Exhibition Not an Ostrich: & Other Images from America's Library

NOT AN OSTRICH: & OTHER IMAGES FROM AMERICA’S LIBRARY, organized by the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles and drawn from the photography collections of the Library of Congress, presents a taste of this institution’s spectacular holdings of more than 14 million photographs. Selected images reproduced for this online exhibition were made between 1839 and today. They trace the evolution of photography, from daguerreotypes and other early processes to contemporary digital technology.

Organized into distinct sections, Not an Ostrich captures the great range of subjects available in the Library’s photographic collections, including portraits, the arts, sports, leisure, political and social issues, icons, panoramas, and business and science. Other sections highlight the distinct American visions from the archives of Carol M. Highsmith, Camilo José Vergara, and the Detroit Publishing Company.

Not an Ostrich includes famous pictures, famous subjects, and famous photographers. Many of the images capture glorious moments in our history, some are entertaining or even absurd, and others are deeply troubling. Some photos will give you new perspectives on celebrated places, faces, and events, while still others will literally open your eyes to unfamiliar moments in American culture and history.

• View all 428 exhibition photographs selected by curator Anne Wilkes Tucker
• Of the larger selection, 299 photos are in the public domain and are available for educational use without permission
• The exhibit’s accompanying publication, Not an Ostrich Photo Zine, is available in the Library's retail store External

NOT AN OSTRICH: & OTHER IMAGES FROM AMERICA’S LIBRARY
Photography exhibition made possible by
Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles