This series consists of photographs that document the role of the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) in federally supported highway construction projects, planning, road material and construction research, and highway safety and maintenance. Subjects in this series include vehicles, traffic, highway structures, and images of maps. In addition, there are various views of building structures connected with road transportation such as tourist cabins and motels, car washes, shopping centers, bus terminals, and parking garages.
The "General Photographs" section forms the largest discrete portion with images taken between 1896 and 1953. Among these photographs are views of various vintage automobiles, police directing traffic and patrolling on motorcycles, the construction of the Alaska Highway, and a survey of various types of vehicles from aircraft to shipping. Other photographs in this group include a photo of the Ford Model T rolling off the assembly line in 1913 (30-N-49-1482), Inter-American Highway construction, road building in Czarist Russia, and activities related to roads in numerous foreign countries.
The second section consists of images taken between 1929 and 1952 and depicts construction of the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, now known as the George Washington Parkway.
The third section, "Historic Subjects", contains pictures created between 1900 and 1953 which illustrate the evolution of transportation from ancient times. Subjects include: the Appian Way; public roads of the past; roads and trails, including the Oregon Trail; and many views of roadways and towns from Alabama to Wyoming. There are also portraits of prominent men, including George Washington.
The fourth and final section, "Highway Transport", is comprised of two separate accessions. The first contains images taken between 1951 and 1959, and the second contains images taken between 1960 and 1963. Subjects are similar to material found in the "General Photographs" group, including bituminous (asphalt) construction, types of roads, and maintenance.
