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Auschwitz Guards: The faces that oversaw a genocide, 1940-1945 These mugshots of Auschwitz guards were published by Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance and you can see the evils that run the deadliest concentration camp of the Second World War. The full database contains over 25,000 records that cover personnel of multiple concentration camps. Of those, thousands relate to people who worked at Auschwitz—which was not a single camp, but a network of camps that both enslaved and killed Jews, Poles, political prisoners, Roma people, homosexuals, the mentally ill and disabled, and others....

Glamour shots were an unforgettable part of 1980s and early 1990s culture, offering anyone the chance to experience a studio portrait makeover. These sessions featured soft lighting, feathered accessories, and dramatic, over-the-top hairstyles. However, the results were often far from glamorous, with many portraits showcasing awkward poses, exaggerated makeup, and a heavy reliance on satin gloves. While the idea was to make everyday people look like movie stars, the execution was sometimes questionable....

The cargo ship Foylebank under construction at the Harland & Wolff shipyard. The ship was later renamed Patroclos. These amazing color photos of Belfast capture the shipyards, the lively streets, the everyday life, the fashion, and document a city worlds away from the one we know today. The pictures were taken by documentary and Press photographer, Bert Hardy, who’s best known for his work in the Picture Post magazine....

Father stares at the hand and foot of his five-year-old, severed as a punishment for failing to make the daily rubber quota, Belgian Congo, 1904. The photograph was taken by Alice Seeley Harris, the man’s name is Nsala . Here is part of her account (from the book “Don’t Call Me Lady: The Journey of Lady Alice Seeley Harris”): He hadn’t made his rubber quota for the day so the Belgian-appointed overseers had cut off his daughter’s hand and foot....

Few medical cases have carried the weight and controversy of David Reimer’s life. Born in Canada in 1965, he became the subject of a radical experiment meant to prove that gender identity could be shaped entirely by upbringing rather than biology. Following a tragic accident in infancy, doctors convinced his parents to raise him as a girl, despite the fact that he was born male. At a time when the debate over nature versus nurture dominated psychology and medicine, his case was promoted as proof of the theory that gender was flexible....

Deputy Mayor Dr. jur. Ernst Kurt Lisso, his wife Renate Stephanie, in chair, and their daughter Regina Lisso after committing suicide by cyanide in the Leipzig New Town Hall to avoid capture by US troops. April 18, 1945 As the Red Army and the Western Allies pressed closer and closer to Berlin suicides grew. Thousands of Germans committed suicide in the spring of 1945, rather than face occupation and the expected abuse by their victors....

The Jazz Age, also known as the Roaring Twenties, was an electrifying era that epitomized a heady mix of cultural rebellion, artistic expression, and newfound freedom. At the heart of this period was jazz music, an innovative genre that not only transformed the music scene but also had a profound impact on fashion, lifestyle, and the social scene. Vintage photographs from this bygone era offer a captivating glimpse into the enthralling world of jazz clubs, showcasing not only the incredible musical talent but also the unique style and ambiance of the time....

Bacon perfectly toasted in disposable trays, sonic-powered dishwashers, and refrigerators that rose from the floor at the touch of a button—these were once visions of everyday life. In 1962, a book titled 1975: And the Changes to Come by Arnold B. Barach offered a peek into what the future could hold, capturing the hopes and optimism of a world standing at the edge of the Space Age. Its pages were filled with sketches of push-button kitchens, automated conveniences, and clever gadgets designed to free people from daily chores, promising a lifestyle that felt within reach....

British M.P.s walk onto an airship gangplank, in Cardington, England, in the 1920s. In the 1920s and 1930s airship mooring masts were built in many countries. A mooring mast is a mast or tower that contains a fitting on its top that allows for the bow of the airship to attach its mooring line to the structure. When it is not necessary or convenient to put an airship into its hangar (or shed) between flights, airships can be moored to a mooring mast....

A US postman carrying a baby boy along with his letters, USA. 1900s. It’s hard to believe it, for a brief period of 6 years, it was possible to mail a baby or small child through the U.S. Postal Service. Yeah, you heard it right, it was legal to mail a baby in the United States and it happened more than once and by all accounts. In 1913, The United States Postal Service introduced parcel posts....

Mara Corday, originally named Marilyn Joan Watts and born on January 3, 1930, is a versatile American personality known for her roles as a showgirl, model, actress, Playboy Playmate, and a cultural icon during the 1950s. Born in Santa Monica, California, Corday pursued a career in Hollywood during her teenage years. She initially worked as a showgirl at the Earl Carroll Theatre on Sunset Boulevard, where her physical attractiveness opened doors to modeling opportunities and a small role as a showgirl in the 1951 film “Two Tickets to Broadway....

Actresses and models often take inspiration from Marilyn Monroe, but did Marilyn herself pay tribute to Hollywood legends of the past? In 1958, Marilyn Monroe teamed up with photographer Richard Avedon for a captivating project. They recreated iconic images of five celebrated actresses from different eras. These were Lillian Russell, Theda Bara, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow, and Marlene Dietrich. Though Avedon was not completely happy with the photographs, the pictures appeared in the Christmas issue of Life....

Nazi rally in Buenos Aires, April 10, 1938. Before the war Argentina hosted a strong, very-well-organized pro-Nazi element that was controlled by the German ambassador. In the spring of 1938, some 20,000 Nazi supporters attended a “Day of Unity” rally held at the Luna Park stadium in Buenos Aires to celebrate the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria into the Third Reich. U.S. Vice-Consul W. F. Busser attended the rally along with 20,000 others....

“Newsboys waiting for the Baseball edition, in a newspaper office. Bad environment… Indianapolis, Indiana.” 1908. With the rise of the daily newspapers in the 1880s, more than half of all newspapers in the United States were sold by newsboys (and a few newsgirls). Newspapers that previously had appeared only in morning editions began to be offered in afternoon editions, too. The newsboys were sustained by this expanding market. Newsies were a group of street children who would purchase a set number of papers each morning from the different publishing companies....

Take a trip back in time to the 1950s and 1960s with a look at some of America’s most iconic restaurants and diners. From the bold colors and streamlined shapes of their architecture to the neon signs that lit up the night sky, these establishments were a true reflection of the post-war era. In this article, we’ll showcase a collection of exterior photos that capture the spirit and style of American restaurants in the 1950s and 1960s....

King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and Louis Barthou, French Foreign Minister, pictured on the day of their assassinations by Vlado Chernozemski, 1934. The assassination of Alexander, first King of Yugoslavians, by Vlado Chernozemski, an experienced marksman in the employ of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) would have been forgotten had it not been for the multitudes of still and reel cameras. It was the first political assassination to be caught on news cameras....

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest and largest Chinatown in North America. It is also one of the largest Chinese enclaves outside Asia. Since its establishment in 1848, it has been important and influential in the history and culture of ethnic Chinese immigrants in North America. The area has a rich and complex history, marked by immigration, discrimination and resilience. The first Chinese immigrants to San Francisco arrived during the California Gold Rush of 1848....

Rita Hayworth’s iconic pin-up image. A few months before Pearl Harbor was attacked, LIFE magazine ran a black-and-white photograph of an up-and-coming movie actress named Rita Hayworth. The redheaded beauty was kneeling on a bed made up with satin sheets, her silky nightgown is white, with black lace trimming the low-cut top. Bob Landry, the photographer, took many photos of Hayworth, but his favorite was an accidental one – his flash was too bright and this is mirrored in the black silhouette reflected at Hayworth’s back....

Each holiday season, Santa Claus returns as a familiar and comforting presence, bringing with him a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and shared tradition. Long before shopping malls and modern decorations, the figure of Santa emerged from centuries of storytelling, evolving into one of the most recognizable symbols of Christmas around the world. Known by many names, including Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Saint Nick, and Kris Kringle, Santa traces his origins to a fourth-century Greek Christian bishop celebrated for his generosity toward the poor and his secret gift-giving....

Soviet and German officials having a friendly conversation in the newly captured Polish city of Brest, September 1939. On the left – Soviet officer, on the right – German officer, in the middle – German unteroffizier and probably translator. USSR and Nazi Germany worked together in conquering Eastern Europe of which this picture is a testimony. This photo was taken during Soviet-German Military Parade in Brześć-nad-Bugiem, Sep. 22, 1939. Soviets and Germans met to celebrate the victory over Poland....