"Two cats, dressed as humans, holding rope, which doll appears to be skipping." Circa 1914 photograph by Harry Whittier Frees. View full size. More on the strangely unsettling photos of Harry Frees here and here. He often used his own cats, Rags and Fluff, with costumes sewn by his mother.

June 18, 1911. "Cornell varsity crew squad at Poughkeepsie." Bain News Service glass negative. View full size.

Preston DeCosta, 15 years old. Messenger #3 for Bellevue Messenger Service in San Antonio, Texas. October 1913. I ran across him while he was carrying notes back and forth between a prostitute in jail and a pimp in the Red Light. He had read all the notes and knew all about them. He was a fine grained adolescent boy. Has been delivering messages and drugs in the Red Light for 6 months and knows the ropes thoroughly. "A lot of these girls are my regular customers. I carry 'em messages and get 'em drinks, drugs, etc. Also go to the bank with money for 'em. If a fellow treats 'em right, they'll call him by number and give him all their work. I got a box full of photos I took of these girls - some of 'em I took in their room." Works until 11 P.M. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine.

Wreck of District of Columbia fire chief's car. January 5, 1921. View larger. National Photo Company.

Train wreck near Middletown, Ohio. July 4, 1910 [erroneously reported at the time to have involved the 20th Century Limited -- see Comments]. View full size. Glass negative from the George Grantham Bain Collection.

Syracuse second varsity crew squad, June 11, 1914. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection.

February 1910. New York. "Columbia rowing team in mock shells training in crew house with coach Jim Rice." 5x7 inch glass negative, Bain News Service. View full size.

Garage mechanic near Newark, N.J., with Office of Defense Transportation badge. December 1943. Kodachrome transparency by Marjory Collins. View full size.

Orphans going to Coney Island (Luna Park). June 7, 1911. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection.

Chicago & North Western classification yard, December 1942. The trestle runs from the ice house to the yard. The old cars in the foreground are used as living quarters for some yard workers and itinerant help. Town of Melrose Park is in background. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano.

Donald "Happy" Mallick, 9 years of age, has been selling newspapers 5 years. His father, a rivet driver, earns $20 weekly. Boy very imaginative, and when last seen had a rusty 5 inch knife which he said he found and was playing with the same in gutter. View full size. Photo by Lewis W. Hine, May 1910.

Houses and abandoned cars of migratory workers in Belle Glade, Fla., January 1941. View full size.

Migratory workers by a "juke joint" in Belle Glade, Fla. Signs advertise Atlantic Ale and Beer, Royal Crown Cola and Nehi. 35mm Kodachrome color transparency photographed in February 1941 by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size.

Syracuse freshmen on the rowing team sit around the dinner table on June 19, 1908. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection.

Miners from near Hazleton, PA. Exact year unknown (probably early 1900s). My great-grandfather is the bottom-left miner. View full size.