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No Caption. Photo by Harris & Ewing, between 1923 and 1929. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hec.32717

A Few of My Favorite Things

Posted by: Jan Grenci

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My latest Flickr album – A Few of My Favorite Things – will be my last. I’m retiring from the Library after 34 years. I’ve had the privilege of working with the collections of the Prints & Photographs Division and seeing a lot of great, memorable images. I’ve been able to share many of them through Flickr albums and Picture This blog posts. Most of the images in my last album are ones I haven’t shared before. But who wouldn’t want to show an inspirational message written in grapefruit from the 1942 Imperial County Fair in California?

Exhibit of Grapefruit at the Imperial County Fair, California. Photo by Russell Lee, March, 1942. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8c24291

It’s hard to comprehend the scale of this message from the close-up, so here is a photo of the display from a distance:

Exhibit. Imperial County Fair, California. Photo by Russell Lee, March, 1942. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8c24294

I’ve looked at thousands of posters, and this one reminds me that I’ll now have more time to do my laundry:

Launderland is Spotless. Lithograph, 1928. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.42028

I will strive to be as relaxed as this lounging cat from the Harris & Ewing Collection:

No Caption. Photo by Harris & Ewing, between 1923 and 1929. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hec.32717

Thank you all for reading my blog posts and looking at my Flickr albums. I’m not sure if I’m riding the rails out of town or if I’m waving good-bye, but either way, it’s been a wonderful journey.

Freight train operations on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. At the end of the trip, the engine goes off to the roundhouse as conductor Wolfsmith waves good-bye to the engine crew. Photo by Jack Delano, January, 1943. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8d24426

 

Comments (14)

  1. lentigogirl says:

    Happy trails! Your eye and your voice – and the rest of you as well – will be much missed, but you have had a career to be proud of.

    • Jan Grenci says:

      Thanks lentigogirl!

  2. Arlene Balkansky says:

    Jan, Thanks for all your wonderful posts and years of dedicated work in the Prints & Photographs Division. Congrats on your retirement! I’ve been enjoying life after LOC and sure hope you do too.

  4. Jane Feyl says:

    Thank you for your wonderful posts I look forward to reading every day….so what are your plans for the near-future?

  5. Jeremy Adamson says:

    Long time no see. You done good service! A good eye and fun with it. New life ahead. Enjoy.

  6. Danna B. says:

    Have loved all of your good work and inspiring blogs. Will miss your smiling face but hope that you have a wonderful and relaxing retirement with lots of opportunities to do all of the things you want.

  7. Fran says:

    I absolutely loved the pictorial farewell! Well wishes as you embark on yet another adventure.

  8. Barbara Dash says:

    ‘So sorry to see you go! Thanks for all the wonderful posts and images. I hope you have a nice cat with whom to relax, and I wish you many happy adventures!

  9. Craig Smith says:

    Have a wonderful retirement!
    Thanks for all the cool posts!

  10. Cindy says:

    Congratulations on your retirement!
    I have a mirror exactly like the one behind the cat. It was a wedding gift to my grandparents!

  11. Susan Hormuth says:

    Congrats on your retirement, Jan! I’m sure you will continue to discover more favorite images… and your laundry will be “Spotless!”.

  12. Gay C. says:

    Best wishes to you, Jan. Thanks for sharing your expertise, and special eye for images.

  13. Grace Cordial says:

    Thank you for sharing through all the years.

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