This study analyzed the photographs and other illustrations from chapters covering subject matter common to seven secondary-level civics textbooks--the Constitution, the federal court system, local government, and economic systems--in order to determine how instructionally relevant they were to teaching and learning the content and concepts that constitute each chapter. A total of 28 chapters containing 257 photographs, 62 charts, and 28 cartoons were examined, with emphasis on the relationship of photographs to content and the presence and effectiveness of photograph captions. It was concluded that a substantial portion of the photographs were poorly selected, did not relate to chapter content in any meaningful way, and were often used as fillers or decoration. References and a list of the textbooks analyzed are provided, and statistical results are presented in four tables. Reproductions of 27 photographs referenced in the text are also included. (KM)