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Category: Photographs

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 …

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 …

Finding Pictures: In Celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

April is National Arab American Heritage Month. Save an hour this Wednesday afternoon to get a peek into how the Prints & Photographs Division’s collections provide visual insight into the lives and accomplishments of Arab Americans. Sara W. Duke, Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art, will share a wide array of images related to …

Library Photos by Robert Dawson

Posted by: Kristi Finefield

The following is a guest post by Helena Zinkham, Chief, Prints & Photographs Division. In celebration of National Library Week (April 23-29, 2023), please take a moment to enjoy a brand new acquisition in the Prints & Photographs Division – “The Global Library Project” by master photographer Robert Dawson. The theme of National Library Week …