The following is a guest post by Donna Collins, Photo Preservation Specialist, Prints and Photographs Division.
On Valentine’s Day, candy and other sweet treats are popular gifts. With this holiday approaching, I browsed the Prints and Photographs collections featuring shops and stands that displayed such confections. The range of tempting locales was as varied as a sampler-style box of chocolates. Here are a few selections:
Clerks of the Franklin Candy store in Washington, DC, patiently await their customers:
![Franklin Candy Co., [Washington, D.C.] Photo by National Photo Company, between 1921 and 1922. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.30298 Franklin Candy Co., [Washington, D.C.] Photo by National Photo Company, between 1921 and 1922. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/npcc.30298](http://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/files/2014/02/30298v-franklin-candy.jpg)
This marvelous 1940’s RKO movie theatre candy kiosk virtually beckons movie-goers to browse its shelves for the perfect cinema treat:

This unique candy store could make its way to the customer, as seen in this 1922 photo of the mobile shop spotted on the road:

Decisions, decisions … part of the fun is the process of choosing which treat to try! Russell Lee perfectly captured such a moment in Caldwell, Idaho where two little boys are shown considering their candy selection at this open air stand:

No matter the style of the shop, the process of seeking and finding just the right treat adds a special dimension to the experience. With so many images available for browsing, you may feel like a kid in a candy store!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Learn More:
- The National Photo Company Collection features many photographs of Washington, D.C. Explore other candy-related images in the nation’s capital.
- Enjoy the displays at New York City candy shops captured in the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection.
- Tease your sweet tooth with more images of confectioneries full of treats!