#aug. 11

Pigeons on the grate elate.

Pigeons in Times Square seek relief from the heat and find it by perching on the subway's sidewalk ventilator gratings, August 11, 1954. Trains passing underneath send up refreshing gusts of cool air.

Sad-faced kids watch Marian Duffy, 10, of 430 E. 65th St., give a bouquet to nurse Pauline Newman for the ailing Babe Ruth, who was in critical condition at Memorial Hospital, August 11, 1948. He would die five days later.

Red Sox catcher Sammy White looks balletic as he grabs a high throw from Dom DiMaggio while Mickey Mantle slides home, August 11, 1952. The Yankees won, 7-0.

Nine new R.A.F.-blue ambulances with their female drivers line up in front of the Plaza Hotel, August 11, 1941. Units of the Canadian-American Cavalcade, they soon departed for Ottawa. The vehicles were presented to the Canadian Division of the British-American Ambulance corps for duty abroad. Click/tap to enlarge.

Jack Dempsey, left, with Al Jolson, who visited the Dempsey headquarters, August 11, 1920. The world champ was training for his upcoming bout with K.O. Brennan. After looking Al over, Jack decided there was no possibility of danger and took him on for a few rounds. Al survived.

A new dormitory for women and children, Ellis Island, August 11, 1925. It had 60 beds and “all the latest sanitary arrangements for the comfort of those seeking admission to this country, while they await inspection.”

Opening ceremonies for the Denis P. Gorman Memorial Playground, Jackson Heights, Queens, August 11, 1934. The kids are grabbing for a melon.