SCBWI's Blueboard - A Message & Chat Board

Writer's Room => Research => Topic started by: JodyJS on November 22, 2021, 11:45 AM

Title: Looking for searchable, free database of historical photos
Post by: JodyJS on November 22, 2021, 11:45 AM

Preferably searchable by location and/or date. Thanks!

Title: Re: Looking for searchable, free database of historical photos
Post by: Debbie Vilardi on November 22, 2021, 06:59 PM

Look for historical societies with online archives at your location. To me, that would be the best bet. Good luck.

Title: Re: Looking for searchable, free database of historical photos
Post by: dewsanddamps on November 22, 2021, 10:31 PM

National Archives and Library of Congress.

Title: Re: Looking for searchable, free database of historical photos
Post by: dinalapomy101 on November 23, 2021, 07:24 AM

Your local library system -- or the system in the geographical area you are looking for -- may have a database of photos.

Title: Re: Looking for searchable, free database of historical photos
Post by: Brian Garrison on November 23, 2021, 08:42 AM

Is there a more specific theme that would narrow the options? (cityscapes, people, fashion, art/museum collections, toys, etc.). I enjoy the curiosities presented in the Public Domain Review.

They have a general list of collections:
https://publicdomainreview.org/collections

And they have regular articles that highlight certain themes, such as this one about games:
https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/progress-in-play-board-games-and-the-meaning-of-history



Another place that lists a wide range of collections is the Internet Archive:
https://archive.org

Title: Re: Looking for searchable, free database of historical photos
Post by: JodyJS on November 23, 2021, 11:08 AM

Thanks, all! I've used many of these successfully. I'll try the others.

I find the LOC database really difficult to navigate, unfortunately. Do you have to have the special handshake?  :grin3

Thanks again!