Shorpy Historic Photo Archive - Best Pix on the Net

Swartzell R.R.: 1925

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:21:16 +0000

December 11, 1925. Washington, D.C. "Margaret Swartzell -- Swartzell railroad system." Not just a model train, it's a "system" -- who can tell us more? National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Charleston: 1902

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:57:31 +0000

Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1902. "Residence on Hasell Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Center Street: 1904

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:06:01 +0000

Circa 1904. "Center Street, Rutland, Vermont." Our second look at this charming town. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

Dr. Downing: 1901

Dave — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:36:49 +0000

Lexington, Massachusetts, circa 1901. "Harrington House." The residence of one Dr. Bertha C. Downing. Detroit Publishing Co. glass negative. View full size.

The Unknown Scrummers: 1920

Dave — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:30:26 +0000

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. The caption just says "football." Who can identify the venue? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Catching Some Rays: 1904

Dave — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:23:54 +0000

Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1904. "On the beach." Someone pass the Coppertone, please. 8x10 dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.

Wabash Avenue L: 1900

Dave — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:34:39 +0000

September 1, 1900. "Wabash Avenue north from Adams Street, Chicago." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

The White Menace: 1939

Dave — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:55:13 +0000

January 14, 1939. "National Capital digs out after storm. Nearly five inches of snow blanketed Washington yesterday, followed by sleet. Icy steps made the going to and from the Capitol difficult until workmen arrived this morning and scraped away the menace." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Joined by Fiat: 1974

tterrace — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:02:07 +0000

Another mirth-provoking look at the clothing, footwear and vehicle choices of the 70s, just a bit down the street from a similar scene three years earlier. This time, in January 1974, I join my brother and sister-in-law in a pose by their now different green foreign car, a Fiat station wagon. I'll leave it up to the chorus of commenters as to whether the various changes overall represent progress or regression. I'll only say that once again, my sister-in-law is the most stylish. Kodachrome 64 slide from my brother's camera. View full size.

War of the Worlds: 1905

Dave — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:02:17 +0000

Detroit circa 1905. "The Campus Martius." This middle section of a three-part panorama features City Hall and one of Detroit's celebrated arc-lamp standards, or "moonlight towers" -- appropriately reminiscent of Wells and Verne in a plaza named after Mars. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size.

The Pompeia: 1901

Dave — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:09:16 +0000

Saratoga Springs, New York, circa 1901. "Atrium in the House of Pansa." Replica of an ancient Roman home at the Pompeia, a museum in the upstate New York resort town of Saratoga Springs offering "Illustrations of History and Art." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

A Streetcar Named Henry: 1905

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:42:39 +0000

Back to the sunny South circa 1905. "Carondelet Street, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Frosted Fifth: 1905

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:47:07 +0000

New York circa 1905. "Fifth Avenue after a snow storm." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Tidily Trimmed: 1901

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:45:48 +0000

Mississippi circa 1901. "Gate to the Hamilton residence, Bay St. Louis." Mrs. Hamilton, perhaps, showing off her neatly sculpted entryway. View full size.

Indianapolis: 1905

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:45:07 +0000

Circa 1905. "Commercial Club building, Indianapolis, Indiana." Looking west on Pearl Street at South Meridian. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size | Detail

Camp and Canal: 1905

Dave — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:54:41 +0000

New Orleans circa 1905. "Camp Street." A different perspective on the previously posted view along Canal Street. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size.

Nawlins: 1903

Dave — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:15:02 +0000

Circa 1903. The caption for this glass negative has been misplaced -- who will be the first person to identify this city and its famous thoroughfare? UPDATE: And the answer is, as most guessers correctly guessed, Canal Street in New Orleans! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Wabash Bridge: 1908

Dave — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:49:54 +0000

Circa 1908. "Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Wabash Bridge, Monongahela River." Back when Pittsburgh was sans H. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size.

That Toddlin Town: 1900

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:44:48 +0000

September 1, 1900. Chicago, Illinois. "Madison Street east from Fifth Avenue." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Napoleon House: 1905

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:22:22 +0000

New Orleans circa 1905. "Napoleon House, Chartres Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Lush Life: 1937

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:10:54 +0000

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Jane Grier." Pictured with a Packard near the old State, War and Navy building. Harris & Ewing Collection. View full size.

F.B.I. Artiste: 1938

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:08:29 +0000

October 19, 1938. Washington, D.C. "F.B.I. messenger to exhibit paintings in one-man show. William Samuel Noisette, 37, who is just plain Sam to regular visitors at the office of J. Edgar Hoover, head G-Man, yesterday issued a statement to the press, and when close-mouthed Sam issues a statement, it's news. Sam's statement started out with crime and criminals, but that was just a teaser to lure the reader into the real subject of the release -- Sam's annual one-man art show, to be held at the local YMCA in Washington. Sam is shown with a view of Yellowstone Park painted in 1935, from a Kodak map. He has worked for 28 years in his spare time to create the exhibit." Harris & Ewing Collection. View full size.

Truckin: 1937

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:35:44 +0000

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Repairing government trucks at the Treasury procurement section." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Major Medical: 1920

Dave — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:35:46 +0000

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "No caption." Someone out there must know who these ladies are. UPDATE: Thanks to the excellent research of Mudhooks, we can identify this as a portrait of Major Julia Stimson, superintendent of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Corridor of Power: 1939

Dave — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:08:54 +0000

February 3, 1939. Washington, D.C. "House-Capitol tunnel may get moving walk. Footsore Congressmen may find succor in their journey from the House office building to the Capitol by proposed installation of a 'moving sidewalk.' President Roosevelt made the supplemental request for $200,000 in an appropriation bill sent to the House Wednesday. David Lynn, Capitol Architect, made a similar proposal last year. A rail subway between the two offices has been decided to be impractical because of the heavy traffic between House office buildings and the Capitol." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

The Post Office: 1907

Dave — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:30:41 +0000

Washington, D.C., circa 1907. "Post Office." Must be where the coughdrop-box tryouts are. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Cathedral Woods: 1900

Dave — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:24:12 +0000

New Hampshire circa 1900. "Cathedral Woods, North Conway, White Mountains." Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size.

A Chorus Line: 1905

Dave — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:58:25 +0000

Lake Erie circa 1905. "Hulett clamshell hoists, Cleveland, Ohio." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Castle of Commerce: 1905

Dave — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:22:15 +0000

Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1905. "Chamber of Commerce." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Summit Cut: 1905

Dave — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:12:41 +0000

Vermont circa 1905. "Summit Cut, Green Mountains." I see ~~seven~~ eight people here. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.