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Archive: February 2013 (4 Posts)

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Augustus Washington, Daguerreotypist

Posted by: Jeff Bridgers

Strange as it may appear, whatever may be a colored man’s natural capacity and literary attainments, I believe that, as soon as he leaves the academic halls to mingle in the only society he can find in the United States, unless he be a minister or lecturer, he must and will retrograde. –Augustus Washington, letter …

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Valentine’s Day 2013

Posted by: Jeff Bridgers

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we feature a 120-year-old card. This circa 1890 valentine features a curly-headed angel paddling a flower-laden love boat “Hearts Delight.” The sail bears the inscription: “Pray Sweetheart, send me just a line to say you’ll be my Valentine.”  Happy Valentine’s Day! Learn More: Put a little romance in your life via …

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor winter clothes holds a large, old-style camera

Creative Outpouring: Titling a Picture

Posted by: Barbara Orbach Natanson

While the groundhog has offered us hope of an early spring, we’re pausing to reflect back on the pleasures of last autumn, when we shared photographs and ideas about possible titles for them with readers of the blog and visitors to the National Book Festival.  We’re still savoring the creativity the pictures inspired. All five of …