Yes, many documents and photos are digitized and available to the general public without charge. They have thousands of items that are really cool, at least to history buffs.

A good place to start is: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/

This is the Library of Congress website which controls the NARA, National Archive and Records Administration. A history nut could spend MONTHS browsing around in there! :thumbup:

you have joined the Nikon club...there is no escape now!

While working my way through an exercise of my own design, I decided to use as my subject my faithful and indestructible companion for more than 40 years, my Nikon F. I am attempting to learn my new dslr (Nikon D5100) and to get some sense of how sharp or unsharp the 18-55mm kit lens is. My goal was to begin to understand the use of some of the many incredible in-camera controls. In this case the use of white balance and flash options. I set up some incandescent lighting and started making exposures. I worked methodically and slowly manually changing exposure and lighting variables and taking careful notes. One immediate revelation, with some lighting, was how dirty the poor old box was. It will get a good cleaning before being put on the shelf. The rocks (actually mineral specimens from my collections) were introduced for thier color to help me get some sense of color shift with varying light sources and exposure settings. My fascination with the juxtaposition of rocks and a beautiful percision instrument may have taken over at this point. I got a little carried away. But at my age no opportunity for being carried away should not be ignored.
I welcome your comments. I have been reading this forum for a couple of months and I have great restict for the expertise and thoughtful wisdom many of you pass along on a daily basis. I am here to learn. Thank you, Phil