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Cold War: Finding Images in the Prints & Photographs Division

Searching & Viewing

As when searching for visual evidence of any broad historical event or social movement, first do some background research to identify specific events, places, individuals and dates you hope to see depicted. Those specifics are the type of information that is most often included in image descriptions in the online catalog. In other words, what are you hoping to find images of? Secondly, think about what kind of evidence you think these images would provide.

Searching and Viewing Online

Viewing Undigitized Images and Images That Display Only Thumbnails Off Site

Most images that are not digitized can be viewed by making a visit to the Prints & Photographs Reading Room. Images that show only as small thumbnail size images when searching from off site will display larger sizes when searching at any public workstation in Library of Congress reading rooms or when connected to the Library of Congress wireless.

It can be important to check to see whether advance arrangements are needed to view undigitized images, and reference staff may be able to suggest additional images and search strategies. Consult with staff by submitting an Ask-A-Librarian question.

On-site researchers can make reference photographs of prints with a hand-held camera (no lights or tripod). For more information, see: Basic Camera Copying in the Prints & Photographs Reading Room link below, under Further Information.

Researchers can also purchase quality scans of prints through Library of Congress Duplication Services without making a visit to the Library of Congress. In placing an order, researchers should cite the call number of the drawing.

Further Information