From a collection of photographs produced by the L.M. Melander & Brother Company of Chicago between 1874 – 1889 depicting posed clichés, humorous situations and examples of the popular spirit photography genre of the time. Image credit.
Don’t Pity the Poor Fish: Trout Benefitting from Advanced Hatchery Sciences
There is no longer any need to pity the “poor fish” because today there are fish with calling cards, fish doctors, surgeons, and dietitians, water-conditioned buses for fish, trout engineers and architects, fish elevators, modern rest rooms or pools for trout and home-coming days for wandering salmon. There are a few of the piscatorial wonders [...]
The Illustrated Journals of a Pioneer Argonaut, Daniel Jenks
In 1859, nearly a decade after the California Gold Rush, gold was discovered at Pike’s Peak in what is now Colorado. Argonauts, or gold miners, were willing to head almost anywhere for precious metals. Since Pike’s Peak was fairly accessible and railroads were available to hasten the journey west, a great variety of people, including [...]
The Sultan of Swat Gets Knocked Out Cold by a D.C. Wall
Per p. 23 of the July 6, 1924 New York Times: [It] happened in the fourth inning, when Babe made a valiant effort for a long foul from Joe Judge’s bat, which just sailed over the wall into the crowded seats. The Babe ran into the pavilion parapet with the full force of his body, [...]
L’Animal Dans La Decoration by M. P. Verneuil
Maurice Pillard Verneuil was born in St. Quentin in the Aisne in 1869. His early art training was reflective of the dominant academic tradition which stressed draughtsmanship and held life drawing to be the highest form of art. Other branches of design were viewed with much less favor. As the century wore on however, the [...]
Hunting and Fishing in the Adirondacks
If only I could bring my readers who reside in the far places of America and Europe to appreciate the easy accessibility of the Adirondack region today and the facility with which, when once one has determined to give oneself the enjoyment of visiting this matchless wilderness, the trip may be planned and executed, there is no doubt but the number of fortunate persons who annually invade this Wonderland of the East, this Venice of the Woods, [...]
FSA Tenant Farming in Puerto Rico ca. 1941
These FSA/OWI pictures, taken by photographer Jack Delano, depict life in Puerto Rico with a focus on rural areas and farm labor during the Great Depression. By Executive Order on May 28, 1935, the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (P.R.R.A.), the agency through which Federal work relief and emergency funds were made available for Puerto Rico, [...]
The Great White Fleet Visits Australia, 1908
Peace Mission: Thursday 20 August 1908 witnessed the arrival of the United States of America fleet at Port Jackson, Sydney. This was part of a round the world cruise by the fleet which had originally set out on 16 December 1907. The sixteen warships were painted white to denote peace. They would be known as The [...]
Scenes from the Albany, Vermont Town Fair
Located in Orleans County, Albany was granted township by the Vermont legislature in 1782. Orignally called Lutterloh, after Colonel Henry Lutterloh, the name was officially changed to Albany in 1815. (Photographs courtesy of the Library of Congress/Tehrkot Media)
Gambler, Where Was You When They Called Yo’ Name (Audio Recording)
Gambler, where was you? (Spiritual) group of Negro convicts at Ramsey State Farm Prison, Camp #4, Otey in Brazoria County, Texas led by Wade “Monkey” Bolden. Recorded on April 23, 1939 by John and Ruby Lomax during their 1939 Southern States Recording Trip. Taken from the field notes of The John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern [...]
Greetings from North Dakota! The Peace Garden State
On March 2, 1861, President James Buchanan signed the bill creating the Dakota Territory, which originally included the area covered today by both Dakotas as well as Montana and Wyoming. The name was taken from that of the Dakota or Sioux Indian Tribe. Beginning in 1877, efforts were made to bring Dakota into the Union [...]
Cowgirl Postcards ca. 1900 – 1910
From Wikipedia: It wasn’t until the advent of Wild West Shows that “cowgirls” came into their own. These adult women were skilled performers, demonstrating riding, expert marksmanship, and trick roping that entertained audiences around the world. Women such as Annie Oakley became household names. By 1900, skirts split for riding astride became popular, and allowed women to compete with [...]
Restoration of the White House ca. 1950
Soon after moving into the White House in 1945, President Truman noticed large areas of cracking in the plaster throughout the house. A structural survey revealed major problems caused by stress from the 1902 floor-bearing steel beams and the weight of the third floor and roof, all pressing against the inner brick walls. In 1948 Truman appointed [...]
Automobile Polo in New York City ca. 1910
From the August 13, 1902 edition of The Motor: The latest thing in sports in the United States is the game of polo played on racing motorcars. It is dangerous enough and exciting enough when played on horseback, but one fears to think how these elements are intensified when the players are dashing about the [...]
Children at Play in New York City ca. 1913
(Photographs courtesy of the Library of Congress/Tehrkot Media)
Roy Repp and “Maude, the Motor Mule”
From the January 1916 edition of Popular Science: “Maude, the Motor Mule”…is an automobile which has been performing the latest dances upon various racetracks over the country. Before the racers commence their whirlwind circling of the speedways, the band plays a tango or a one-step, and “Maude” appears upon the track, rearing upon two wheels [...]