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Archive: 2018 (52 Posts)

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

“Not an Ostrich”—Exhibition of Library of Congress Photos

Posted by: Barbara Orbach Natanson

The following is a guest post by Beverly Brannan, Curator of Photography; Adam Silvia, Associate Curator of Photography; and Helena Zinkham, Chief, Prints and Photographs Division. The Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles, California, has created a lively exhibition called “Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library.” In support of the show, …

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

Celebrating Libraries Everywhere – Including in the Open Air!

Posted by: Barbara Orbach Natanson

We’re well into National Library Week, the week that is set aside each April to celebrate the contributions of libraries and librarians (although I’ll note that in my family–composed of many librarians–we celebrate libraries and librarians every day!). What better time to browse through pictures in our collections relating to public libraries? Two, in particular, caught …

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

Spring Fling at the Library

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

Spring in Washington, D.C., is marked by changing weather, gardens coming back to life and of course, cherry blossoms. The famous cherry blossom trees surrounding the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial, a gift from Japan more than a century ago, are nearing peak bloom which also means peak volume of visitors to view them! To …

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

Child Artists at Work

Posted by: Lara Szypszak

There is a well-known quote by Pablo Picasso, which goes like this: Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Perhaps these words appeal to me because they touch on the delightful imagination a child possesses, and how freely that creativity is expressed through art with …

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

Pictures that Make Us Happy

Posted by: Melissa Lindberg

The Prints and Photographs Division’s collections include images that evoke every possible emotion. This year’s International Day of Happiness – designated by the United Nations to recognize that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” and to help more people meet that goal –  felt like a fitting time to take an informal …

Portrait of Harriet Tubman. Photo by Benjamin F. Powelson, 1868 or 1869. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.54230

Celebrating Harriet Tubman and the Emily Howland Album

Posted by: Barbara Orbach Natanson

Last week, Prints and Photographs Division staff had an opportunity to participate in Washington, D.C.’s first annual celebration of Harriet Tubman Day, which represented several very satisfying convergences. The official Harriet Tubman Day is March 10th, the date of Tubman’s death (the date of her birth is not known). The celebration was held March 8th  …

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

Take a Trip with Souvenir Viewbooks

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

The following is a guest post by Jan Grenci, Reference Specialist for Posters, Prints and Photographs Division. When you take a vacation, do you buy souvenirs to remember the sights you see? Over the past few months, several reference staff members and I worked on a project to improve the access and housing of the …

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

Caught Our Eyes: Canine Cart Trip

Posted by: Barbara Orbach Natanson

Photo preservation specialist Donna Collins recently added this photo to the “eye catching” images we share on our conference room  wall. Donna noted, “For those of us who’ve shared the joyful experience of inviting an enthusiastic dog (or two) to hop in the car for a ride, the composition of this photo recently caught my …

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

Remembering the African American Soldiers of the 9th U.S. Volunteer Infantry

Posted by: Barbara Orbach Natanson

The following is a guest post by Jonathan Eaker, Reference Librarian, Prints & Photographs Division. Recently while going through some military photos in our collection I came across a set of twelve undigitized group portraits showing African American soldiers at the time of the Spanish American War. The photos launched me on research about a …