Free to Use and Reuse Sets

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) continues to inspire people throughout the world through his words and life.Learn more about these highlights from the Library's collections on Abraham Lincoln. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Large and small, printed and handwritten—all kinds of signs advertise food. The shape of a building, a display of cans, and the smile of a street vendor also encourage food choices. Which of the following images would persuade you to take a second look at the fruit, vegetables, meats, and other fare available from the 1880s to present day? Browse more content that is…

The selected images represent experiences and achievements of Black people in the United States from the 1700s to the 2000s. Most of the pictures speak to daily life rather than landmark moments. Iconic photos are also included. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set of images features African American women educators, activists, artists, and more. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Balloons, gliders, blimps, dirigibles, airplanes, fighter jets, helicopters, and space shuttles–all these aircraft make it possible for people to fly. Learn more about this rich area of the Library of Congress collections in the online book Aeronautical and Astronautical Resources of the Library of Congress: a Comprehensive Guide. (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 2007.) Unless otherwise noted, the selected images are all from the…

The maps selected for this set represent cities, battles, and symbols involved in the founding of the United States. For more maps from the Revolutionary War period, see the digital collection "American Revolution and Its Era: Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750 to 1789." Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Selected images represent the historical experiences and achievements of Arab Americans, primarily during the early 1900s when many people immigrated from Lebanon and the region known as Syria. A formal celebration of Arab American heritage occurs each year in the United States in April. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use…

This set introduces you to more than 4 million images that document historic buildings, remarkable gardens, and original designs in the Library’s collections. Learn more about these architecture and design selections. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Books are deceivingly complicated objects. From cover to cover, the design of a book reflects the prevailing desires and demands of a particular time and place. To provide a rich overview of the Art of the Book, the following selections are examples of illustration, binding, and typography from a variety of locations and historical moments. Some are manuscripts (hand drawn and illustrated books) while…

Featuring painters, sculptors, photographers, and movie cameras from the mid-1800s to the early 2000s. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Selected historical images touch on the experiences and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders while living in the United States. A formal celebration of AAPI heritage comes each May. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Athletic skill and talent are essential in many physical sports, games, and artistic performances. This selection of rights-free pictures highlights athletes in more than forty different professional and recreational activities. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set of copyright free pictures features activities and scenery from late September through early November. You'll see images related to Halloween and Día de Muertos, the harvesting of crops and leaves changing colors across the United States, and other portrayals of the autumn season from the 1870s to the present day. The selected items are from the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs…

This set features baseball cards from the Benjamin K. Edwards Collection which includes 2,100 early baseball cards dating from 1887 to 1914. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

View photos and illustrations of bicycles and cycling through history. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Birds capture people's attention and imagination around the world. Please use this selection of rights-free images to explore a variety of our feathered friends across time periods, communities, and places. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

How do you like to celebrate your own birthday or the anniversary of an organization? You can find inspiration here. Cakes and candles turn up most often. You'll also find gift ideas, festive parties, music, and fireworks. Unless otherwise noted, the selected images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Images of bridges are featured in many collections at the Library. Enjoy this curated set featuring the Golden Gate Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs and many more. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Hit the road with these images of classic cars, race cars, steam-powered cars & more from the Library's collections. Can you spot the 1964 Meyers Manx or the 1938 Maserati? Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This free-to-use set features images of cats found in the Library's collections. Staff "experts" contributed their favorite photos, posters & illustrations. Enjoy! Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Each spring, festive celebrations welcome the arrival of cherry blossoms in Japan, while in Washington, DC, more than one and a half million people attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The Library has published a book about this annual tradition with original art works from the collections, Cherry Blossoms: Sakura Collections from the Library of Congress. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Adolph Metzner’s drawings represent the western front campaigns in the American Civil War. Learn more about the Adolph Metzner Civil War Drawings. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Step back in time to enjoy celebrated stories as they were illustrated and published around the year 1900. Learn more about these classic children's books. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Time keeping devices in many forms appear among the clocks & calendars in this set, dating back to the 1500s. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The colorful pictures in this set can add delight to any day or help us visualize historical data. Ranging from the 1500s to the present day, these images make their mark through a single tint or a rainbow palette. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Federal and county courthouses, inside and out, from the 18th to 21st centuries. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This selection of rights-free pictures highlights architecture, signage, and people at diners, drive-ins and restaurants--one in each state and the District of Columbia. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Dig up some prehistoric personalities with this free-to-use set highlighting dinosaurs and fossils! All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This Free to Use set features people with disabilities throughout U.S. history—at work, at play, at school, and advocating for change. Note that these items were created during many different eras. Historical terminology on older collection items can include words considered offensive, but the original terminology also helps in understanding the context for the items’ creation. Browse more content that is free to use…

Zoom in on maps that shaped our view of the world throughout history including the first document to name America from 1507 and a 1650 map showing California as an island. The Library has thousands of maps available online and many more can be viewed in person when you visit the Geography & Map Reading Room. Browse more content that is free to use…

This set features photos of Billie Holiday with her dog Mister and more pictures of canines and their humans. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Here there be Dragons! You'll find friendly as well as threatening dragons—some with wings and some as serpents. The dragons appear as heroes or villains in book illustrations; mythical figures in dramatic carved shapes; and symbols in posters and cartoons. The original items date from more than 2,000 years ago to recent times. Unless otherwise noted, the selected images are from the Prints &…

This selection of serious and humorous family portraits and activities concentrates on the 1800s to the 1940s–the time period when most of the Library's free to use and reuse images were created. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This selection of images from the 19th and 20th centuries display aspects of life on American farms: landscapes, work, play, and everyday moments from dinner to doctor visits. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Traditional, scientific, nostalgic, commercial, and humorous views of fish and fishing fill this set of fifty photographs and prints from the 16th to 21st centuries. The pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division collections unless otherwise noted. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

In recognition of American Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, this selection of rights-free images showcases a variety of national symbols and flags from ancient times to the present day. Representing the rich cultures and diverse landscapes of the United States, all images are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise noted. Browse more content that is free to use…

Gridiron players and fans appear in this set of images from the 1880s to 2010s. See more football photos. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Explore how friendships are depicted through images from the Library of Congress. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This sampler of games from the 18th to 21st centuries features card games, board games, and such outdoor games as penny pitching and jumping rope. You'll also find bingo, chess, hopscotch, marbles, and singing games. Sometimes, the picture is the game–a printed sheet of paper intended to be cut apart and played. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Many different kinds of flower and vegetable gardens fill this set of international scenes from the 1800s to the present day. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This Free to Use set features family registers, family trees and photos, maps that document land ownership and more. The Library offers many resources for researching your family history including historical newspapers, land ownership maps, tips on researching African American family histories and guides to the Library's genealogy collections. Consult the Local History & Genealogy Reference Services for help getting started. Browse more content…

Images of swimming pools, beaches & more summer fun are featured in this free-to-use set. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Browse images of glasses, goggles and groovy eyewear in the Library's collections. Photos of Theodore Roosevelt, Sojourner Truth and Dizzy Gillespie wearing their glasses are included in this set, as is Benjamin Franklin's sketch for bifocals! Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The William P. Gottlieb Collection consists of jazz photographs taken by the writer-photographer from 1938 to 1948, the "Golden Age of Jazz" when swing reached its peak and modern jazz developed. Learn more about the William P. Gottlieb Collection. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set offers a challenge--See how many of the hats you can match with an occupation, time period, or geographic location. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Selected images represent the historical experiences and achievements of people with Latino and Hispanic roots across the United States. A formal celebration of Hispanic heritage occurs each year in the United States between mid-September and mid-October. Unless otherwise noted, the images here are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

You can visit many historic sites virtually through architectural drawings in the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Historic American Engineering Record, and the Historic American Landscapes Survey Collection. (HABS/HAER/HALS). The drawings provide fascinating perspectives on how a site was designed and can reveal parts of a building not easily visible. The Heritage Documentation Programs at the National Park Service create the documentation, which is…

Take a century-old "grand tour" of the world in these historical travel images. This set is just a teaser from the stunning Photochrom Prints Collection. This collection features, in color, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Asia and the South Pacific as they appeared in the 1890s and early 1900s. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set features holiday images from the Library's collections. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Horses fill many important roles, past and present. This selection of rights-free pictures features scenes from the open range, farms, and cities as well as sports, the military, and recreation. The images are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise indicated. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

From Palm Springs to Paris, New York to Norway, browse these images to visit historic hotels, motels & inns around the world. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

We all scream for ice cream! Enjoy photos of ice cream parlors, ice cream advertisements and Thomas Jefferson's ice cream recipe. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

American Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July, became a federal holiday in 1870. This selection of rights-free pictures can be used to reflect on how the holiday has traditionally been celebrated and also to discuss the complex history and symbols surrounding American Independence. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

These images of Irish-American experiences in the 1800s and 1900s include such famous people as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry Ford, Grace Kelly and the Kennedys. Find more Irish American resources at the Library. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set features woodblock prints and drawings by Japanese artists of the 17th through early 20th centuries. View more Japanese fine prints. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Selected portraits, events, and sites represent the historical experiences and achievements of Jewish Americans from the 18th to the 20th century. A formal celebration of Jewish American heritage occurs each year in the United States in May. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set introduces you to more than 11,000 color photographs of vernacular commercial structures, including restaurants and theaters, along U.S. streets and highways, 1969-2008. Learn more about the John Margolies Roadside America Photograph Archive. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set highlights two opposite emotions--joy and sorrow. This collection highlights images from the Library of Congress that shows both. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Where do you like to cook or wash? This set covers many different settings for these daily activities from the 1500s through the present day. The pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division collections unless otherwise noted. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

These portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans represent people who made a difference in many careers and time periods. LGBTQ+ Pride Month is often recognized in June. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

People create libraries in all shapes and sizes to serve their local communities. This set of free to use images represents buildings in almost all 50 states of the United States. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set of images for American lighthouses primarily from the 1800s and 1900s can help you pick out landmarks that you'd like to learn more about. Lighthouses can tell many stories–the lives of their keepers, the engineering feats involved in their construction, and their roles in rescues and preventing disasters. All pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division unless otherwise credited. Browse more…

Images from throughout the United States illustrate the variety of main streets or major thoroughfares in urban and rural America from the 1850s to the 2010s. The pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division collections unless otherwise noted. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The Library's cartographic collections include a wide array of maps that depict everything from individual buildings to panoramic views of large urban areas. Among the featured maps this month are an 1884 map of the National Capital and an 1896 view of St. Louis, Missouri. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse..

Scenes related to the sea through shipping, recreation, military, and daily life activities. Marine animals and river waterfronts are also included. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

From splendid color images of classic theaters to beautiful historical film posters to snapshots of American moviegoing life, our collections offer a robust and diverse cross-section of images devoted to movie theaters. The Library has thousands of photos available online and many more can be viewed in person when you visit the Prints & Photographs Reading Room. Browse more content that is free to…

Selected images represent the historical experiences and achievements of indigenous peoples across North America. A formal celebration of Native American heritage occurs each year in the United States in November. Unless otherwise noted, the images here are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set offers representative images of avalanches, blizzards, droughts and dust storms, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, heat waves, hurricanes, landslides, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and waterspouts from the 16th to the 21st centuries. The pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division collections unless otherwise noted. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Please enjoy this sampler of photos selected for the exhibition "Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library." An online version of the show with 80 images is available at the Library of Congress. Visitors can see all 400 images in a physical display at the Library of Congress from March 2022 through 2024.The physical show began at the Annenberg Space for Photography…

Women and men have long provided nursing services by caring for the sick and wounded at home and during wars and international relief efforts. The pictures in this set focus on the mid-1800s to mid-1900s, including portraits of such famous figures as Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton as well as women like Susie King Taylor who are gaining recognition for their courageous stories. The…

This selection of images from the 19th and 20th centuries shows older women and men in the United States. They appear in formal portraits; scenes at work and at home; as grandparents and veterans; with happiness, sorrow, and determination. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set introduces you to more than 25,000 portraits from the C.M. Bell Studio in Washington, D.C. Learn more about these 19th-Century portrait photos from the C.M. Bell Studio Collection. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set of posters from the 1890s through the 1960s features travel, commercial products, war propaganda, entertainment, and more. The selections represent a special collaboration with Poster House, a new museum opening in New York City in 2019. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The Library of Congress holds the papers of 23 presidents from George Washington to Calvin Coolidge, all of which have been digitized and are available online as 3.3 million images. The selected documents represent the variety of materials available in the papers as well as some of the most important texts. A press release provides the web address for each collection. Browse more content…

A selected portrait for each United States president. Learn more about presidential portraits. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The National Film Registry selects 25 films each year to showcase the range and diversity of American film heritage. These public domain selections are part of an online collection. Learn more about this selection of films from the National Film Registry. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Where do you like to read? The pictures in this set confirm that you can enjoy reading just about anywhere. You might be walking with a dog, sitting on a crate, rowing a boat, or visiting a library. What you read also ranges widely--from books and scrolls to maps, magazines, newspapers, letters, and computers. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

These images document the role of railroads and subways in the history of transportation and primarily in the United States. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set highlights the work of American scientists and inventors in many fields. Their careers represent many kinds of scientific investigations, primarily from the 1800s to 1900s. The images can encourage discussion about the history of science as an endeavor influenced by social conditions and political and financial aims. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content…

This set offers pictures about making, selling, wearing, shining, repairing, and also needing shoes. Search tip: It can be hard to find pictures of shoes, because they are often a small part of a picture. To bring interesting footwear to light, try using words that describe circumstances where feet are likely to appear in pictures, including dance, fashion, military, and full-length portraits. Browse more…

The term "skyscrapers" vividly represents the world of very tall buildings. This set offers images from the oldest acknowledged skyscraper--the 10-story Home Insurance Building in Chicago–to the crowded skylines of the 21st century. You'll also see one of the tallest buildings in the United States--the Willis Tower in Chicago, built in 1974 with 108 floors, as well as diverse architectural styles. Browse more content…

This set features "Liberty Enlightening the World," more often called the Statue of Liberty. From the early fundraising and construction years to the dedication in 1886 and the present day, this symbol of freedom has captured the public imagination. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set illustrates the wide variety of school, home, and informal learning environments that brought teachers and students together from kindergarten through college and adult continuing education, primarily in the 20th century. The pictures are from the Prints & Photographs Division collections unless otherwise noted. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The sport of tennis dates back to the 12th century though the version we play today celebrates its roots in lawn tennis starting in late 19th century and quickly spread across the globe. This selection of rights-free pictures can be used to examine the equipment, courts, athletes and recreational players through the years. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

These holiday celebration images span the 1860s to the 2010s. View more Thanksgiving images. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

In celebration of America 250, these photos by Carol M. Highsmith can inspire you to take a trip in your home state or throughout the country. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Faraway states, natural wonders and beautiful beaches—these settings often come to mind when we start to plan vacations. They also form the backdrops for hundreds of travel posters in the Library’s collections. Learn more about these travel posters. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This set offers handwritten drafts of inaugural addresses, broadsides, inaugural tickets and programs, prints, photographs, and sheet music. Learn more about U.S. presidential inaugurations. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

This Free to Use set focuses on American veterans throughout history and features photos, sheet music, letters, films and more from the Library's collections. Are you a veteran? Do you know a veteran? Participate in the Veterans History Project. The Library's Veterans History Project collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from…

Whether you ramble or run, stroll or stride, use a cane or a crutch, you'll find images of interest. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Weddings are celebrated throughout the year, but June is a favorite month. This selection of rights-free pictures highlights brides and grooms from many different customs and countries in the 18th to the 20th century. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

A wide variety of housing throughout the United States appears in this set, including rural, town, and city dwellings that date from the 1800s to the present. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Winter scenes from cold-weather and warm-weather locations fill this set of images from the 1600s to the present. Unless otherwise noted, the images are from the Prints & Photographs Division. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. Visit the Women's History Month site. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

These images depict a diversity of work in America, as found across collections generated by the American Folklife Center's field survey projects between 1977 and 1998. In urban and rural communities--and in settings encompassing traditional occupations, small businesses, factories, and natural resource management--you will find in these photographs a wide range of people engaged in jobs that contribute to economies, individual identities, and cultural…

During World War I, the impact of the poster as a means of communication was greater than at any other time during history. The ability of posters to inspire, inform, and persuade combined with vibrant design trends to produce thousands of interesting visual works. Explore this selection and view more WWI posters. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

The WPA designed posters to publicize exhibits, community activities, theatrical productions, and health and educational programs in 17 states and the District of Columbia from 1936 to 1943. Learn more about WPA posters. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.

Notable authors in a variety of fields appear in this set along with people who overcame challenges in writing. You'll find connections to novelists, poets, historians, philosophers, reformers, scientists, a mystery writer and a horror fiction king. The National Book Festival web site is a good place to find videos by contemporary authors. Unless otherwise noted, the images here are from the Prints &…

The Library has posted more than 40,000 free-to-use photos in the Flickr Commons. Here are some highlights. Learn more about the Library's photos on Flickr. Browse more content that is free to use and reuse.