Say Cheese!
23 photos
Any way you slice it, cheese is a popular food the world round. It comes in every form, texture, and flavor, and is eaten in countless ways. Stay sharp, and melt into this assortment of...
Give Me a Ring
26 photos
Telephones used to have a singular purpose - making a call! They mostly stayed in place - on a table, a desk, a wall, or even inside a phone booth on the side of the road. Take a look back at images...
Light and Shadow
17 photos
All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow." ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina. This album highlights examples of the dance of light and shadow as...
Sweet 16 - A Golden Birthday for Flickr Commons
16 photos
On January 16, 2024, we celebrate the Flickr Commons' 16th birthday as a gold mine for pictures. Enjoy these pictorial scenes featuring a "golden" or "sixteen" connection (some...
On the Ice
22 photos
Whether you prefer playing hockey, jumping barrels, performing a double-axel, or simply circling the rink, lace up your ice skates and enjoy these images of a favorite winter activity.
The Empire State Building
20 photos
The Empire State Building has had a commanding presence in the New York City skyline since its construction began in 1930. Take a trip through time with these varied views of the landmark structure.
Stereographs of Fairs and Expositions
27 photos
Step back in time with these stereographic views of World's Fairs, expositions, and exhibitions. Stereographs consist of two nearly identical photographs, paired to produce the illusion of a single...
Toni Frissell Dog Photography Part Two
22 photos
Enjoy the second installment of Toni Frissell photos of dogs, which turn up often among over 50,000 color slides and transparencies in the Toni Frissell Collection.
Let's Go Shopping
26 photos
The U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection (photos taken 1952-1986) depicts local, national, and international news topics, with particular emphasis on Washington, D.C., and the...
If the Shoe Fits
28 photos
Loafers, sneakers, heels, espadrilles, cowboy boots, saddle shoes, brogues, work boots, galoshes and more can be found in this assortment of images from the holdings of the Prints & Photographs...
FSA/OWI Double Exposures
9 photos
These photos are a part of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Administration Photograph Collection. To create a double or multiple exposure, a photographer using an analog camera shoots...
Picnics
28 photos
Pack your basket, grab your blanket, and enjoy these picnic-themed images from the Prints & Photographs Division.
Toni Frissell - The Great Outdoors
24 photos
Delight in nature and alfresco activities shines through in Toni Frissell's color photography. To explore more of her color work at the Library of Congress, check out past themed albums that feature...
You've Got Mail
28 photos
Who doesn't like getting mail? Enjoy these images of all things postal from the collections of the Prints & Photographs Division.
Shave and a Haircut
28 photos
Barbers and beauticians at work sprucing up their customers, as well as images related to their trades, make up this group of images from the collections of the Prints & Photographs Division.
Toni Frissell Dog Photography Part One
26 photos
Recently, scans of over 50,000 color slides and transparencies from the Toni Frissell Collection were made available through the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC). Frissell's love of dogs...
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
24 photos
Snowy images from the holdings of the Prints and Photographs Division may satisfy your urge to be walking in a winter wonderland.
The Life Aquatic
28 photos
Dive in to this set of eclectic images related to aquatic activities and undersea life, both real and imaginary. Enjoy the view above and below the waves.
How Do You Like These Apples?
24 photos
There isn't a bad apple in this bunch of images from the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress.
Strike Up the Brass Band
28 photos
Please enjoy these images of various members of the brass instrument family. From the cornet to the sousaphone, who can resist their sounds?
Signs of America by Carol M. Highsmith
24 photos
This collection highlights signs of varying shapes and sizes promoting restaurants, motels, stores, and more. All photographs were taken by Carol M. Highsmith.
Toni Frissell Fashion Photography
32 photos
Recently, scans of over 50,000 color slides and transparencies from the Toni Frissell Collection were made available through the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC). With such an abundance...
Fireworks
24 photos
The images gathered for this album show that fireworks aren't just for the 4th of July, America's biggest day for pyrotechnic displays. Other celebrations use the bright, booming illuminations to...
Stars and Stripes
27 photos
In 1777, Congress first recognized a 13 star and 13 stripe flag as the national flag of the United States. Witness the evolution and varied depictions of the American flag through these images from...
Eyeglasses
28 photos
Eyeglasses, spectacles, monocles, pince-nez, and bifocals - these aids to clear vision have been worn for centuries. Take a peek at this assortment of images of eyewear from the collections of the...
The Importance of Being Oscar
16 photos
In honor of World Intellectual Property Day (April 26) we offer this set of portraits of poet and playwright Oscar Wilde by photographer Napoleon Sarony taken during Wilde's 1882 North American tour....
Reading
27 photos
Books, magazines, newspapers, and the funny pages. You'll find people of all ages reading those and more in this album.
See more examples in the Picture This blog Picturing a Love of Reading.
Women Photographers of the Farm Security...
33 photos
Between 1935 and 1944, Esther Bubley, Marjory Collins, Dorothea Lange, and Marion Post Wolcott traveled the United States photographing for the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information....
Winter Warmth and Light
25 photos
Let these images of candles, lanterns and fireplaces provide you with some winter warmth and light while it is cold and dark outside.
Enjoy a little more winter in our Picture This blog: Posters of...
Bernard Gotfryd Photojournalism
19 photos
Bernard Gotfryd (1924-2016) became a photojournalist for Newsweek in 1957 and had a 30-year career with the magazine. He gave the Library of Congress his archive of color slides from magazine jobs...
Mirrors & Reflections
28 photos
May these images of mirrors and reflections provide opportunities for contemplation as you consider a passing year, celebrate accomplishments, mourn losses, and hope for what lies ahead. To see even...
Let's Bake
18 photos
Bakers, start your ovens! It's holiday baking season! Get out your measuring cups, cookie sheets, and Bundt pans. Perhaps these images of butter and baking will inspire you. They not only show people...
Japanese Americans: Incarceration in WWII
30 photos
Can you help us identify some of the people depicted or tell us more about these photographs? War Relocation Authority photographs depict Japanese Americans before and during World War II and their...
Anthony Angel's New York City
30 photos
Anthony Angel (1906-1967) photographed New York City street scenes and buildings day after day. The work he bequeathed to the Library of Congress includes around 60,000 images that show many angles...
Back to School
36 photos
Time to go back to school. Pack your lunch, get to the bus stop, and enjoy these images of school days past.
Looking for more classroom experience? Have a look at Picture This blog posts:
Absorbing...
Dog Stars
33 photos
Having a ruff day? These images of man's (and everyone's) best friend, which span the centuries and show our canine companions at work and at play, should cheer you right up.
Looking for more dog...
Corn
27 photos
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow and corn season is almost upon us. Some of the corn in these images looks like it will be knee high by the 4th of July. Some looks to be as high as an...
Pride in the Library
21 photos
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the U.S. during the month of June. These images of artists, writers, playwrights, photographers,...
African American Children in the Civil War
21 photos
This collection highlights representation of Black children during the American Civil War (1861-1865), including engravings and photographs from the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War...
Presidential Pets
28 photos
People of all political persuasions love their pets, and that includes our Presidents and their families. We hope that you enjoy this selection of First Pets. Then, if you want to feel more warm and...
Gordon Parks - Black Life in War-Time America
23 photos
Gordon Parks was a prolific African-American photographer who was awarded a fellowship from the Julius Rosenwald Fund which led to his work with the Farm Security Administration/Office of War...
Grain Elevators
25 photos
Grain elevators, operated with steam power starting in the 1840s, sped up the process of unloading grain from trains and boats and kept the grain safe and dry before it was sold. The striking...
Mystery Stereographs
75 photos
We're posting unidentified stereo views and could really use your help to figure out who or what is shown.
Looking for more stereographs? Browse or search among the thousands of stereograph cards...
African American Activists
39 photos
In tribute to African American History Month, please enjoy these portraits of African American activists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The images are frequently requested by...
Nature's Holiday Décor of Yore
20 photos
These historical graphics from the United States remind us of the many gifts of nature that were traditionally incorporated into celebrations of the winter season.
Looking for more inspiration from...
Coffee or Tea?
34 photos
Do you like to start your day with a hot cup of joe? Or do you prefer a nice cup of tea? Whatever beverage gets you going, all of these images should warm you up on a chilly day.
Then let your cup...
It's Raining Umbrellas
33 photos
Come rain or come shine, an umbrella is the perfect accessory. Sample an array of umbrellas and parasols popping up in a variety of contexts in Library of Congress pictures.
Want to see more? Pop...
You Say Tomato!
25 photos
You say tomato, I say great image! Whether called tomato, love apple, or solanum lycopersicum, this red fruit, can be enjoyed in a sauce, as part of a Caprese salad, or eaten fresh off the vine....
Beaches & Boardwalks
25 photos
People out and about on beaches and boardwalks are a sure sign that it’s time for some summer fun in the sun. You can enjoy these images from the comfort of your home and avoid the...
220th Birthday Salute to the Library of Congress
16 photos
Your favorite national Library in the U.S. celebrated its 220th birthday on April 24, 2020! Starting on our birthday, we posted pictures about different aspects of the Library for a week. Please also...
Flickr Commons 12th Anniversary Mystery Photos...
13 photos
Celebrating 12 years of sharing through the Flickr Commons with a pictorial countdown and a challenge! We posted 13 uncaptioned photographs leading up to the 12th Flickr Commons anniversary in 2020...
Purrfect Cats
48 photos
Examples of cat images from the 18th to the 21st centuries illustrate that felines have regularly provided inspiration to artists working in many media. From the deft wash drawing of Hokusai...
Angels of the Battlefields: Nurses
35 photos
View the faces of the nineteenth century women who marshaled resources, medical skill, and courage to offer help in wartime. Florence Nightingale is credited with being the founder of modern nursing...
Flickr Commons 11th Anniversary Extravaganza
22 photos
Celebrating 11 years of sharing through the Flickr Commons with pictures having an “eleven-ish” connection (some of the connections are subtle!).
For reflections on the many benefits the of...
Civil War Veterans
30 photos
We salute veterans of the American Civil War and other wars in which members of the U.S. armed forces fought, as well as the nurses who provided vital support, with these portraits from the...
Baseball Americana
24 photos
For the enjoyment of sports fans and photo fans alike, this set of old (old) pictures illustrates how baseball came to be known as the “national pastime” in the United States.
You’ll see...
Not an Ostrich
30 photos
To engage interest in American history and culture, more than 250 rights-free photographs were among the 440 images selected for a lively exhibition called “Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from...
Emily Howland Photograph Album
48 photos
A previously unrecorded portrait of Harriet Tubman is now available online, among 48 abolitionists, suffragists, teachers, and statesmen gathered together in a photo album that belonged to Emily...
1930s-40s in Color
1615 photos
These vivid color photos from the Great Depression and World War II capture an era generally seen only in black-and-white. Photographers working for the United States Farm Security Administration...
News in the 1910s
27535 photos
Welcome to the daily news scene from almost a hundred years ago, as photographed by the Bain News Service in about 1910-1912. We invite your tags and comments! Also, lots more identification...
Great Comments! THANK YOU!
57 photos
(2012 Update) Redoubling our thanks on the fourth anniversary of our participation in Flickr, we have added some more examples of wonderful contributions from Flickr members. For further reflections...
Photochrom Travel Views
2403 photos
A love of travel inspires so many photos on Flickr that we hope you'll enjoy taking a century-old "grand tour." Our Photochrom Print Collection shows Europe, the Middle East, and Canada as...
Civil War Faces
1225 photos
In remembrance of the Union and Confederate soldiers who served in the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Liljenquist Family recently donated their rare collection of almost 700 ambrotype and...
Gottlieb Jazz Photos
1601 photos
Celebrated jazz artists come to life in photographs by William P. Gottlieb. His images document the jazz scene in New York City and Washington, D.C., from 1938 to 1948, a time recognized by many as...
Roadside America
4581 photos
Take a journey along U.S. main streets, byways, and highways through photographs taken by John Margolies between 1969 and 2008. We’ll be continuously adding images from the Margolies archive of...
Mystery Photos — What's the Story?
114 photos
Have a look at these uncaptioned photographs and see if you can figure out what the story is behind them.
The studio of Harris & Ewing (George Washington Harris and Martha Ewing) photographed...
Random Wonders
201 photos
A wonderfully random introduction to the fascinating pictures available to all through the many different collections at the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs research center.
Flickr Commons 10th Anniversary Countdown
10 photos
A pictorial countdown to our 10th anniversary of sharing images in the Flickr Commons.
For reflections on the many benefits the ten years of sharing in Flickr have brought, see these Prints and...
Meet More Treasures
26 photos
The Prints & Photographs Online Catalog has a great new look and a new address: www.loc.gov/pictures
This set of images introduces 25 more of the Library of Congress’ remarkable visual...
Your LOC Favorites
19 photos
Could you pick just ten favorite photographs from the LOC account on Flickr?
More than 20 people took up the challenge and created great galleries, often with interesting comments about why a...
FSA/OWI Favorites
25 photos
“Migrant Mother,” by Dorothea Lange, is the most famous photo in the Library of Congress. This 1936 portrait of Florence Thompson and her children symbolizes both economic hardship and the...
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
22 photos
Photography figured prominently in Abraham Lincoln’s life. The 200th anniversary of his birth offers a fitting occasion to enjoy treasured portraits from the Library of Congress collections....
Frequent Flyer Favorites
29 photos
A core group of regular contributors identifies new photographs each week and alerts the Flickr Commons group to what's new.
To highlight their good work in 2013, we asked for their...
Mystery Pictures - Solved!
29 photos
TERRIFIC! We initially asked for help to identify 22 travel views. Within a few days, Flickr members had identified every single photo. With: great confirmation from old & new pictures, links...
Russian Empire in Color
38 photos
Here's a hearty toast to Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii--the master of early color photography in Russia, on the occasion of his 150th birthday, August 30, 2013!
Please try your own hand at...
Child Labor & Lewis Hine
76 photos
Working as an investigative photographer for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), Lewis Hine (1874-1940) portrayed working and living conditions of children in the United States between 1908...
Celebrating Flickr Commons
29 photos
When Flickr launched The Commons on January 16, 2008, they created a new opportunity for all of us to enjoy historical photographs in a more networked way.
To mark this 5th birthday, the Library of...
War of the Nations, 1919
50 photos
During the World War I era (1914-18), leading newspapers took advantage of a new printing process that dramatically altered their ability to reproduce images. Rotogravure printing, which produced...
World War I Panoramas
15 photos
These long panoramic photographs show U. S. military personnel and camps, patriotic parades, and European battlefields and cemeteries related to WWI. We invite your tags and comments!
Want to see...
Bridges
14 photos
The Flickr Commons has connected us all so well to a bounty of historic photo collections that we selected glorious pictures of bridges to count down to the Jan. 16th official anniversary in 2016....
Women Striving Forward, 1910s–40s
43 photos
Originally compiled to commemorate International Women’s Day (March 8), we continue to add pictures that highlight the many arenas in which women have striven individually and collectively not...
LOC Itself
35 photos
To provide an online tour of the LOC for everyone, this set offers photos from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive. Symbols of knowledge and wisdom abound in the Thomas Jefferson Building, which opened to...
Best of Civil War Faces
61 photos
Our collection of rare portraits from the American Civil War has grown so wonderfully large that we asked the donor, Tom Liljenquist, to pick out his 30 favorites as an introduction.
Only 30? Not...
America's Cup
23 photos
Sail through nearly twenty years of America's Cup challenges through this album, selected by Flickr member Charley Seavey.
Drawing on his knowledge of this historic match race and his close...
Top Favorites
30 photos
A gathering of images that Flickr members favorited the most during the first ten years of the Library of Congress participation in the Flickr Commons (2008-2018).
Japanese Prints: Seasons & Places
25 photos
In Japanese culture, art, and literature, the four seasons are often linked with famous places (meisho), annual festivals, and the thoughtful appreciation of natural phenomena including winter snow,...
Muybridge & Animal Locomotion
26 photos
Photographer Eadweard Muybridge (April 9, 1830 - May 8, 1904), was an early innovator in the recording of movement. Muybridge used multiple cameras to record successive phases of movement and...
Happy New Year!
26 photos
Among the many ways to celebrate the start of a new year, the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the most colorful. Photographer Carol M. Highsmith captured the exuberance of the...
Story of the Blue Garden
23 photos
Every photo is a story waiting to be discovered. Using Frances Benjamin Johnston's lantern slides as a jumping off point, Prints and Photographs Division reference librarian Kristi Finefield...
Gardening in Color
682 photos
May the beauty captured in these historical magic lantern slides inspire you with new gardening ideas. Or, make you wonder how these places look today. (Please post pictures of what you find in the...
Photographer in the Picture
54 photos
Update 8/19/11: More inspiration! Some of the suggestions you made spurred thoughts of how we could commemorate two anniversaries:
•the opening salvos of the Civil War and the beginning of the...
Mystery Houses
68 photos
We need your help to identify 68 photos of historic structures.
The photographer, Frances Benjamin Johnston, did leave a basic clue for each image—the state and county name. So much more could be...
Civil Rights -- A Long Road
20 photos
Photographers working in the 1930s and 1940s for the Farm Security Administration documented social and economic conditions experienced by African Americans that called out for redress. In the...
WPA Posters
50 photos
When making your New Year’s resolutions this year, why not take some advice from the New Deal? Many of these WPA posters offer maxims that are just as relevant today as they were 75 years ago. To...
Bookplate Challenge
25 photos
This album of bookplates (aka Ex Libris) features exquisite, tiny works of art that reflect the personal sensibilities of their owners. We challenge you to find portraits for these people and post...
Illustrated Newspaper Supplements
463 photos
Step back in time to see the news as it happened! This set of cover pages from the New York Tribune illustrated supplements begins with the year 1909. The pages are derived from the Chronicling...
Gilded Age Humor
25 photos
Welcome to Puck--a weekly humor magazine founded by the talented artist and cartoonist Joseph Keppler in the mid-1870s,
commenting on political and social issues of the day. Its popularity grew with...
Framing the West
22 photos
Welcome to a visual feast of iconic landscapes, from the Carson Desert sand dunes to the Canyon de Chelly, the dramatic Shoshone Falls, and more!
Master photographer Timothy O’Sullivan...
Gettysburg
16 photos
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1-3, 1863, at a small town in Pennsylvania. With an estimated 50,000 Confederate and Union casualties, the battle was a major turning point in the...
Civil War - 3D Viewing
20 photos
The start of the American Civil War in 1861 coincided with a surge in stereo photography—a technique that makes it possible to see photos with three-dimensional depth. A pair of images combines...