Goldenfields Mollye, a golden retriever, is ready for her closeup in this photograph that appeared in the Sports section on Nov. 24, 1940.

Golden retrievers are among America’s most popular breeds thanks to their friendly, gentle temperament. They’re one of the most versatile breeds — great family pets, athletic on land and in water, dedicated hunters and adept as service dogs for the disabled.

This photograph is from The New York Times “morgue” — the basement repository in Times Square where approximately six million pictures are stored. It is one of the oldest, largest and most comprehensive libraries in the world, with photos dating back to the turn of the last century. It’s also a working archive — its black-and-white photographs are used every day for the newspaper. To maintain the historical integrity of the image, the photograph is reprinted in its original hard-copy condition, showing cropping indicators, reference numbers and airbrushing by retouchers to highlight specific areas.