The collections of the Prints & Photographs Division include many images that depict the act of reading. When I recently prepared a Flickr album on the subject, I had a number of photographs, prints and posters to spare. Let me show you some of the posters that I didn’t use but are equally worthy of the spotlight! I like books. Poster by Karla Kuslin, 1962. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.42782 Bring home the world in books. Poster by Paul Honoré, between 1920 and 1930. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.42683 Explore with books. Book week, Nov. 17-23. Poster by Alice and Martin Provensen, 1957. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.43161 Trolley trips on a Bay State Triangle. Poster by Charles H. Woodbury, 1897. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.43608 Learn More: View the Flickr album dedicated to Reading.…
Category: Picture this
A Virtual Window into Deaf History
In honor of Deaf History Month, which runs from mid-March to mid-April, we are offering a webinar showcasing photographs and prints of Deaf people, notable figures, education, careers, and activities found in the Prints and Photographs Division’s collections. The first half of the presentation will be in American Sign Language (ASL) with closed captioning and voice interpretation for non-signing viewers. The second half will be in English with an interpreter using ASL as well as closed captioning. The session will be offered twice. Our two staff members who will be sharing their knowledge of Deaf history in ASL during the first half of the presentation offered a few images as a preview. Digital Library Specialist Pete Richey selected the following…
Celebrating the 110th Anniversary of the Cherry Blossom Gift and U.S.-Japan Friendship
The following is a guest post by Mari Nakahara, Curator of Architecture, Design, and Engineering, and Katherine Blood, Curator of Fine Prints, Prints & Photographs Division. The year 2022 marks the 110th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to Washington, D.C. in 1912, an enduring symbol of the U.S.-Japan friendship. Springtime viewing of the blooming cherry blossom trees has become a cherished tradition and a signature cultural event in the United States capital. As featured in the book, “Cherry Blossoms: Sakura Collections from the Library of Congress,” the Library’s extensive, multidisciplinary collections allow a unique exploration of the history, significance, and legacy of the cherry trees. Join the book’s co-authors for a series…
Towering over the Landscape
Many U.S. communities advertise their special qualities via artwork on tall water towers. This one, locally known as “the Gaffney Peachoid” in Gaffney, South Carolina, touts the area’s tasty peaches. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2017 Oct. 28. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.46659 Water towers dot the landscape, almost always the tallest structure in the nearby area. When taking long road trips, they catch my eye, especially ones where the tower has been painted to reflect something about the region or when the tower itself is an unusual shape. For example, the tower at right, in Gaffney, South Carolina, proudly touts the area’s peach production with this 130 foot tall tower shaped and painted to resemble a delicious peach! As always, my visual interests…