St. Augustine, Florida, circa 1890s. "The Alcazar and Cordova from the Ponce de Leon." Three of Henry Flagler's landmark Florida hotels, with a welcome spelled out in Edison lights. 8x10 negative by William Henry Jackson. View full size.

Leatherwood, Kentucky, 1964. "Cornett boys sitting on porch lighting cigarette." From a series of photos made in 1964 and 1972 by William Gedney documenting the lives of Willie and Vivian Cornett, their 12 children and grandchildren. Gedney Photographs Collection, Duke University. View full size.

New York circa 1905. "Dreamland Park at Coney Island." Among the amusements to be sampled: An observation tower, the Bostock trained animal show, a Baltimore Fire cyclorama, the General Bumps ride, a miniature railway, Will Conklin's Illusions, the Temple of Mirth and Hooligan's Dream. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

May 3, 1913. "Fred J. Scherer and Walter Wiley at the start of New York to San Francisco bicycle race." Bain News Service glass negative. View full size.

New York circa 1914. "Mrs. E.S. Cavalli." Welcome to my humble chapeaux. 8x10 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.

Saratoga Springs, New York, circa 1915. "Broadway at the United States Hotel." Looking more than a little like one of those idealized Disney "Main Streets." 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

May 1943. "Melted sulfur from the wells pouring into relay station. Freeport Sulphur Co., Hoskins Mound, Texas." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size.

New York. June 21, 1911. "White Star liner S.S. Olympic guided in by tugboats Geo. K. Kirkham and Downer." Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Post Office money order machine." A sort of typewriter-cash register hybrid. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.

April 25, 1925. "Apple Blossom Festival at Winchester, Virginia." Our second glimpse at these curious goings-on. National Photo Co. View full size.

The Jersey Shore circa 1915. "Atlantic City bathers and Steel Pier." 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

March 1958, my older brother's second birthday. Octopus (no: I'm emending this to Humpty Dumpty) cake, with cousins surrounding. Folksy decor. Is the folksiness peculiar to my parents, who were international folk dancers? Or was it generally popular in that era? Bow ties. Kodachrome, taken on Minolta A range-finder. I've also posted a picture from his birthday a year earlier. View full size.

Florida circa 1890s. "Tampa Pier." A house on the water. 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative by William Henry Jackson Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

Los Angeles circa 1920. "Fifth Street and Spanish-American War monument in Pershing Square." Now playing at Clune's Auditorium Theatre: Henry Walthall in "Confession." Also note the "Pasadena Trip" touring car. View full size.

New Orleans circa 1890. "The Clay Monument, Canal Street." Fascinating details abound in this scene captured by William Henry Jackson: The 1-horsepower horsecar, the ancient carbon-arc lamp suspended from a complicated-looking boom, and much signage. Personal favorites: WIG MANUFACTORY, and logo of the ETV&G (East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia) Railway. View full size.