A portrait of a Sioux Indian smoking a cigarette. Photograph by John A. Johnson, c. 1908. View full size.

A Zuni Native-American girl with a pottery jar. Photograph by Edward S. Curtis, c. 1903. View full size.

A Qahatika Native-American child. Photograph by Edward S. Curtis, c. 1907. View full size.

A portrait of two girls seated, one looking at the braided hair of the other. The photograph is by the Tonnesen Sisters of Chicago, c. 1900. The Tonnesen Sisters ran one of the country's first photo studios for the purpose of creating advertising images. They also ran one of the first professional modeling agencies. View full size.

Madam Varela and children pose in 1922. From the National Photo Company collection. The family was likely part of the diplomatic community in Washington. View full size.

A young woman models in a studio for photographer Fitz W. Guerin. No date is recorded with the photo, but it was probably taken around 1902. View full size.

April 1943. A.S. Gerdee of 3251 Maypole Street, Chicago, a switchman at the Proviso Yard of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano, Office of War Information.

Today, a selection of images by the undeservedly obscure Farm Security Administration photographer Theodor Jung. April 1936. "Wife of rehabilitation client. Jackson County, Ohio." 35mm nitrate negative. View full size.

A young model lies in bed with a book. Photo by Fitz W. Guerin, between 1900 and 1903. View full size.

A young woman models, wearing a cowgirl outfit and holding a rope. Photo by Fitz W. Guerin, c. 1902. View full size.

A group portrait with children waving taken on July 24, 1922. The circumstances of the gathering and the location were not recorded, but it was likely taken in the Washington, D.C. area. National Photo Company collection. View full size.

Miss Louise Johnson, from 1920. Her somewhat damaged appearance is maybe appropriate since the Shorpy Mid-Atlantic office is just coming back online after an agonizingly long Internet outage. View full size. National Photo Company.

Models in swimsuits by fashion photographer Toni Frissell, 1950. View full size.

New York City detective Mary Agnes Shanley pulls a pistol out of her handbag. Shanley shows what awaits a pickpocket. She had more than a thousand career arrests. From the New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, 1937. View full size.

French opera singer Marie Delna (1875-1932). Photo from the George Grantham Bain collection. No date recorded. View full size.