FOUND is a curated collection of photography from the National Geographic archives. In honor of our 125th anniversary, we are showcasing photographs that reveal cultures and moments of the past. Many of these photos have never been published and are rarely seen by the public.

We hope to bring new life to these images by sharing them with audiences far and wide. Their beauty has been lost to the outside world for years and many of the images are missing their original date or location. 

If you have insights to share about an image, please let us know.

This is just the beginning of a great adventure. We will be adding new voices, stories, and artifacts as we go. We look forward to sharing this experience with everyone, and hope you make FOUND your home for inspiration and wonder.

The FOUND Logo

The typeface used in the FOUND logo is Ludwig Light, designed by National Geographic cartographer Charles E. Riddiford in the 1930s and 40s. A humanist serif typeface, Ludwig’s calligraphic sensibilities offer a nod to the behind-the-scenes work of FOUND’s curators and editors. Its deep connection to National Geographic’s rich history make it a great choice for FOUND’s logo.

For more on National Geographic’s cartographic typefaces, read this piece by geographer Juan Valdes.

For professional photo licensing, please contact stock@ngs.org or visit www.NationalGeographicStock.com.

Digital Producer

Web Barr is a digital producer for National Geographic magazine, and he pitched the idea of FOUND after many conversations about our 125th anniversary celebration. Web brings his appreciation for wild, quirky and awe-inspiring moments to FOUND.

Photo Editor

Janna Dotschkal edits photography for National Geographic’s website and helps direct the voice of FOUND. With a photographer’s love for aesthetics, composition and film grain, Janna sifts through our digitized files to find just the right formula.

Designer

Roy Wilhelm, an interaction designer for National Geographic’s website, helped lay out the FOUND template. In looking for small details that could pay homage to the Society’s history, Roy uncovered the old map typeface for the FOUND logo as an anchor for the project.

Guardian of the Collection

William Bonner curates our extensive photography archive in the basement of our headquarters in Washington, D.C. Even after years of digging through the shelves of the archive, he still continues to find new stories and inspiring images that increase his appreciation for the collection.

Photographs by Janna Dotschkal