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Archive: 2023 (52 Posts)

Sailors look through the viewfinders of their handheld cameras near a group of people standing in St. Peter’s Square.

Vatican City, Israel, and Other New Additions to the David “Chim” Seymour Photograph Collection

Posted by: Melissa Lindberg

The following is a guest post by Adam Silvia, Curator of Photography in the Prints & Photographs Division. The Prints & Photographs Division is pleased to announce a gift of 173 additional photographs by the distinguished photojournalist David “Chim” Seymour. Donated to the Library of Congress by the photographer’s nephew, Ben Shneiderman, the pictures reflect …

When the Bench Breaks

Posted by: Jan Grenci

It’s the time of year to enjoy eating in the great outdoors! Last week, a Flickr album of images of picnics launched. I included a photo very similar to this one in the album: The photos were taken in August of 1940 by Marion Post Wolcott when she was working for the Farm Security Administration …

Photo shows three-quarter left rear view of Wright brothers glider in flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Revisiting Rights-Free: Exploring the Wright Brothers Negatives

Posted by: Melissa Lindberg

For lovers of twentieth-century history in general and for aviation enthusiasts specifically, the Prints & Photographs Division’s collection of Wright Brothers Negatives provides a fascinating body of evidence for early developments in aviation technology. All of the images, ranging in date from 1897 to 1928, are digitized and readily available for viewing from anywhere. It …

Posters in the Picture

Posted by: Jan Grenci

Some of my previous blog posts have shown connections between collections housed in the Prints & Photographs (P&P) Division. I am always on the lookout for photos that include posters that are a part of P&P’s holdings. This post will focus on two photos from the American National Red Cross (ANRC) Collection. Both photos include …

People in HABS/HAER/HALS

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

The following is a guest post by Ryan Brubacher, Reference Specialist, Prints & Photographs Division. While chatting with a colleague some time ago, we realized our overlapping interest in finding faces in what the Prints & Photographs Division calls the HABS/HAER/HALS (Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, Historic American Landscapes Survey). She shared …

1. Toni Frissell poses for a photographic portrait with ski poles in front of a snowy mountain.

Here Comes the Sun

Posted by: Jan Grenci

My latest Flickr album – Toni Frissell – The Great Outdoors – showcases the photographer’s work in and with nature. Let’s focus on a few images that feature the sun or spotlight its effects. This photo from 1960 shows the sun rising over a mist-covered racetrack in Saratoga Springs, New York: The sunlight dapples the …

Here’s Looking at You, Mom

Posted by: Jan Grenci

The following is a guest post by Kate Fogle, Assistant Curator of Photography, Prints & Photographs Division. Mom. Simple to say, this monosyllabic version of ‘mother’ entered the American lexicon in the mid-1800s, and its ease of use has yet to waver, as moms throughout the U.S. can attest. It’s a palindrome that conveys comfort …

Faces in Unexpected Places

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

The following is a guest post by Aliza Leventhal, Head, Technical Services, Prints & Photographs Division. Have you ever walked by a building and seen the resemblance of a face? Once you start, it’s hard to stop! While faces are often easiest to see in a building’s exterior elements, they can also be found in …