What do eggs and the sun have in common? They are both vital materials in photographic processes. Both are represented in graphic form in photography related items from the Library’s vast collection of U.S. Patent Office trademark registrations. The collection covers the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the exact moment the photographic industry exploded, becoming accessible to both professionals and amateurs alike. This week’s post will share a sampling of these.
A surprisingly large and dramatic photo from the 1905 American Bowling Congress tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, piqued my curiosity. What other photos do we have of bowling alleys through the years in the collections of the Prints and Photographs Division?
On February 11, 1964 the Beatles played their first concert in the United States at the Washington Coliseum in the nation’s capital. View images from the Prints & Photographs Division collections that document this electrifying event.
The icy winter gloom has us craving pops of color. Before color film was a viable option, photographers and publishers occasionally hand colored images, sometimes in pursuit of realism and sometimes whimsy or warmth. Today’s post presents a selection of hand colored photographs, including daguerreotypes, cartes de visite, and stereographs.
Today’s post features a conversation between photographer Armando Arorizo and Curator of Photojournalism, Adam Silvia, following the acquisition of a portfolio of Arorizo’s work documenting car racing in America. Silvia talked to Arorizo about the trajectory of his career, his experience with different genres of photojournalism, and his commitment to the panoramic format.
For many of us who live in or near cities, public transit is an integral part of our daily lives, helping us to travel to and from our job sites, schools, and countless other destinations. Join us as we explore subway-related images from the collections.
Calling all mid-century fans! Join Reference Librarian, Gillian Mahoney, for a virtual presentation on January 21st to learn more about Charles M. Goodman, one of the D.C. area’s most influential mid-century architects. Best known for his designs for the Hollin Hills neighborhood in Fairfax County, Goodman frequently worked with local builders and developers to make modern houses available to the mass market. This blog post will share a few sample items from the collection in advance of the talk.
Whether you enjoy being out in cold weather or would rather observe a frozen landscape through a window, you’ll find it hard to deny the beauty -- and drama -- of the icicle-laden views featured in this post. Let’s lean into the cold temperatures and feast our eyes on these eye-catching winter scenes.
The long tradition of children writing letters to Santa Claus to ask for special Christmas gifts is pictured in photos from the early 20th century from the Prints & Photographs Division’s collections.
