Updated: May 24, 2016 at 11:55 AM

In pictures: UPI's most iconic pictures of the 20th century (50 images)

There are more than 3 billion cameras in use across the world, but over the course of the 20th century, as the medium was coming into its own, the documenting of world events rest in the hands of a few. One of those trusted organizations was UPI Newspictures. Formed in 1952 with the absorption of Scripps' ACME Newspictures, and then expanded on May 24, 1958, when United Press merged with Hearst's International News Service, UPI Newspictures produced many of the most important images of the century and continues to do so to this day.

Sebastian Coe of Great Britain wins the Olmpic 1500 meters gold medal in 3 minutes and 38.40 seconds on Aug. 1, at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. East Germany's Jurgen Straub (338) took the silver and Steve Ovett finished third (279). The win avenged Coe's defeat to Ovett in the 800 meters. Photo by Joe Marquette/UPI

(Original Caption) Colonel Antonio Tejero De Molina, a pistol in his hand, stands on the podium in the Spanish Parliament beside President Landalino Larilla here, after Tejero lead an armed takeover of the chamber [on Feb. 23, 1981], as its members were voting for a new Premier. Photo by Hugo Peralta/UPI

John F. Kennedy Jr., who turns three today, salutes as the casket of his father, the late President John F. Kennedy, is carried from St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 25, 1963. Photographer Stanley Stearns was in a crowd of photographers when on "a hunch," he put on a 200mm telephoto lens. Moments later, Jacqueline Kennedy whispered to her young son, and he saluted the casket of his fallen father. Photo by Stan Stearns/UPI

President-elect Harry S. Truman laughs heartily as he holds an early edition of the Chicago Tribune for Nov. 4, 1948, with the headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.” The newspaper, whose headline jumped to an erroneous conclusion as early election returns came in, was shown to Truman as he stopped in St. Louis, Missouri, during his victorious return trip to Washington, D.C. Photo by Frank Cancellare/UPI

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