One of three circa 1921 glass negatives in the Bain archive labeled "Orloff." Who can identify this diaphanously draped mystery girl? The photo would have been taken in or around New York. George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.

April 21, 1927. "Do ducks swim? Misses Eugenia Dunbar and Mary Moose." The main focus here is of course the horse trough, once a common item of street furniture in many big cities. National Photo glass negative. View full size.

"Blizzard, January 28, 1922." In Washington, D.C., freezing weather is no match for a sunny disposition. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size.

"Bathing beach, 1920." Seven lovelies at the Potomac bathing beach near the Tidal Basin. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Los Angeles, February 1947. "Young upcoming Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe practicing in dance class." Photo by J.R. Eyerman. View full size.

Hollywood, February 1947. "Movie starlet Marilyn Monroe." And the world's luckiest phone book. Photograph by J.R. Eyerman. View full size.

Winnetka, Illinois. June 1950. "Student Rue Lawrence wearing frilly summer dress and bright lipstick in classroom at New Trier High School." Rue was on the cover of the October 16, 1950, issue of Life. Color transparency by Alfred Eisenstaedt, Life magazine photo archive. View full size.

From a set of Kodaslide transparencies found in a mailer postmarked 8/12/40; rate was 1½ cents from Rochester, NY (developed by Kodak) to Paul Smiths, NY. The rest of the set is here. View full size.

June 1921. Eleanor Tierney at Starlight Park on the Bronx River at 177th Street. Eleanor, a Broadway chorus girl, married a banker and ended up in Larchmont. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.

"Mack Sennett Girl," circa 1919. Actress Marvel Rea, one of film producer Mack Sennett's well-rounded "bathing girls," in somewhat moldy National Photo glass negative. From a series of pictures using cars and tires as props. View full size.

August 2, 1926. "Miss Marjorie Joesting." Our second look at Marjorie, who was Miss Washington, D.C., and a Miss America runner-up at Atlantic City. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

"National American Ballet." August 20, 1924. Our svelte dancers take a dip in or around Washington, D.C. National Photo glass negative. View full size.

August 2, 1926. "Miss Marjorie Joesting." Marjorie, the future Mrs. Arthur Lange, was both Miss Washington, D.C., and a Miss America runner-up at Atlantic City in 1926. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

April 14, 1925. "Margaret Gorman with 'Long Goodie.' " Margaret, the Girl With the Crocodile Car, was the first-ever Miss America. National Photo Company Collection glass negative, Library of Congress. View full size.

1921. "Margaret Gorman in Birmingham car." Whose reptilian body has an alligator finish. In 1921 Margaret was both the first Miss Washington, D.C., and the first Miss America. View full size. National Photo Company glass negative.