National Photo Company Collection

Muriel Quackenbush in Surf Chair at Bathing Beach, Washington DC, USA, 1922 (b/w photo)
5858521 Muriel Quackenbush in Surf Chair at Bathing Beach, Washington DC, USA, 1922 (b/w photo) by National Photo Company (c.1850-1945); Private Collection

Political amnesty pickets, 1922 (b/w photo)
4072609 Political amnesty pickets, 1922 (b/w photo) by National Photo Company (c.1850-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Women demonstrating outside the White House on December 1st, 1922. )

National League for Limitations of Armament, 1922 (b/w photo)
4072608 National League for Limitations of Armament, 1922 (b/w photo) by National Photo Company (c.1850-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Young Boy Eating Ice Cream on Beach, Washington DC, USA, June 1924 (b/w photo)
3703254 Young Boy Eating Ice Cream on Beach, Washington DC, USA, June 1924 (b/w photo) by National Photo Company (c.1850-1945); UIG

Periscope view, early 20th century
Periscope view. Submarine view through a periscope, obtained between 1908 and 1919. The numbers across the top indicate the heading in degrees (between 0 and 360) of the direction of view

Garter flask, 1920s prohibition
Garter flask. Dancer demonstrating the latest fashion for the use of a concealed garter flask for carrying alcoholic drinks during prohibition in the USA

Confiscated still, 1920s prohibition
Confiscated still. Man displaying a glass while standing next to a still that had been used to produce illegal alcoholic drinks (moonshine)

De Forest pioneering Phonofilm, 1924 C014 / 2055
De Forest pioneering Phonofilm. US inventor and electrical and radio engineer Lee De Forest (centre right, 1873-1961) filming in Phonofilm in 1924 in the grounds of the White House, Washington DC

Silent film production, 1922 C016 / 8830
Silent film production. Filming in 1922 of a scene from a silent film and burlesque on the burning of Rome. A burlesque is intended to amuse by caricaturing the topic depicted

Davis anti-submarine gun, World War I C016 / 6355
Davis anti-submarine gun. World War I-era anti-submarine gun mounted on a flying boat. The Davis gun was developed in 1910 by Cleland Davis of the US Navy

Fingerprint records, 1924 C014 / 0459
Fingerprint records. 1920s application of fingerprinting technology to administer the bonus scheme established in the USA for World War I veterans

Illegal still, 1920s prohibition
Illegal still. Two men standing with a still that had been used to produce illegal alcoholic drinks (moonshine). Prohibition in the USA (1920-1933) was the period when the production

Albert Read, US transatlantic pilot
Albert Cushing Read (1887-1967), US military pilot who was commander as part of a crew of six on the first transatlantic flight in May 1919

Bulletproof glass tests, 1921 C017 / 7877
Bulletproof glass tests. US Army soldier using a.44 Colt handgun to test bulletproof glass being used in new armoured US Mail postal trucks

Army rooftop radio antennas, 1924 C017 / 7874
Army rooftop radio antennas. US Army officer standing by quad radio antennas on a rooftop in Washington DC, USA. In the background is the Lincoln Memorial

Hospital hydrotherapy, 1920s C017 / 7871
Hospital hydrotherapy. Physiotherapy nurse (centre) supervising patients using water baths during a session of hydrotherapy, a form of physiotherapy (physical therapy)

Hospital heat lamp cabinets, 1920s C017 / 7870
Hospital heat lamp cabinets. Patients encased up to their necks in heat lamp cabinets in a hospital. These are Burdick cabinets, branded Radio-Vitant

Ultraviolet light animal tests, 1926 C017 / 7867
Ultraviolet light animal tests. Researchers for the United States Department of Agriculture carrying out ultraviolet (UV) light therapy on white rats

Military blood transfusion, 1943 C017 / 7868
Military blood transfusion. US Army soldier receiving a transfusion of blood plasma while recovering from being wounded by a snipers bullet at Safi, Morocco, during World War II

Telecommunications operators, 1920s C017 / 7866
Telecommunications operators. Men operating radio and telephone equipment, including control panels, headphones, Morse keys, and telephone speakers and receivers

Early Wright aircraft, circa 1908-11 C017 / 7836
Early Wright aircraft, circa 1908-11. The model seen here is one of the early powered aircraft built by US aviation pioneers the Wright brothers (Orville Wright, 1871-1948; Wilbur Wright, 1867-1912)

USS Shenandoah airship and tender, 1924 C017 / 7838
USS Shenandoah airship moored to its tender the newly-converted USS Patoka during tests in 1924. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship used by the US Navy

Veterinarians Theiler and Mohler in 1923 C017 / 7824
Veterinarians Theiler and Mohler in 1923. Swiss-South African veterinarian Arnold Theiler (left, 1867-1936) and US veterinarian John Robbins Mohler (right, 1875-1952)

Livingston Farrand, US anthropologist C017 / 7816
Livingston Farrand (1867-1939), US anthropologist. Farrand studied at Princeton University, qualifying as a medical doctor from Columbia University in 1891

Cyanide engraving furnace, 1914 C016 / 4515
Cyanide engraving furnace. Printing worker dipping a plate in a cyanide furnace at the US Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Washington DC, USA

British bread line, World War I C016 / 4512
British bread line. Women and children waiting in a breadline in England during the First World War (1914-1918). One of the strategies employed by the combatant nations was to target shipping

Handheld photography, early 20th century C016 / 4506
Handheld photography, early 20th century. Two photographers taking pictures of each other with handheld cameras on a roof

Porpoise and Fulton submarines, 1900s C016 / 2541
Porpoise and Fulton submarines. USS Porpoise (SS-7) and the submarine Fulton alongside. In the background are other submarines, with the nearer one the USS Plunger (SS-2)

Hospital hydrotherapy, 1920s C016 / 2383
Hospital hydrotherapy. Physiotherapy nurse (right) supervising a patient using a water bath during a session of hydrotherapy, a form of physiotherapy (physical therapy)

Hospital phototherapy session, 1920s C016 / 2384
Hospital phototherapy. Physiotherapy nurse positioning an ultraviolet (UV) Alpine Sun Lamp over a patients hand during a session of phototherapy

Hospital hydrotherapy, 1920s C016 / 2382
Hospital hydrotherapy. Physiotherapy worker (right) applying jets of water to a patient during a session of hydrotherapy, a form of physiotherapy (physical therapy)

National Geographic and explorers, 1925 C014 / 0133
National Geographic and explorers. National Geographic editor Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (centre, 1875-1966) with polar explorers John L

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Step back in time with the National Photo Company Collection, a captivating glimpse into the early 20th century. Through the periscope view of these photographs, we are transported to an era defined by innovation and transformation. In the midst of the roaring twenties and prohibition, we witness intriguing scenes unfold. A garter flask discreetly concealed beneath a lady's attire symbolizes defiance against societal norms. Meanwhile, confiscated stills serve as evidence of a clandestine world where bootlegging thrived. Amidst this backdrop of rebellion, De Forest pioneering Phonofilm revolutionized entertainment in 1924. The silent film production industry flourished as Hollywood captured hearts worldwide with its enchanting tales told without words. Yet not all moments frozen in time were filled with glamour and excitement. The Davis anti-submarine gun reminds us of World War I's devastating impact on humanity. Fingerprint records from 1924 document efforts to combat crime and establish order amidst chaos. As we delve deeper into history, illegal stills resurface once again - remnants of an underground economy that challenged authority during prohibition years. Albert Read emerges as a hero among men; his daring transatlantic flight embodies mankind's relentless pursuit for adventure and exploration. Bulletproof glass tests conducted in 1921 demonstrate society's quest for safety amidst uncertainty while army rooftop radio antennas reveal our growing reliance on communication technology during this transformative period. Lastly, hospital hydrotherapy treatments offer solace amid turbulent times – reminding us that even during challenging eras, healing remains paramount. The National Photo Company Collection encapsulates an extraordinary chapter in human history - one marked by resilience, ingenuity, and aspiration for progress. These snapshots provide us with invaluable insights into our past while igniting curiosity about what lies ahead.