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Vintage photos of:
Our holdings include hundreds of glass and film negatives/transparencies that we've scanned ourselves; in addition, many other photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs) in the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) They are adjusted, restored and reworked by your webmaster in accordance with his aesthetic sensibilities before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here. All of these images (including "derivative works") are protected by copyright laws of the United States and other jurisdictions and may not be sold, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without permission.
[REV 25-NOV-2014]
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March 19, 1942, in the birthplace of the transistor. "Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey. Drafting room. Voorhees, Walker, Foley & Smith, architect." Large-format acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size.
February 1942. "Portrait of a mistreated vacuum cleaner. It's in the repair shop because it inhaled bits of metal, pieces of wire, hairpins, and other harmful objects. Keep the machine away from such things, clean the brushes and belt regularly, and empty the bag at least once a week." Actually, if your Hoover looks anything like this, you should probably just incinerate it by burning down your filthy house. Photo by Ann Rosener, Office for Emergency Management. View full size.
1958. "Photos show life in Texas. Coverage is broad. Among the many subjects covered are ranching, rodeos, the Texas State Fair." Somewhere in there was this buckaroo and his Buick. From photos by Earl Theisen for the Look magazine assignment "Revolution in Texas: Change on the Range." View full size.
Promoters of a proposed "national highway" that would traverse the continent via Washington from New York to Southern California.
Circa 1926. "Mrs. J.A. Whitcomb (Official Car, Lee Highway Association, Cross Continent Trip, at White House)." National Photo glass negative. View full size.
October 1943. Washington, D.C. "Servicemen and girl at a party." Our title comes from the bookshelf, although it could be from the girl. Strategically, her companion has the right idea: Get your lady comfortable with food and drink, and maybe a pillow. Add conversation and stir. Operationally, though, we'd say the execution needs work. Photo by Esther Bubley, Office of War Information. View full size.
August 1942. "Testing small diameter, high-speed twist drills, these women employed by Republic Drill & Tool, Chicago, roll the drills down a slight incline to determine regularity of diameter. It's a job requiring patience and finger dexterity, and these young women possess those definite feminine propensities for just such work." Photo by Ann Rosener, Office of War Information. View full size.
Summer 1963. "Julie Andrews on the set of the film Mary Poppins." Kodachrome from photos by Earl Theisen for the Look magazine assignment "Julie Andrews Goes to Hollywood." Today, with the opening of Saving Mr. Banks, you can see the 2013 Hollywood version of the story behind the making of this 50-year-old Hollywood version of the 80-year-old P.L. Travers story. View full size.
Washington, D.C., 1914. "Alley clearance -- slum views." (Seen earlier here.) Familiar fixtures from a century ago include the gas lamp, maypole-style phone pole and a turnbuckle star. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
Colorado circa 1900. "In the Royal Gorge, Arkansas River, Rio Grande Southern Railway." 8x10 glass negative by William Henry Jackson. View full size.
Spring 1942. "Detroit. Fashion show presented by the Chrysler Girls' Club of the Chrysler Corp. at Saks Fifth Avenue store. Girl modeling a corselette." Photo by Arthur Siegel (of Card Game fame), Office of War Information. View full size.
New Zealand circa 1910. "Group men outside a tent with a sign reading 'The Gaiety Camp,' showing each man performing domestic duties. Probably Christchurch district." It would be interesting to know something about the history of these elaborate camps (note the geranium flower beds), and how long the custom lasted. Photo by Adam Maclay, who made hundreds of these portraits. View full size.
From the Linda Kodachromes, circa 1957, comes this unlabeled slide of posters for the school Christmas play on December 16, so get your tickets soon. WHS is, as near as we can figure, Whitefield High School in New Hampshire. View full size.
Lana Turner as shot for Look magazine. Which was, basically, an imitation of Life.
June 1951. "Actress Lana Turner lunching poolside at the Coral Casino in Santa Barbara, Calif." From photos by Earl Theisen for Look magazine. View full size.
Crockett, Calif., circa 1915. "South view of refinery and entrance to Loring Avenue." Plant of the California & Hawaii Sugar Refining Co. View full size.
May 1942. "Southington, Connecticut. Where Southington folk buy their magazines." Photo by Fenno Jacobs, Office of War Information. View full size.