The Burns Occupation and Industry Collection consists of thousands of posed and candid photographs of men, women, and children at work. Craftspeople, peddlers, factory workers, shopkeepers, salespeople, farmers, and miners; almost all trades and professions are represented in classic and unusual poses. The collection is especially rich in iconic images of bygone occupations, such as town criers, ice harvesters, and coal sorters. Advanced degree professional occupations in the fields of science, medicine, religion, law, and education also make up the collection. The American Dream of owning one’s own business is documented in a collection focusing on American storefronts from 1870-1920. Photographs relating to industry and the industrial revolution, as well as advances in transportation, are also well-represented. Numerous albums document and detail various industries and agricultural projects.