See the History of Photography Online at the Google LIFE archives

LIFE magazine has teamed up with Google to create an incredible online database of photographs. Featuring photographs from LIFE’s photo archives, many of which have never been published, this new database of newly-digitized images includes photos and etchings produced and owned by LIFE dating all the way back to the 1750s.

The majority of these photos were sitting in dusty archives and include negatives, slides, glass plates, etchings, and prints. Currently about 20 percent of the collection is online. Over the coming months, Google will be adding the entire LIFE archive. Almost 10 million photos, some dating back to the 1750s will be available.

Inside the archive, you click on the picture to view a full-screen version of each image. High-quality framed prints of any of these photographs can be purchased from LIFE online.

This photograph is dated October 1862 and was take by Alexander Gardner. Yes, the man in the middle is US President Abraham Lincoln.

For a fascinating look at photographic history, the LIFE photo archive hosted by Google is worth a look.