount Rainier." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

        Connoisseurs of anodyne architecture will be pleased to learn that this building still stands.

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Hill Bldg., 17th and Eye Streets N.W." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Jewish Community Center bowling alley." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Herbert E. French, photographer, in office." The proprietor of the National Photo Company, stylishly coordinated with a natty three-button desk. 8x6 inch glass negative, National Photo Co. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1910. "Riggs House formerly, 15th and G Sts. N.W." The 19th-century hotel was soon demolished to make way for a much larger office building. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Garage elevator wreck." Coming back up will be trickier, if less spectacular. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Planograph Building, L Street N.E." Where business was flat. 8x10 inch glass negative, National Photo Co. View full size.

        Considered a long shot to win the nomination, Warren Harding was elected in a landslide. After 29 months in the White House, he died of a heart attack.

Washington, D.C., circa 1919. "Senator Warren G. Harding, Republican of Ohio." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

June 16, 1923. "Semaphore signals -- Boy Scouts at Lincoln Memorial." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

August 2, 1924. Washington, D.C. "F.R. Hudzik & H.W. Hornbrook." And that's all they wrote. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.