Background and Scope
The Theodor Horydczak Collection documents the architecture and social life of the Washington metropolitan area in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, including exteriors and interiors of commercial, residential, and government buildings, as well as street scenes and views of neighborhoods. A number of Washington events and activities, such as the 1932 Bonus Army encampment, the 1933 World Series, and World War II preparedness campaigns, are also depicted.
The photographer's daughter and son-and-law, Norma and Francis Reeves, presented the collection, consisting of more than 32,000 items, including approximately 17,450 black-and-white photographs, 14,000 negatives, and 1,500 color transparencies, to the Library of Congress in 1973. Approximately 14,350 digital images are included in this online collection.
View a Sampling
Business and Commerce
- Potomac Electric Power Co. Building. PEPCO Building, day I
- Electric Institute of Washington, Potomac Electric Power Co. Building. School of electric kitchen, Silver Spring
- Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company. Men working in aisle in C&P building on N. Irving St., Arlington, Va.
- Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company. Main C&P office building on 13th St., N.W.
- Hecht Company warehouse at 1401 New York Avenue, N.E. Exterior of Hecht Company warehouse II
- W & J Sloane, 1217 Connecticut Ave. W & J Sloane dining room
- Woodward & Lothrop. Shopping crowds by Woodward & Lothrop II
Memorial Bridge Construction
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
- Bridges. Memorial Bridge draw span
- Bridges. Memorial Bridge, draw open, close-up
- Bridges. Memorial Bridge from D.C. shore III
- Bridges. Memorial Bridge at night
- Memorial Bridge. Progress of Arlington Memorial Bridge II
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
- Memorial Bridge. Construction of Memorial Bridge
Cherry Blossoms
- Washington Monument. Views of Washington Monument, cherry blossoms and Tidal Basin III
- Washington Monument. Views of Washington Monument, cherry blossoms and Tidal Basin XXV
- Jefferson Memorial. Exterior of Jefferson Memorial from across Tidal Basin XXI
- Washington, D.C. views. Distant view of Washington, D.C. through blossoms III
- Japanese cherry blossoms. Japanese cherry blossoms around Tidal Basin
- Japanese cherry blossoms. Close-up of two Japanese cherry blossoms
- Japanese cherry blossoms. Japanese cherry blossoms with U.S. Capitol I
- Japanese cherry blossoms. Japanese cherry blossoms with Tidal Basin and Washington Monument at night
- Jefferson Memorial. Front and left of Jefferson Memorial with people and blossoms II
- Theodor Horydczak and family. Theodor Horydczak in uniform standing on walkway bordered by cherry trees
- Japanese cherry blossoms. View of cherry blossoms seen from behind fencing, toward Washington Monument
- Japanese cherry blossoms. Japanese cherry blossoms with Tidal Basin and bridge III
Washington D.C. in Color
- Arlington National Cemetery. Amphitheater, tulip time III
- Arlington National Cemetery. Aerial view of Arlington National Cemetery
- Arlington National Cemetery. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, side angle from below II
- U.S. Capitol exteriors. Wide-angle view of U.S. Capitol, horizontal III
- U.S. Capitol exteriors. Close-up of U.S. Capitol with stairs at night II
- Washington Monument. Views of Washington Monument XIII
- Jefferson Memorial. Exterior of Jefferson Memorial from across Tidal Basin I
- Jefferson Memorial. Aerial view of Jefferson Memorial I
- Lincoln Memorial. Exterior of Lincoln Memorial I
- District of Columbia War Memorial. View of District of Columbia War Memorial in Potomac Park
- Washington, D.C. views. View of Washington, D.C. from Fort Myer IV
- Washington, D.C. views. View of Mall and beyond from Washington Monument I
People
- Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co. Building. Switchboard operator, Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co.
- Arlington National Cemetery. Drum major and VFW person
- Balloon man. Balloon man leaning against post
- Charlotte Hall Military Academy. Trumpeters and drummer on steps
- Electric Institute of Washington. Cooking and planning II
- Grocery store of Fred Gouer, 117 Hare St., Baltimore. Interior of Fred Gouer's grocery store, meat counter II
- Holton Arms School. Girls field hockey team at Holton Arms School I
- Maryland mounted police. Mounted policeman I
- Mr. Bartlett. Portrait of a girl and her horse VI
- Norma Horydczak. Portrait of Norma Horydczak with big belly
- Theodor Horydczak. Theodor Horydczak lying on ground with camera II
- Vendors. Fruit vendor I