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Before and After
... are not just resized versions of the images found in the Library of Congress archives -- they are extracted from the LOC's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:15pm -

The photos you see here on Shorpy are not just resized versions of the images found in the Library of Congress archives -- they are extracted from the LOC's full-resolution reference tiffs: a process that generally takes anywhere from half an hour to several hours per monochrome image, depending on the amount of work that needs to be done to bring detail out of the shadows, suppress overexposed highlights, and remove blemishes caused by dust, scratches and mold. Color images require correction for color cast as well. The before-and-after composite above shows the condition of some of these old glass negatives a century after they were exposed, and how they look after a day at the digital restoration spa. This one is from 1908. View full size. Below is the 36 mb archival tiff resized to 512 px wide. The restored version is here. Below is another before-and-after example. Restored version. Below: Another monochrome example. Click to enlarge. A more extreme example below. Click here to enlarge. Compare the full-size Shorpy image to the closest match on the LOC site. Below: Underexposed, strong blue color cast. Below: A final monochrome example. Negative by Ansel Adams. Click to enlarge. Thanks!Thank you for the work that you do. I'm sure that you get satisfaction from your hobby without regard to the wider web, but I for one have learned a great deal at Shorpy over the past few years. And speaking as a Washingtonian, I find your geographical bias quite pleasing. Huzzah for Dave, huzzah for Shorpy! v. Outstanding!Great photo-fixing, guys, this really makes the whole difference! Glass plate negativesYou do a fantastic job of restoring these photos. I think the glass plate negatives look much better after you restore them than the photos taken on film. I can't believe how good they look. It is like stepping back in time. SoftwareWhat program are cleaned pictures? [Adjustments are made in Photoshop. -tterrace] What Scanner Do You Use For 4x5 NegativesDave, I have a lot of my Dads 4x5 negatives, but have yet to find a good scanner for them. Any suggestions. [Shorpy uses Epson Perfection flatbed scanners for for large-format film and glass plates. - Dave] Damaged negativesDo you ever work with negatives that have been damaged, perhaps due to getting wet? If so, do you have any recommendations for preparing them for scanning? I've heard immersing them in a shallow dish filled with rubbing alcohol is a simple step that will make a big improvement in their condition. Any truth in that? Love the work you do and the looks into the past it provides me. I'm inspired to attempt scanning and restoring dozens of old family snapshot negatives. (Technology, Before & After)
Office Girls: 1925
... stamped their official message on my things and at the library I felt as though I had passed approval when the librarian would stamp ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 2:03am -

Washington, D.C. "American Nature Association. Between 1910 and 1926." It's probably safe to say this is 1925. September 14, to be specific. A Monday (boo). View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Great example of an officeLook at all of the decorations. I like the Allied Flags of the Great War. Did they use "qwerty" keyboard typewriters then? Tree Huggers"Agnes, here's another letter from that lumberjack. He didn't like your reply." Off and OnMy grandparents had those kind of pushbutton light switches! Some Like it HotThe girl on the extreme left must have been a role model for Jack Lemmon in "Some Like it Hot" as they look identical. The middle girl looks somewhat like an anorexic Joey Brown. I used to LOVE rubber stamps when I was a kid, they seemed so important when someone stamped their official message on my things and at the library I felt as though I had passed approval when the librarian would stamp every book and every file card so I could take their books home. You would have thought I was being allowed into a forbidden zone. That crown molding edging the ceiling (which we all took for granted) would cost a small fortune to add to any room today. And those postage stamps are most likely 1 cent. Still, I bet these three conscientious workers we VERY efficient at what they did and their stick phone did not have a droning message telling you what buttons to push but that you got to talk to a real person who would handle your problems quickly and accurately. Thanks for a photo of my childhood memories. [Big-boned, isn't she. - Dave] Passion for filesJust stick junk up on the walls with tape, don't worry about the mess it will make or the damage to the paint and plaster. In a way it's oddly gratifying to see that at least some things never change. All in all, a wonderland for a stationery/office gizmo/wooden file cabinet freak like me. The supply room I inherited in a 1932-vintage government office building still had some retired items of this kind on the shelves. Also file cabinets like that - which, you'll note, are modular. This one's in 5 pieces - leg unit, three tiers of drawers and top. Any or all of the drawer units could be replaced with different kinds of filing compartments, including standard file drawers and even glass-front bookshelves. They fit together with metal male & female fittings and could easily be mixed and matched at any time to meet each office's changing organizational needs. Every film noir police station is fitted out with these. Now I want to see this office's supply room! Inkwells Etc.I immediately noticed the square glass inkwells and the stick pen with removable points, just like we used when we first learned cursive penmanship. You had to dip your pen into the inkwell about every sentence or more. Ink most commonly came in blue, black, red and blue-black (my second job was at Waterman's in Connecticut). Those inkwells also had glass lids and notice the paperclips had specific roundish glass bowls. I used an old stapler like that also. I enjoy the details in these old pictures the most. What we used every day and never even thought about are now collectibles and antiques. Answering the MailLove all the details in this one: phones, lamps, staplers... The American Nature Association was incorporated as a scientific educational organization in 1922. Located at 1212-1214 Sixteenth St NW, it employed about 60 people to publish Nature magazine. In 1959, the magazine merged with Natural History magazine published by the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Office postageThose are 2¢ stamps, not 1¢ ; most letters bear Scott #554: Although I see at least one with two Scott#552 Both originally issued January 1923. Between 1910 and 1926Hmm, seems as though the person who wrote the caption to the photo was not very Sherlock Holmes-esque! Good thing there's Dave! I would love to be able to read the finer print - any chance of a zoomed in close up?? Why in the world............Wonder why there are ads on the wall for Canadian Club Whiskey and Stonewall Jackson Cigars Double EagleFrom the newspaper clipping just above the filing cabinet and to the right, looks like a full-page article debating the "Golden Eagle or Bald Eagle as Emblem?" I wonder what brought that discussion on way back in 1925. Underwood typewriterI'm not a typewriter expert but this looks to be an Underwood, apparently very common for the time. Images here and below (click to enlarge). QWERTYThey did in fact use the QWERTY layout. QWERTY was developed specifically to keep typists from going too quickly and causing the keys to jam. Trench art lampNot only do they have the flags of the Allies but there is also a desk lamp made from an old artillery projectile on the far right. ARTillery UtilityI guess that was the post Great War rage or something. There's a table lamp made out of some WWI artillery shell thing at my parents' house. I think it was a souvenir from my mom's uncle's tour of duty. Artillery artArtillery art must have been "in" after WW1. I've got two pieces that came from my grandfather's estate. He was an ambulance driver in France and never had anything official to do with field artillery. One piece, they took an empty cartridge case and cut most of it away down to the bottom two inches. They added some other pieces and made it into an ashtray. The other piece is a more or less complete cartridge case and was supposedly used as an umbrella or cane stand for years. The interesting thing about that case is the several "Life of Case" stampings on the bottom (inspector and date) indicating each time it was remachined and reloaded. An empty cartridge case is one thing, but if I saw someone had turned a shell into art the first thing I'd want to ask would be "that thing is inert, isn't it?" FlappersGet a load of those rolled stockings and bobbed hair on the gal on the left. She is probably thinking of the weekend, when she and her beau with slicked-down hair can dance the Charleston in a speakeasy. If wishes were newspapers.....I'd have that entire collection in my lap right now, reading the one about the golden and bald eagle. And if ifs an' ands were pots and pans... there'd be no work for tinkers! What are they doing?Seems to be alot of the same headline articles piled up, I wonder what they were clipping them for? [Mentions of the A.N.A. - Dave] Hair set upFunny, but I can put 3 current office girls that I know at work that have just about the same hairstyle and hairdo (including the one with the headband). Just not so much hairspray, but otherwise, they look modern to me. Well done, TerranceI was just admired all the stamp mail (including one or two stamped envelopes), nearly all of it machine canceled. So much different from the metered and printed indicia mail that is most of what's in my mailbox today. For those who love this stuff as I do: www.stamps.org [That Terrance does crackerjack work. - Dave] Golden Eagle or Bald EagleSomeone asks" "Golden Eagle or Bald Eagle as Emblem?" I wonder what brought that discussion on way back in 1925. Much of US coinage at the time featured different types of eagles, not the bald eagle. For example, take a look at the St. Gaudens designs that were in place from 1907-1933 -- those aren't bald eagles. So I suspect it was discussion about whether the depiction of eagles on use emblems such as coinage should be standardized to be the bald eagle rather than just a generalized heraldic eagle (usually the golden eagle, which has been used in heraldry since ancient Rome). LightsDave is right, early light fixtures also tended to look a bit flimsy by our standards, I grew up in an old house that was electrified in the teens and several rooms were lighted by hanging lamps just like those in the picture. Ours had a sturdy porcelain socket screwed into the lath overhead with a matching plug for the cord that securely locked them into place, they were quite safe when new although the cord insulation was getting a bit questionable by the '70s. It took some time for electric plugs to be standardized, before that happened electric cords with Edison threads, like the lamp, were in common use. My sister used to live in an old house that still had a few electric outlets equipped with a threaded "light bulb" socket. The wiring for that push button switch is inside the wall, they had a reasonably good quality for the era wiring job done, the truly cheap conversion jobs had the wiring running up the outside of the walls on porcelain knobs or cleats. OSHA wouldn't approveThis office was clearly remodeled from something else -- a private home perhaps. It's on at least the second floor, based on the stairwell in the background. The cord dangling from the ceiling fixture to power the hanging lamp shows a certain "muddle through" attitude. And the "screws into the socket" device on the wire at the extreme right, which may in fact connect to the bullet lamp, shows further improvisation. Add that nobody has a proper desk, and you can guess that the American Nature Association had a pretty modest budget. [The 1910s and 1920s saw many office buildings wired for electricity after conversion from gas -- often just for ceiling fixtures, with no wall outlets. Tapping a ceiling fixture with a screw-in adapter was a common practice for things like desk lamps. - Dave] Proper desks and the task at handThose tables may not be proper desks, but they were definitely standard office furniture for the period. The 1932-vintage federal building I worked in still had several around; they're intended to be all-purpose office work surfaces rather than executive or even secretarial desks. They offered a minimal amount of storage - each had at least one drawer and wider models had one on each side; enough to handle materials for limited, simple or transitory tasks. So what is this particular task? Obviously, a goodly quantity of individuals have sent envelopes to the A.N.A., and in return are apparently being sent clippings from a newspaper. Now, what prompted those incoming letters? Just to get a newspaper clipping? Or did the letters contain contributions, and the clippings are to accompany form thank-you letters because they report on some work the A.N.A. has done? The problem with this is that all those envelopes are incoming letters; the clippings wouldn't need to be at hand until the outgoing envelopes were ready to be stuffed, and we don't see any of those here. Another interesting thing is that the clippings are from a Los Angeles newspaper. Is it possible that people were sending clippings to the A.N.A. for some reason? The light switchIn the mid 1970s I went to middle school in an old manor house that still had some of those pushbutton switches. For some reason they had transparent switchplates over the things. They didn't have enclosed points, and there was one in the science classroom which would simply explode with sparks every time you pressed it. John Steven McGroartyThe newspaper article being gathered is this: "Seen from the Green Verdugo Hills: A Page Conducted by John Steven McGroarty," published in the Los Angeles Times Magazine on Sunday, Aug. 30, 1925, about a week before this photo was probably taken. Would that have been enough time for the A.N.A. to send letters to its California members asking them to send in clippings of the article, and for the replies to return? I noticed there is already a copy on the wall, as if someone spotted it and put out a call for more copies. Why this specific item might have been of such interest to the organization is a little puzzling to me. The page is composed of smaller entries, and certainly there is a theme of gratitude for the gift of Nature. The first entry, "Things That the Saints Once Said," touches on the obligation to share what we have with those who need it. It includes a quote attributed to St. Ambrose: "The earth is the common possession of all and belongs to all and not to the rich," and another, attributed to John Chrysostom: "Are not the earth and the fullness thereof the Lord's?..." The second entry, "Singing Jimmy and his Large Invitation," recounts a neighbor's trip to Detroit, where he tried to entice the Kiwanis Clubs to hold a convention in the Verdugo Hills: So, what did Singing Jimmy Smith do but get up say, brothers, he said, I invite you to hold your next convention in the green Verdugo Hills. There's plenty of room in the chaparral and under the live oak trees. Our women folk will cook you plenty to eat. You can have goat's milk and cookies to your hearts' content. And all the neighbors will be right glad to see you... The third entry, "The Tale That a Big City Tells," begins with dismay at the number of people fed and housed by a mission in Los Angeles, then turns to an indictment of urban life: Here is the whole, beautiful, wide green earth, its vast vacant spaces of fertile lands, God's rains to water them, God's suns [sic] to warm them; the fruitful, plenteous earth with food for all and shelter for all. And yet we howl for bigger cities and more of them. Oh, brethren, there is something very wrong with the world. The generations to come will have a heavy burden to bear. They will have a fearful price to pay. McGroarty was a poet, author, and journalist; in 1923, he moved into a self-built home in Tujunga, Cal., in the Verdugo Mountains north of the city. In 1925 his main pursuits appear to have been his weekly page in the Times, and completing his doctorate in literature at the University of California. In 1933, he was named poet laureate of California. In 1935, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served two terms. Good point!I was so thrilled to figure it out, it didn't occur to me that they might be gathering an earlier column. Someday, I might go see if there's one that fits the A.N.A. better. From the Green Verdugo HillsThis was, according to various sources, a regular feature that John McGroarty wrote for the Los Angeles Times for many years. So there would have been more than one. Platen envyBoth typewriters are Underwood No. 5's, I'm pretty sure. I have a No. 5 that I use regularly. How I wish it was still as shiny as the one that girl is using! Artillery ArtMy grandmother told me how during WW2 servicemen would make presents out of whatever was on hand, like shells and such, and trade them with guys who could make something different. She had drinking glasses made out of some sort of shell. I have the "ugly goblets" that my grandfather commissioned from another sailor (don't know what was traded). They are quite obviously handmade and hideously ugly, but sentimental b/c my grandfather gave them to her during the war. Got a bang out of that lampThe artillery-based lamp appears to have on top a version of this fuze of mine, a PTTF (Powder Train Time Fuze) from 1907. It's about three inches wide by the same high, and is a brass mechanical fuze using a clockwork mechanism to adjust the time. The time is set by turning the dial from safe to the desired length of time for "bang!" The top unscrews so the one in the photo very easily was adapted for lamp duty on top of that artillery shell. Tens and tens of millions of these were manufactured for World War One. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, The Office)
Airplane Factory: 1918
... More information available at the Alexandria Library . Alexandria Aircraft Corporation ceased operation in 1919. Test ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 12:47pm -

"Alexandria (Va.) airplane factory, 1918." Possibly the Kendrick Aeroplane Co., an enterprise described here. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Kendrick Aeroplane CompanyWashington Post, Oct. 5, 1917. ALEXANDRIA GETS AIRPLANE FACTORY Construction Is Started On First Machine At Big Plant. WASHINGTON POST BUREAU. 703 King street, Alexandria, Va. Aeroplanes in large numbers will be manufactured in Alexandria, a company, of which Blaine Elkins is president and H.A. Briggs, of Washington, a moving spirit, having leased a big brick building on St. Asaph street, between Pendleton and Wythe streets. Mechanics are now using a part of the building for the construction of a big hydroaeroplane. As soon as the necessary machinery has been secured many more mechanics will be employed. The concern will be known as the Kendrick Aeroplane Company, it is said. Alexandria Aircraft Co.Washington Post, Mar 12, 1918. Huge Hangar Nearly Completed. WASHINGTON POST BUREAU. 703 King street, Alexandria, Va. A huge hangar erected near Jones Point lighthouse by Contractor D.E. Bayless for the Briggs Aeroplane Company will be completed today. Several aeroplanes are nearing completion at the Briggs Aeroplane Company's factory here. Washington Post, May 9, 1918. Capt. Briggs Resigns Capt. A.W. Briggs has resigned as general manager of the Briggs Aeroplane Company. After May 15, the enterprise will be known as the Alexandria Aircraft Corporation. Capt. Briggs' name will be used in another enterprise here. Washington Post, May 16, 1918. Will Manufacture Flying Boats "Flying boats," something somewhat different from hydroaeroplanes, will be manufactured for the government by the Company recently organized by Capt. A.W. Briggs, now called Alexandria Aircraft Corporation. The new company, which has leased the Pioneer Mills property will turn out one boat a day. More information available at the Alexandria Library. Alexandria Aircraft Corporation ceased operation in 1919. Test flight of an Alexandria Aircraft flying boat. Another photo of a Alexandria Aircraft model F-19 flying boat (Aerofiles.com). Potentially the same craft as shown under construction here (note struts for engine mount). You're really nice, but..The US Navy wrote the Alexandria Airplane Company a "Dear John" letter in August 1918. Their flying boat was deemed inferior to the competing Curtiss F-boat, and the Navy recommended AAC to "dispose of stock on hand." What a bummer for the fellows with the screwdrivers. William Knox Martin pioneer aviatorMy grandfather Wiliam Knox Martin was a pionrer aviator. He took Curtiss planes with him to South America to introduce aviation there and started the first air mail service there. He flew in the Panama California Expo, was a second lieutenant in the aviation section of the Marines. Do any of you have any information, photos or data about him? He was also Boeing's first test pilot, and chief flying instructor in 1916. (The Gallery, Aviation, Factories, Harris + Ewing)
Team Cadillac: 1927
... is online. The full archive is at the Sophie Frye Bass Library in Seattle, which maybe some other Shorpyite would visit to see if ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/05/2015 - 11:41am -

San Francisco circa 1927. "Cadillac touring car with Fleishhacker Swimming Club." With someone who's either their coach or their mechanic. 5x7 glass negative, formerly of the Wyland Stanley and Marilyn Blaisdell collections. View full size. All that's leftHerbert Fleishhacker Sr. funded the pool where these ladies swam. It was the largest heated saltwater pool in the world at one time. The pool was damaged during a 1971 storm, and efforts to rebuild it met with poor results. A fire in recent years destroyed the pool house and all that is left now is this grouping of ornate porticoes, a portion of which is visible in the older photo. Herbert's son became an All America fullback at Stanford. Just wonderingCan't help but wonder if the girl over the radiator cap is spoofing the Rolls-Royce "Spirit of Ecstasy." Charlie Fisher is his nameThe fellow in the photo appears to be one Charlie Fisher, the swimming coach of Fleishhacker pool. This is a picture of him with Olympic champion Helene Madison when she visited Fleishhacker in 1930. From the looks of things Helene Madison was not one of the Cadillac swimmers here. The linked photo is a part of the Helene Madison archive, of which only part is online. The full archive is at the Sophie Frye Bass Library in Seattle, which maybe some other Shorpyite would visit to see if the other photos shed some light on the Fleishhacker team pictured here. We Know HimIt's the proverbial Pool Guy! DrippingEither someone is in a wet suit or that Caddy has a substantial oil leak. Very pretty hood ornament though but well before my time. I'm in loveIncredible how the one in the upper middle (and also the one on the upper right) do hold a beauty that would still be recognized as such today. Although she would be about 108 today, I'm in love ! Fleishhacker PoolHere for more information about the Fleishhacker Pool. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, Swimming, W. Stanley)
Death Avenue: 1910
... Fire – Presented by The Kheel Center, Catherwood Library, ILR School at Cornell University. and National Public Radio ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 4:16pm -

A detailed circa 1910 Manhattan streetscape of rail cars at West 26th Street and Eleventh Avenue, known as "Death Avenue" for the many pedestrians killed along the New York Central's freight line there. View full size. Removal of the street-level tracks commenced on December 31, 1929. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Update: Click here for the largest version. A Freight TrolleyI think this is one of my favorite photos ever. There's so much going on here that is representative of the time that I could spend hours scrutinizing it. I'd never even heard of there being freight trolleys that would rumble down city streets (I know, I need to do my homework). All the activity and storefronts and normalcy of it all. Simply incredible. "How do I get to the Susquehanna Hat Company?" Re: Freight TrolleyHere's a closeup of the engine. The coal seems to be in a bin on the front. Bain took several photos of this rail line and the freight cars. I'll post some more in the coming days. Any railfans out there who can tell us more about the 11th Avenue line? What's she holding?Out of all the details in this picture, there is one that has drawn my attention. On the left side of the street, about in line with the front of the train, there is a woman holding something white. Can someone with a better monitor tell what that is? I'm thinking large dog (though I think it's unlikely that a dog that large would be carried--unless maybe it was scared by the train?) or squirming child, or possibly a massive sack of flour (not that likely, I admit.) Anyone? [Looks like a bundle of packages wrapped in paper. - Dave] Freight Trolley?I don't think so, at least not by most definitions. A trolley draws power from overhead lines and I can't see any power lines above the tracks or the necessary connecting wires (and their poles) to keep it in place. I do see a steam engine [Coal-powered. See photo below. - Dave] of a fairly specialized type and in the distant background a line of freight cars crossing the street. Given the proximity of the location to the Hudson River (it's near what is now Chelsea Docks) it wouldn't surprise me if this wasn't a New York Central spur line to connect the docks to a main line, in the period before most of the rail traffic in New York City went underground. There is a street car in the shot, but I'm guessing that it's a horse car (pulled by at least one horse). What I find really interesting is that there's not a motor vehicle in sight, just horses, and the sheer amount of what the horses left behind (to put it euphemistically). "Freight Trolley"The engine, as noted below, is clearly not a trolley. It appears to be a "steam dummy," a small locomotive, largely enclosed, often looking like a streetcar so as not to frighten the horses. A conventional locomotive, even a small one, with large driving wheels and flashing connecting rods, would certainly frighten the animals. Mounted FlagmanI guess the guy on the horse on the foreground is also a mounted flagman... he is preceding the steam train to protect pedestrians! Remember... "2000 killed in ten years" on the Death Avenue (Eleventh avenue)! ----------------------------------------- Funimag, the web magazine about Funiculars http://www.funimag.com Funimag Blog http://www.funimag.com/photoblog/ Guy on the roofDid you see the guy on the top of the roof of the third wagon? I am wondering what he is doing! Maybe watching pedestrians!!! Incontinent horse!Did you see the incontinent horse?!!! Gash...! What a big river!!! That picture is really fantastic!! Re: Guy on the RoofThe man on the roof is a brakeman. Riding a car roof is better than hanging on a ladder on the car side. Horse-drawn tramJust to the right (our view) of the "train" is a horse drawn tram car being drawn along the track in the opposite direction. BrakemanPlease note that there are no brake hoses on the locomotive. All handbrakes, so the brakeman rides on top because the staff brakes are on the car tops. to stop the train the engineer signals the brakeman and he starts ratcheting down the handbrakes How fast?I'm wondering just how fast these trains were barreling through the street to hit so many people? If they were being preceded by a guy on horseback they couldn't have been gong all that fast. And yet people still did not notice them coming? How does one not hear a steam locomotive? Tank DummyPerhaps the locomotive is one of these (scroll down to the bottom of the page): http://www.northeast.railfan.net/steam22.html The sheer amount of detail in this is incredible.E.g. the kids' chalk scrawls on the sidewalk. I'd imagine that a lot of the deaths occurred at night or in bad weather. My favorite partMy favorite part is the kid running down the sidewalk on the lower left. Perhaps he's trying to outrun the train? He reminds me of the drawings of Little Nemo. [Lower left? Or right? - Dave] The beer wagonIncredible photo! The detail is fantastic. I like the beer wagon (wishful thinking?) in front of the train. I am just amazed.... CrutchesWhat about the guy on crutches on the right. I wonder what the story is behind that. 26th and 11thI went and looked up the intersection on Google maps, and the whole right side is a parking lot now. Triangle Shirtwaist FireThe worst factory fire in the history of New York City occurred on March 25, 1911, in the Asch building, where the Triangle Shirtwaist Company occupied the top three of ten floors. Five hundred women, mostly Jewish immigrants between thirteen and twenty-three years old, were employed there. The owners had locked the doors leading to the exits to keep the women at their sewing machines. In less than fifteen minutes, 146 women died. The event galvanized support for increased safety in the workplace. It also garnered support for labor unions in the garment district, and in particular for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union. Much material was provided by several websites, but two in particular I want to call attention to, the first for an overall exceptionally presented look back at this tragedy and a stunning presentation of the labor movement. Truly a brilliant multimedia presentation. The Triangle Factory Fire – Presented by The Kheel Center, Catherwood Library, ILR School at Cornell University. and National Public Radio ... I can not recommend those two sites too highly. They are top-notch. And on YouTube, The Cloth Inferno. 11th Avenue TrainBeneath the "dummy" shroud, it's actually a two-truck Shay locomotive, a type of geared power popular on many logging and industrial operations with sharp curves and steep grades. High LineThis rail line was replaced with an elevated line that entered the warehouses of the west side on their upper floors. It continued to be used into the early 1980s mostly for boxcars of produce. The boxcars shown are refrigerated for perishable items. The roof hatches are for loading ice into bunkers at the ends of the cars. The elevated rail line still exists but is now owned by the city which is rebuilding it into an elevated linear park in Manhattan's Chelsea district. 11th Ave trainIf you look at the largest version you can see that it says 11 on the front which would make this an 0-6-0, class B-11. The Shays also show the offset boiler. Great photo. 26th and 11thWest 26th & 11th is the location the fabulous old Starrett Lehigh Building, a block-long warehouse looking like a stylized ocean liner, with train tracks from the pier leading right into the building and up the freight elevators. Its time was past before it was even finished in 1931 as the trucking industry eclipsed rail freight. Funky old place to wander around if you ever get the chance. 26th & 11thThe right side of 11th Ave & 26th St will be the terminus of the 7 Train extension from Times Square. (last station will be 11th Ave and 34th) . They are currently boring down to the bedrock. NY Central dummy engine>> Beneath the "dummy" shroud, it's actually a two-truck Shay locomotive It seems the NY Central Shays weren't built until 1923-- so looks like he's right about the engine being an 0-6-0 beneath the dummy housing. N.Y. Central ShayA city ordinance required that a horseman precede the rail movement, and that the locomotive be covered to look like a trolley car so as not to frighten horses. When the line was elevated it was electrified, I believe with locomotives that could also run on batteries to access trackage that had no overheard wires. At that time the Shay locomotives were put to use elsewhere on the New York Central system. Here is a photo, from my father's collection, of one of the Shays in service near Rochester, I believe. The spout on the left is not part of the locomotive but is on a water stand behind it. Not The Sound of Silence!Just try and imagine the sounds here! The shod horses clomping down the brick street. The wagons creaking along as the wheels roll on the bricks and dirt. The various bells (church, train, etc) pealing, the subtle sounds of conversations and pedestrian footsteps, the whisk of broom bristles as the street is cleaned! Much preferable to the honking, boom-boxing, brake-screeching, muffler-rapping scenarios we endure today! 10th AvenueAnother pic https://www.shorpy.com/node/12859 shows what 11th Avenue north from 26th St actually looked like; someone mislabelled this negative of 10th Ave. Building Still ThereAccording to a post here, this is actually the intersection of 10th Ave and W 26th Street. I looked up this intersection on Google Maps and it appears that one of the buildings in the old photo is still there. It's way down the street..behind the train, the 3rd building from the end on the left side of the street. (The windows look like there is a white stripe connecting them). I think that is the same building on the northwest corner of the intersection of 10th Ave and 27th Street. Just thought I'd throw that out there :) 29th StLooks like you're right, that bldg is still there, but it's on the NW corner of 29th St and 10th Ave. In the Google streetview it's about a twin of the bldg at 28th St. At the left edge of the Shorpy pic you see 267 10th Ave, which means the engine is about to cross 26th St. The train moved from the yard onto 10th Ave at 30th St. Pic of 11th Avenue https://www.shorpy.com/node/12859 (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Horses, NYC, Railroads)
Hill Street: 1942
... Street is the Loews State Building. Source: USC Digital Library (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Los Angeles, Movies, Russell ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/23/2014 - 2:17pm -

April 1942. "South Hill Street, Los Angeles." Now playing at the Warner: The Male Animal. Photo by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Great MovieA gem in Fonda's history; still funny and pertinent today. Well preserved!Surprisingly, nearly every building is still present and accounted for. View Larger Map +69Below is the same view from April of 2011. Lady for a NightWith John Wayne and Joan Blondell. Dual Gauge TrackThe combined tracks for the streetcars on this street served two separate systems. The narrow gauge rails were 3' 6" for the Los Angeles Railway city "Yellow" cars, and the standard gauge tracks were 4' 8 1/2" for the Pacific Electric Railway, which ran the "Big Red" cars on an extensive interurban system. This image shows both systems' cars running together on dual gauge tracks. Cutts BuildingCorner view of the Cutts Building (formerly Sun Building) located at the corner of Hill Street and Seventh Street with the Roosevelt Loan Association located on the lower levels. There are several retail and service shops at street level. Looking east down Seventh Street is the Loews State Building. Source: USC Digital Library (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Los Angeles, Movies, Russell Lee)
Motorcycle Mama: 1937
... Cussing Typically the differences in names between the Library of Congress and Washington Post archives are slight variances of ... what? The caption under the photo comes from the Library of Congress . - Dave] A little history on "Dot" ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:51am -

September 15, 1937. "First of fair sex to obtain motorcycle license in Capital. Although she weighs only 88 pounds -- one-third of the machine she rides, Mrs. Sally Halterman is the first woman to be granted a license to operate a motorcycle in the District of Columbia. She is 27 years old and 4 feet, 11 inches tall. Immediately after receiving her permit, Mrs. Halterman was initiated into the D.C. Motorcycle Club -- the only girl ever to be accorded this honor." View full size. Brain Bucket?Not much of a helmet, but I was pretty stupid when I rode my Harley... I'd love to have her bike now. Crash GuardsBy the looks of the crash guard, it had been laid down a few times on the right side. The front fender and headlight rim didn't fare too well either. Look at her feet.She really is tiny. She can barely touch the ground. Love the boots and the jodhpurs though. If I were still riding, I'd have to think about getting a similar outfit. Aunt Eva was a CarnyRode loop the loops on her Indian in 1932. Same style duds, but when not on the bike add a gunbelt. Instead of a helmet, add a rakish cap (think Brando). I'll have to see about scanning a picture of her in her "uniform." A total packageThose boots just *make* the outfit. And she's got great gloves. You'd think someone could make a bike more her size, though. Maybe she got one eventually, custom-built. Still a girl of 27Wow! 27 years old and still a *girl*! at 4 foot 11, that makes her more like a midget. Wanna Race?Her squint says: Road rash? maybe a time or two. What about it? Go Biker Chick!!Most bikes are too tall for the shorter-than-average woman and man even today. I'm 5-foot-3 and can barely reach the ground on my Harley Sportster. I had to make sure to get boots with good heels. I can't imagine riding in that helmet. It looks like a bathing cap! UpfrontNo riding on the bitch seat for this Hot Mamma. Productive CussingTypically the differences in names between the Library of Congress and Washington Post archives are slight variances of spelling. I don't know what could account the Harris & Ewing photographer mistaking the name 'Robinson' for 'Halterman'. Washington Post, Sep 11, 1937 D.C.'s Lone Girl Motorcyclist Stormed Loudly to Get Permit Sally Robinson - She Weighs Only 88 Pounds - Had to 'Buffalo' Stalwart Policeman but Finally Won His Praise - and License. By dint of stamping her foot Sally Robinson, of 2120 H street northwest, has become the only girl in Washington licensed to ride a motorcycle. Miss Robinson - all 88 pounds of her - has been operating motorcycles on and off since 1928, but last spring she decided she wanted a permit. The policeman assigned to officiate at her examination had different ideas, however. Although the District has no law against women motorcyclists, this examiner apparently thought it should have. "First he said I was too little, then he said I was too young," Miss Robinson declaimed yesterday, malice toward all policeman shining in her eyes." She is 27, years old and 4 feet 11 inches tall, and didn't see what either factor had to do with her sitting behind the handlebars of a motorcycle. "I passed the written examination all right - passed it twice, in fact. The first time I got 80 on it, but that wasn't good enough for him so I went down again and got 92, when that didn't satisfy him, I got my lawyer. "Well, that cop looked from me to the lawyer, and from the lawyer to me, and then he said I could take my road test," she continued. Her difficulties had not ended, however. Thinking all was well, she said goodbye to her lawyer and started out for the road test. Then the policeman announced he would not ride with her in the sidecar of the machine he provided for the test - he said he was afraid to. But when the test was over, the examiner announced, "Lady, you handle it as well as a man could. Your balance is swell and you know the machine. But I didn't see you kick it over so I can't give you the permit." That was when Miss Robinson started "cussing him out." "I called him such names - well, I was ashamed of myself. But it worked, and I have the permit." Miss Robinson uses the smallest type of machine built, but at that it weighs 325 pounds, nearly four times as much as she does. Despite the fact, it occasionally falls on her, she insists she would rather ride that machine than eat when she's hungry. As for automobiles, she has no use for them whatsoever. At present her chief goal is membership in the Capitolians, a newly formed motorcycle club of which Lynn Cook, 1515 U street northwest is president. She will be on the only girl in the club, which does not share the Police Department's prejudice against the sex. Name Difference>> I don't know what could account the Harris & Ewing photographer mistaking the name "Robinson" for "Halterman." It probably wasn't a mistake. Confusion on the distaff sideIf your information is correct, I'd say that Robinson is her maiden name, and Halterman is her married name. "Miss" v. "Mrs. Ya reckonshe had a shirt that said "If you can read this, the bastard fell off!"? Harley SportsterBiker Girl, most people think the Sportster is an easy bike to ride, but that is far from the truth. The Sportster came out in 1958 and was adopted by many as a "bar hopper" motorcycle. The Sportster is really harder to ride than the other models. it has a higher center of gravity and more torque in the lower gears and is by no means a starter bike. I've owned just about ever model and would strongly recommend the Fat Boy model. Harley Sportster or Fat Boy?Jimmy, I appreciate your opinion but disagree. The 883 Sportster is truly an entry level bike. It has centered ergos (no forward controls or floorboards), less weight and more ground clearance than any of the Softail models. Its reduced fork rake and better clearance make it far more maneuverable than any Fat Boy. Unlike the 1200 motor, the 883 doesn't make that much torque and is very tractable and easy to control. I think apart from Harley, there are better starter bikes, but if you must have a Harley and you're a newbie, a Sporty is hard to beat. Where do I buy the poster?I ride motorcycles, and own two, and YES, I'm a chick! I love these vintage pics, and would be honoured to have her splashed against a prominent wall in my home. Good for her!! Girls, get on out there. It's tons of fun, believe me! Leave your fears at the door. This sport is just too much fun to miss out on! Small differences a result of retrospective reporting.The posters story looks to have been written long after, by someone who wanted it to sound like it was written then. The original story as pasted in the comments has two important clues. As mentioned before, the original refers to her as "Miss Robinson" while the more current peice uses a married name. Also, the fabrication states: "Mrs. Halterman was initiated into the D.C. Motorcycle Club -- the only girl ever to be accorded this honor." While the older story says she intended at that time to ask for membership, implying that it wasn't a certainty. [A Shorpy mystery! Somehow you've gotten very confused. At least you've gotten me very confused. Below, the newspaper article that you think was "fabricated." What are you thinking is "the original" -- the original what? The caption under the photo comes from the Library of Congress. - Dave] A little history on "Dot" RobinsonShe was really really something! (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Motorcycles)
Skillet Dinner: 1942
... Mazique cooking dinner after a hard day's work in the Library of Congress." Helping to lay the groundwork for Shorpy, perhaps. ... life of black Washingtonian Jewel Mazique: working at the Library of Congress, chatting with her white friends, serving dinner to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/16/2023 - 8:16pm -

March 1942. "Jewel Mazique cooking dinner after a hard day's work in the Library of Congress." Helping to lay the groundwork for Shorpy, perhaps. Large-format negative by John Collier for the Office of War Information. View full size. AcornsI like her acorn necklace. MmmLooks like pork chops, cooking in a cast iron skillet. Reminds me of my childhood in the '60s. I'll bet they were good. Heads Up!It looks like the paper towel holder is slowly coming adrift. Neat peek into her culinary expertise. A very handsome and competent looking young lady. Some Thingsnever change. Paper towels and a well seasoned cast iron skillet. I'm guessingThat's fried chicken breast in the skillet. The piece she's about to flip is too big for a pork chop. Either way, my mouth is watering!!! Cast Iron SkilletI still use my mother's and the food turns out great! This woman is just gorgeous! Family HeirloomI still have, and use, my father's well seasoned cast iron skillets. I have three different sizes. Odd thing about this photo, she isn't wearing an apron. Standard item in that time period for kitchen duty. And the paper towels were quite the luxury at that time. Pricey. A Quality of Life Worth Fighting For Washington Post, 26 May, 1992. … One federal photo unit's 1942 relocation to the Office of War Information, write historians Barbara Orbach and Nicholas Natanson in the spring-summer Washington History, "confirmed an already growing trend away from FSA's trademark stark depictions of America's ill-fed, ill-clothed, and ill-housed, especially on declining farmlands, in favor of more encouraging views of bustling activity in American defense centers and a quality of life worth fighting for." So it was that in 1942 OWI photographer John Collier set out to record a day in the life of black Washingtonian Jewel Mazique: working at the Library of Congress, chatting with her white friends, serving dinner to immaculately dressed children and volunteering overtime to help the war effort. Orbach and Natanson are careful to point out that there was nothing unusual about such a life. But they are equally careful to observe that the typical day for black female residents of the District of Columbia during World War II was less picturesque and less a credit to freedom's national seat. Though the Library of Congress was in those days at the forefront of government agencies in integrating its work force—an interesting tale in itself, no doubt—the college-educated Mazique remained a file clerk long after others at her level had risen to clerk-typist or better. Two thumbs up from this librarianGreat photo of a lovely woman who spent her days in the most wonderful place: a library. (I do, too, but Jewel's figure puts mine to shame!) Oh, and thanks to diloretta for pointing out that acorn necklace! Details of her lifeAccording to the SSI death index, this lady was born in 1914 and passed away at the age of 93 in 2007. She looks like a fine lady. I hope she enjoyed life, and may she rest in peace. (The Gallery, D.C., Jewell Mazique, John Collier, Kitchens etc.)
Facebook: 1910
... full sleeves and pouchy bodices. [According to the Library of Congress, 1905 is the earliest year for the H&E portrait series. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 12:10pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1910. A class portrait titled "no caption." Anyone here look familiar? Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Buzz wasn't born yetBuzz Aldrin was born in 1930. [Here's a shiny new quarter. Now run along and get a clue. - Dave] I spy a space guyFront row, left end. That's Buzz Aldrin, right? French ConnectionDon't look now, but I think that's Gene Hackman standing in the back row on the right. Nobody looks familiar - - -but Back Row Left is standing on a fruit crate. AppearancesWhat strikes me about these class photos is how mature the students appear to be. Even if they are college students they seem much older than a college kid today. Ouch!My neck hurts just looking at the stiff collars! Nice MuffYes, they do look mature and sober, like they may have actually learned something. Quite a contrast to today's gangstas, goat-boys and strippers. I'm not sure, but...I think the famous person is 2nd from the right in the back row. I could be wrong, though. re: Anyone here look familiar?The guy seated on the left -- Michael Palin. Seven Minute AbsWell, Dave, since you asked if anyone here looked familiar.... The guy front row, left, looks like the actor (Harland Williams http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005558/) who played the hitchhiker/psycho killer who kept talking about his new product, a workout video called "Seven Minute Abs", in the movie "Something About Mary". Oh, and the guy front row, second from the right, looks like he could be the grandfather of one of my old schoolmates, the only one out of the class of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach in 1984 who earned admission to the Naval Acadamy. However, he, too, ended up with something about a psycho killer touching him: his kid sister would go on some 8 years later (1992) to murder a former boyfriend in the family house, and leave the body for a day before realizing she needed to call the police; she slept in the room with her dead boyfriend that night. FDR Front row, second from the right. BreedingWhy am I stifling the urge to comment that I hope none of them ever bred? I Think I RecognizeIsn't that Redd Foxx around the lady's neck? Lotsa moneyNo familiar faces, but these folks were swimming in dough. The tailoring on their clothing is exquisite. Can't say I'm loving the giant white clam hat though. The ladies just jump out at you.The men all look slightly blurry, and ill defined. But the young ladies look like they could just up, and jump out of the image. Their clothes are superb, and could be in a museum. If these people could have gone in a time machine to today's high school, I wonder what they would have thought. IdentityI am pretty sure the person on the bottom row, second from left, is my great-uncle Lawrence in drag. Three things stand out thatThree things stand out that put these beautiful people in a class by themselves. 1) They appear more mature than those in previous class photos. 2) They are all beautifully and expensively dressed. 3) The women's style of dress appears closer to the 19th century than the 20th. Was there an institute of higher learning that catered to the education of the offspring, male and female, of the very, very wealthy? Or, perhaps, this is actually a photo of the instructors. [This is from the Harris & Ewing series of high school class portraits. - Dave] Theta Pi chicksI'm pretty sure at least two of these girls (Miss Frilly Gondolier Hat and Miss Clamshell Hat) were in the Theta Pi photo of 1910 that appeared recently (last week?) on this site, but I confess I recognized the background first. [This is the studio backdrop seen in many H&E portraits on Shorpy. - Dave] Eyes Left!Save Miss White Gloves, third from right, front row, who I swear is looking at me, me! None of the hatsNone of the ladies' hats looks as though it will do what hats of this type should be doing.* The widest part of the hats is too high from the ladies' faces to do much in the way of protecting their delicate skin from the sun. See Edith Roosevelt's hat for a proper sun-shading style. [Ahem, that's Ethel. Edith was her mother. - Dave] A great bunch of handsome devils....and temptresses. Why the snark?I don't understand? [Evidently not? - Dave] Standing on boxes in the backI love that you can see that the people in the back row have to stand on boxes; I thought they were fruit cartons at first, but through the legs of the fellow with the polka dot tie in the front row on the left, you can make out "G Cramer" and "St Louis" - Googling suggests this was a company that produced dry plates. Clever Harris and Ewing, reusing things lying around the studio as furniture! PS: this is more likely to have been taken around 1900-05, judging by the ladies' full sleeves and pouchy bodices. [According to the Library of Congress, 1905 is the earliest year for the H&E portrait series. - Dave] Second Boy From the RightI think he looks familiar because he's been in so many Edward Gorey drawings. Sigh…What prompted the snark, you ask? Well, mostly because Dave feels the need to belittle everyone and generally act like a superior ass if only to remind us that HE RUNS SHORPY. If you have any sense, you'll soon learn to ignore his (resident) genius and enjoy the public domain (and user contributed) photos alongside the wonderful and charming comments from everyone other than the big boob. Not that this message will make it to the comment section, mind you—but I feel better anyway merely submitting it. -- H. Hawks (aka Saddened Sightseer) Hunting of the SnarkThanks for confirming what I was beginning to get the sense of. That post where Dave belittled the person for pointing out Buzz Aldrin's age was so odd and unnecessary, it prompted me to comment. I do enjoy the photos, so perhaps ignoring those is indeed the best policy. DefenseI love the pictures on Shorpy, but I especially enjoy the comments. My Shorpy experience is defined by surfing through the recent comments column. I enjoy all the interesting information offered by readers, and I really like Dave's clever captions and witty repartee. Thanks, Dave for everything you do! [There were actually three longish comments explaining why that couldn't be Buzz Aldrin -- talk about not getting it. I really should have left them for the entertainment value. The ones below will have to do! - Dave] News BulletinWe are all free agents at the Shorpy site. Nobody was drafted. Re: SighQuit picking on Dave and quit being so sensitive. Sheesh. I don't recognize anyone here, I hope you tell us soon! (I looked on my shiny new quarter and Geo Washington was on it so that didn't help either!) [It wasn't a trick question. We don't know who any of these people are! - Dave] A few questions.Dave, most of the H&E group portraits we have seen so far show a group with something in common, club or sports. This is the first I remember being Co-Ed. Are there other plates like this one that do have labels? Another clue as someone else pointed out is the women's formal daytime public attire. So what social public activity allowed coed participation in late Edwardian times. I note the guy second from the left may fancy himself a poet. And I bet the guy on the far right is a podium thumping capitalist. [They're probably dressed up because it's their class portrait. There are plenty of coed photos in the H&E archive. One two three four. - Dave] Men!I'm just happy when a photo doesn't start a chorus of "Ew those ugly, ugly women!" from guys who can't just admire the pretty girls, but who also have to insult the women who aren't good-looking enough (or dressed scantily enough) for their personal tastes. It's funny the first few times (they sound SO stupid), but after a while the chest-pounding becomes annoying, and you begin to wonder if they talk behind their female friends' backs like that (or if they have female friends with that attitude). But if you say anything you get shot down as some kind of bitter feminazi. I'm not sure why guys act like that: I suppose they can't stand non-conformity. Sad, really, but only funny up to a point. The VaporsThat dewy look on Miss White Gloves' face actually says, "I'm about to faint in this corset!" Women!Charlene: For real? To complain about men making catty remarks regarding another -- asking if this is how we act behind women's backs -- oy and gevalt. We are woefully inadequate in this department when it comes to the other side. Plus, we aren't judged on beauty alone, which is good, because so few of us are. We are judged mainly on our abilities to hunt and gather...and most of us do it hoping to land a pretty girl. Separated at birthMy eyes are known to play tricks on me, but I think Miss White-Dress-White-Gloves looks like a 5-years-older version of one of the Gunston Girls: 1905, specifically Miss Bottom-Row-Second-From-Right-What-ARE-You-Looking-At. Bias cutI love the way the men's breast pockets are set at an angle. When did that stop being done? G. Cramer Dry Plate Co.The amount of entertainment these old picture can provide! In looking at the bottom left hand corner of the picture, behind the legs of the gentleman picking his index finger (nervous; are we?), I noticed a wooden crate. As it turns out, it is a box belonging to: The G. Cramer [Photographic] Dry Plate Co., founded by German immigrant Gustave Cramer (b. in 1833), where the photographer must have purchased a portion of his supplies. I have attached a picture of a similar box. Thank you for these goods, and enlightening, moments. [A previous commenter identified the crate, but thanks for the photo! -tterrace] (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Portraits)
Teeth Without Plates: 1905
... Corner Circa 1920. ( Wayne State University Virtual Library ) Hello Operator, give me Heaven That call box -- a direct line ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:35pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad office, Woodward & Jefferson Aves." A number of familiar Shorpy standbys here: The newsie, the "painless dental parlor," ectoplasmic pedestrians and a cameo by Goebel's beer. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Which corner?Assuming the shot was taken in the afternoon, that would be the northeast corner of Woodward and Jefferson. The site is now occupied by the City-County building, subsequently renamed the Coleman A. Young building. The current structure was built in 1954. [Our view is of the odd-numbered addresses on both streets -- the northwest corner. - Dave] View Larger Map Can someone enlighten me? What on earth is/was Vitalized Air? Some sort of anaesthetic, I'm guessing since it's listing with "laughing gas". Chlorform perhaps? Also, I keep expecting the guy leaning against the post to whisper "Hey lady, wanna buy a watch?" and open his jacket to show them sewn into the lining... Goebel'sThis Reich will last a thousand beers! Little has changedBrakeless bikes, like the one in this great picture, are the 'modern' thing again now. They're called fixies these days. Teeth without plates?OMIGOD!! Does that mean some Dr. Painless was trying to do dental implants in 1905? I hope the bar downstairs had plenty of Canadian Club under their sign for those poor suckers. [I'd imagine that "teeth without plates" meant crowns and bridgework. - Dave] Modern DentistryAgain, Shorpy jumps the gun, Teeth Without Plates, America's first implants. A different edit of the shotMuch as I like the "King Leer" edit, I don't think it is a fair one. A different crop reveals something else entirely: All three people are looking at something down the street, although whatever it was, it was out of camera range (or ran into the store). McGough's Chop HouseHalf a spring chicken and a Goebel's cool lager would taste pretty good right now. Painless or notI don't find the picture of a naked molar comforting. King LeerNote the guy checking out the chick, although given her clothes coverage, he must have a discerning eye. Fountain pens at 20 pacesI'm curious about the oversize shotgun (punt gun?) seemingly suspended in midair near the Laughlin fountain pen sign. [It's advertising the Cassius M. Havens sporting goods store below. Or possibly the Painless Dentist. - Dave] Loooooooove this pictureTo me, this epitomizes every reason I visit Shorpy.... for the kind of minute details I see in these images. I loved everything in this one. I had grandparents born in the 1870s and can only wonder how they felt about the modern inventions just coming into their lives. A new assignmentI want to try to determine exactly when bikes started appearing with fenders attached. Goebel's -- the "Luxury Beer"Crazy wiresWhat's with the crazy wires that come out of the dentist office window- make a circuitous trip up to top floor then back down and into the sporting good store next door. Oh?This reminds me of my first bike which was too big for me. I finally grew a bit, as I'm sure he did. Love the expression on his face as he spots the photographer. All that's missing isUneeda Biscuit! Northwest CornerCirca 1920. (Wayne State University Virtual Library) Hello Operator, give me HeavenThat call box -- a direct line to the man upstairs? No Need for GasI'm laughing so hard reading all the signs that I might need some "Vitalized Air". The entire process is spelled out right in the windows: Teeth without plates are offered in the room just to the right where there are "Gold & Porcelain Crowns". Moving over to the gas sign we find "Extractions Without Pain" in one room and at the next stop is the grand finale: Of bikes and pensPer the amended "King Lear" I disagree that the kid is part of the scene and/or everyone is looking further to the right. The bike isn't brakeless: it has a 'coaster brake' inside the rear hub. A slight back peddle pedal activates it. And down here in Florida, anyway, those 'basic' bikes are called Coasters or Cruisers. The Laughlin Fountain Pens were manufactured in Detroit and seems to have had limited distribution around the country. For some reason, advertisements for them are being sold on eBay, but when I last check only two pens were for sale -- as quite expensive collector items. A brief biography of Mr Laughlin I found says: To Coast or NotIt's a little hard to tell but I think the kid's bike didn't have coaster brakes. For starters, they were only invented in 1898, and this fellow doesn't look like he's riding the latest thing. Second, I would think that the hub would be quite a bit fatter. But third, the one characteristic sign of a coaster brake is that that there is a little arm that comes out from the hub and is anchored to the arm of the frame, and I see no sign of this in the photo. All this......and a cigar store Indian! (The Gallery, Bicycles, Detroit Photos, DPC, Railroads)
Green Detroit: 1942
... of Arts. The building on the left is the Detroit Public Library. It's strange to see all the trees in the photo. Those are sadly ... Parade route Ditto anonymous tipster, I worked at that library, attended Wayne State University which is (will be) off to the left, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 10:52am -

Detroit, July 1942. "Looking north on Woodward Avenue from the Maccabees Building with the Fisher Building at the distant left, and the Wardell Hotel at the right." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Arthur Siegel. View full size. Detroit Institute of ArtsIn the foreground, the building to the right (cut off) is now the home of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The building on the left is the Detroit Public Library. It's strange to see all the trees in the photo. Those are sadly not there anymore. My Old NeighborhoodI went to college and lived in this neighborhood about a block out of frame to the right. Most of the major buildings in the picture are still there today and look much the same. The Detroit Institute of Art has just finished up a Michael Graves redesign of the 1960s and 70s additions that wrap around the back of the original central building seen here. The DIA atrium contains Diego Rivera's famous Detroit industry murals. The main branch of the DPL on the left is by Cass Gilbert with a later rear addition by his son. The streetcars are gone of course, but there are groups working to bring them back to this part of Woodward Avenue. Charles Lang Freer's Mansion is hidden behind the three-winged Wardell (now Park Shelton) Hotel. The Freer Mansion, one of the most important Shingle Style residences in the country, once contained the famous Peacock Room designed by Whistler, later relocated to the Freer Gallery in Washington. The smokestacks next to Woodward just at the horizon were at the now demolished powerhouse of Ford's Highland Park factory. Old Detroit87 years ago today I was born in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was a tree city. I remember going to the top of the downtown sky scrapers and was surprised at seeing so many trees in the city. [Happy birthday, Seattle Kid! - Dave] Parade routeDitto anonymous tipster, I worked at that library, attended Wayne State University which is (will be) off to the left, and this side of the photographer. Site of the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Still a Jungle Out ThereSeattlekid, you still can see the treetops from many buildings. I went up in the abandoned Michigan Central Station and after looking at the pictures, you'd think Detroit was all trees. On another note, look at how nice Woodward Avenue actually looks. Nowadays, if you try riding your bike on it you're certainly taking your life into your hands. Home Sweet HomeJust across Woodward from the Wardell/Park Shelton, in that grove of trees, you can see a roof with several chimneys. 14 years after this picture was taken, I was born in that building, Called the Art Centre Hospital. It later became part of the Detroit Historical Museum, and is now, I believe, part of Wayne State University. DetroitI was one of the artsy folk over at the College for Creative Studies, but several of my cousins went to Wayne State. The Public Library is really something. My film-major roommate used the grand stairway and second-floor hall as sets for as a fairy tale style palace in a short film he was making. Clang Clang ClangI lived about a half mile south of there on Woodward a few years back - walked to the library all the time, but it's the trolleys that get me - how cool that must have been. The Pontiac SignMakes me think of all the GTO's that will help turn this avenue into a street racing legend 20 odd years later. Or was it Woodward Boulevard? Well, what does a hick from Georgia know about Michigan? Foy Las Vegas Woodward AvenueAerial view. Although MS Live Maps doesn't allow me to view at the same angle, it's still interesting to look at the layout of the area ~66 years later. Detroit trees and streetcarsSadly, most of Detroit has lost the beautiful American elm trees over the last few decades due to Dutch Elm Disease. I remember the early a.m. spraying helicopter flights over our northwest Detroit neighborhood in the early sixties as the city tried to control the blight. I wonder how many later sicknesses and chronic conditions were caused by all of us breathing the aerial sprays. In 1970 while working for the DSR (Detroit's bus company), many old time executives told me detailed stories about the streetcars' demise in the 50's. Most of the tales had to do with the auto executives refusing to allow room for tracks within the newly planned expressways (freeways) to the Willow Run auto plant during WWII. One was quoted as saying that he'd be damned if his employees would be taking a streetcar to work instead of buying and driving one of the cars that they made. I think they were sold to Mexico City where they still faithfully ply the rails. The City BeautifulA few months ago, I was on a road trip from Toronto to Ann Arbor. We went south instead of north (can't remember the road) and ended up driving into Detroit. I was thrilled. The architecture is amazing. I plan a trip soon to visit and photograph these incredible buildings. I'm putting the DIA, the DPL and the Freer Mansion on the top of the list. I'm rooting for those tracks to be brought back too. Streetcars and treesA lovely pic of Detroit; if you want to actually be in a city with hard-working streetcars and a blanket of trees go to Toronto, just a few hours east of this view. With a few glass skyscrapers now added one gets the impression of a prosperous, pre-1940 American city, with a dose of peace, order and good government -- sort of a motto there. Woodward Dreaming CruiseWe used to ride the streetcar down from the 8-Mile Palmer Park area by the State Fairgrounds to go shopping at the big J.L.Hudson department store in downtown, farther south from this photo. The last day of service of the streetcars they put on several extra cars for a "one last ride" experience. My father took me along and we rode that last trip into the sunset. I got to see Canada across the river and was tremendously impressed at being able to actually see a whole different country. Still don't know how we got home, if that was the last trip! About those GTOs on Woodward Avenue. That all happened way farther north from here off into the distance at the top of the photo, starting at 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak (where I lived later on) and racing from stoplight to stoplight (about every half mile) up to about 15 Mile Road in Birmingham. I learned to drive a half mile at a time -- but very quickly. Detroit, my hometownWayne State University was (and still is) located to the left of what this photograph shows. When this photograph was taken, however, the university was known as Wayne University and was actually operated by the Board of Education of the city's public school district. The word "State" was added to the university's name in the 1950s when it joined Michigan's other main state-supported schools--the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. In the upper left-hand corner of the photograph two of legendary architect Albert Kahn's edifices can be seen. The tall building is the Fisher Building, so named for the Fisher brothers (of Fisher Body fame) who commissioned it. Immediately in front of, and to the right of, the Fisher Building is what was then known as the General Motors Building. This edifice, which was the world's largest office building when built in the late 1920s, housed the carmaker's main offices until the late 1990s when the automaker moved to its present home in downtown Detroit. Today, the former GM Building is known as Cadillac Place and houses various State of Michigan government offices and courts. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Arthur Siegel, Detroit Photos, Streetcars)
Backyard Railyard: 1935
... [The Library of Congress, where these negatives reside, says Bethlehem . - Dave] ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/11/2023 - 2:36pm -

November 1935. "Crowded housing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Phillipsburg, New Jersey." 8x10 nitrate negative by Walker Evans for the U.S. Resettlement Administration. View full size. Washday in BethlehemClothes on the line ... it must be Monday. Don't fence me inKnowing Walker Evans as a scholar and influence on American photography, I thought of two photographs by Paul Strand (1890-1976). It's interesting that the first Strand fence was taken 19 years before Evans's, and the second 15 years after. Liquor in the backWhile I was employed at the Collinwood yard in Cleveland, the residents whose property abutted the tracks sold cold quarts of beer and shots of liquor through the back windows of their garages to thirsty railworkers. Phillipsburg, NJ?This source says it's Phillipsburg, NJ. Doesn't look like Bethlehem. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/267118 [The Library of Congress, where these negatives reside, says Bethlehem. - Dave] Wrong LoC-ationLooks like vjmvjm is correct -- here's the same row of houses in Phillipsburg, NJ DepthThe depth of field in this photograph is amazing! In reply to JazzdadAgree it is astonishing. The resolution and depth mostly to do with the 8x10 nitrate negative, probably low speed no/low grain stock, long exposure. Plus of course the photographer's impressive skill. (The Gallery, Railroads, Walker Evans)
Liberty Market: 1920
... Liberty Market in color The Washington DC Library has recently begun posting photos from the E.B. Thompson collection to the DC Public Library Commons at Flickr. There are some wonderful color lantern slides ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 1:16pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Northern Liberty Market (Convention Hall Market) at Fifth and K." National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. Well now.This will certainly be humbling to anyone who considers himself a "photographer." Maybe I should just throw my pathetic little $3k camera out the window and become a "writer." Sigh. A little historyWhat a beautiful building and a terrific picture. This site has a brief history of the building, but no pictures: http://www.dcconvention.com/history.aspx The Liberty Market burned in 1946 and was finally torn down in the 80s, and a replacement center was built nearby. Someone on flickr said that the parking lot you see there now will end up being condos soon, but I can't find any confirmation of that. WOWI usually just surf the site but I just had to post "WOW!" ParadiseAnd now, a fine parking lot... View Larger Map Architecture With a Capital AImpressive doesn't even begin to cover it. A joining of both architectural and photographic art. THAT is masonry...That is what brickmasons are ALL about, right there. Sheer beauty and perfection. Washington GothicBorn and lived in DC and later the burbs my whole life and I've never laid eyes on this building before. The building burned in the 40s and may have looked much different afterwards until it was torn down perhaps. I was born in 1957. What architectureI love Shorpy, but the idea that magnificent structures have disappeared is kinda sad. In my home town we had two huge market halls, also with wonderful detailing - also torn down somewhere in the fifties. * sigh *3 Liberty MarketWhen I went to college in DC in the late 1970's a bit of this still remained -- it was leveled down to the first floor and given a flat roof -- but for some reason parts of the corner spires were allowed to stick up. For a while it housed a really tacky wax museum. A masterpieceWe won't see buildings of the like again. More pics of that fine beauty: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57668330@N00/575870246/ http://popartmachine.com/item/pop_art/LOC+1532529 Marketplace of IdeasThanks for using the DCPL Commons. For some reason it is strange to me that this building's last use was to house a wax museum. Let us know if there's anything in particular you'd like to see, Aaron Schmidt Digital Initiatives Librarian, DCPL http://dclibrarylabs.org/amino http://twitter.com/dcpl Liberty Market in colorThe Washington DC Library has recently begun posting photos from the E.B. Thompson collection to the DC Public Library Commons at Flickr. There are some wonderful color lantern slides including this one of Liberty Market a.k.a Convention Hall. The slide is undated but appears to be of similar vintage to the 1920 National Photo Co. image. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Requiem Aeternam: 1865
... by Thomas C. Roche. Civil War glass negative collection, Library of Congress. View full size. There's a soundtrack and slide show ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 11:51am -

April 1865. Petersburg, Virginia. "Dead Confederate soldier outside the walls of Fort Mahone." Wet plate glass negative, left half of stereo pair, by Thomas C. Roche. Civil War glass negative collection, Library of Congress. View full size. There's a soundtrack and slide show for these photos here. RIPThank you for including this photo. It's such a big part of our history. This picture was not an easy one for me to look at, but I'm glad you posted it. RIPThank you dear soldier for fighting for what you believe in, may you rest in peace... Amen Civil War RequiemCobbled together by yours truly. (Music by Luigi Cherubini and a choir of angels.) Possibly the oldest video on YouTube. Latin 101Thanks for the touching history and Latin lessons. A prayer for each soldier in the titles. Well done, as usual. ~mrs.djs WOW!That video is deeply moving! Thank you!! I continue to be amazed at how much we can learn from photos of generations past. I LOVE this site!!! Beautiful, Haunting VideoThat's a beautiful video, Dave. What piece of music is that? [Cherubini Requiem in C Minor. - Dave] He looks so youngand like a very handsome young man to have lost his life so early. Beautiful perfect music for the video. It should be part of an exhibit. re: RIPTo Rob on Tuesday. It's really hard to me to say words like You did when I see this kind of photo. In moments like this I usually imagine that the very dead man who can be seen on the photo didn't actually care about the big idea and glorious reasons why he was send to fight. I always rather see the crying mother and the empty house which was left after him. A man who was forcibly take out from his life to fight for his 'great' country in which he had the bad luck to be born. Maybe that's because I'm from Europe, where the memories of the war on your house's yard are still living. [Valid points. But bear in mind that without armed conflict, many of us would still be living under the various flavors of feudalism, slavery and dictatorship that even now characterize many places in the world. To paraphrase Tom Jefferson, Blood waters the tree of Liberty. War is, for better or worse, how the world sorts itself out. - Dave] re: RIPTedus: I can totally understand where you are coming from, but you are making an assumption based on your current view point, not necessarily what actually happened. This young man could have been full of dreams to fight for what he beleived in and for the country that he was born in and supported. Who really knows but the immediate family/friends. I'm glad the Union won the war, but that doesn't diminish this man's service and sacrifice for his 'homeland'. Dave: Thanks for saying what I feel in succinct terms. I think this country needed to go through the Civil War and that the country is better for it. Political discourse only goes so far and eventually both sides have nothing left to say to each other. re: RIPJames on Tue: Perhaps you're right, and perhaps this young man believed in the idea he was fighting for. In fact, this would be the most 'optimistic' end of his sacrifice. What often fascinates me in this site is that after seeing the same picture people show reactions 100% different than mine. But still, it's your country and your history, so if you think that this must have happened - you're probably right. To sum my whole opinion about the series of Secession War pictures: it's touching and showing the war as it always is. The fact that this images of this kind were made in every next war does not lead to believe in our learning from the history. But wat touches me most - is that this is the beginning of the entertainment industry - their scope of interest didn't change much! LWI don't understand why Europeans act so smug about war as if it's beneath them. European colonialism in Africa and South east Asia didn't end all that long ago. France was in Vietnam long before America was. The IRA was still bombing things and the British were still repressing the Irish within my lifetime (I'm 26). It's not as if all of Europe hasn't had blood on its hands in the past 2 generations. The first gulf war was certainly warranted and various European countries aided in that. Maybe they don't teach history in European schools? Or maybe, like in Germany, they skip over or ignore some of the nasty bits... Stealing from the dead?Looks like this fallen soldier's pockets have been turned inside-out. Apparently someone decided he no longer needed what was in them. [As noted by Charlie in another post: "There were no 'dog tags' then and so the soldier would write his name and hometown on a scrap of paper and carry it in his pocket so his body could be identified if needed. You will see the turned out pockets on almost all the dead." - Dave] Empty pocketsI wouldn't view his empty pockets as signs of someone nobly trying to identify him. If I recall my Civil War history correctly, Fort Mahone was carried in a rush by the Union Army, and the resulting gap in the Petersburg line caused Lee to rapidly abandon the defense of Richmond and flee west. Almost before his body turned cold it would have lain well behind the front lines, amongst the looters, stragglers, second-line troops and curious townsfolk. Whoever went through his pockets was looking for money, rings, ammunition or what-have-you, but almost certainly not for an address of his next-of-kin. Civil WarriorsSadly, given that back then it was common practice for the wealthier American young men to pay poorer men to serve in the military in their place, it would be difficult to guarantee that anyone pictured gave his life for his beliefs. Even back then there were draft riots... And remember that medical help was primitive, and many soldiers died of infection rather than directly of their wounds. Check out Ambrose Bierce's work (his fiction & non-fiction war stories) for moving versions of what happened on the field. DetailsThe video is magnificent, it brought to my attention the remains of the paper cartridges at the firing positions. I'm not sure why that is so arresting and brought such immediacy to the image. It's certainly not ephemera. Dave's comments are spot on as I see it. I understand the preference to talk not fight, especially when one's continent has been devastated several times over. However, some see an unwillingness to ever strike back as weakness and opportunity. Fort MahoneMy great-grandfather and great-uncle knew these men as they were all part of the 53rd North Carolina Regiment, the sole unit in Fort Mahone. Handpicked men of the 53rd (of which my great-grandfather was one) made the final assault at Petersburg in an attempt to break Grant's line. This was against Fort Stedman, immediately in front of Fort Mahone. They initially succeeded, but reinforcements drove them back. These photographs were made the day after the 53rd evacuated the lines the night before to begin the retreat to Appomattox.(Only 83 were left at the surrender, of whom two were black.) Thank you for the wonderful video, and I shall pass it far and wide. Below may be of interest concerning this subject. http://brocktownsend.forum5.com/viewtopic.php?t=43&mforum=brocktownsend Letter from General Gordon to my great grandfather, at the end, mentions Hares Hill which was another name for Fort Stedman. http://brocktownsend.forum5.com/viewtopic.php?t=49&mforum=brocktownsend Confederate Memorial Day - 08/10/ 911 (My Grandfather & Mother) As one can tell from my mother's comments, my family most definitely fought for hearth and home! http://brocktownsend.forum5.com/viewtopic.php?t=46&mforum=brocktownsend "This Is What He Meant - All Men Up, Erected By His Colored Friends." 53rd Regiment, NC TroopsMr. Townsend's comments sent me to look at my copy of the regimental history. My great-grandfather was one of the men of the 53rd captured on April 1st or 2nd. (The history suggests April 1st, records say the 2nd.) It is eerie to think that this is a person my great-grandfather may have known 143 years ago. 53rd NCTracy: Very interesting! What company was your ancestor in and what was his name, if I'm not too inquisitive? brocktownsend@gmail.com [A note to Brock: If you register as a Shorpy member and then log in, you can contact Tracy directly by clicking on her username. - Dave] Died trying...Looked like he got it while trying to reload. Sad It hurts me to see some of the comments. It makes no difference which side this boy was fighting for or how he got there. I think most of these boys/men entered the service because they believed in the cause. History tells us that most of the deaths in the civil war were from disease and infection. This photo shows what these people had to deal with. It makes no difference if he was reloading or not. (The ramrod is lying next to his weapon). He is covered in mud and had to be miserable ... probably hungry and missing home. The way he is lying would indicate that he lay there for a while knowing he was dying... alone and far from home. Thank you Dave. We as a country need to be reminded how good we have it because of boys like this. ForgetHow amazing that anyone from Europe can point fingers at the US for war policies. When my father and nine uncles (two of which didin't return) fought in WWII, they sure didn't complain. The current Europe wouldn't exist if it weren't for the U.S. but it's so easy to forget...until you need us again. Notice that his pockets hadNotice that his pockets had been emptied. Either the contents were taken to return to his next of kin or he had been pilfered. Either way, it's a poor thing to know he had family and someone who loved him waiting for his return home re: Civil War RequiemVery powerful presentation. (The Gallery, Civil War, Thomas Roche)
Blaine Mansion: 1900
... Another image from the recently established DC Library Flikr photostream . In contrast to the posted Shorpy perspective from ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:19pm -

Washington circa 1900. "Jack Blaine residence." The imposing 1880s home of James Blaine, Republican from Maine and three-time presidential aspirant. The house, the only surviving example of the "castles" that once ringed Dupont Circle, is undergoing a major renovation. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Continental Liar from the state of Maine"Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, continental liar from the state of Maine!" was the rallying cry that led to Blaine's defeat for the Republican nomination in the 1876 presidential election. This lyrical accusation stemmed from Blaine's supposed involvement in a railway corruption scandal. He lost the nomination to Rutherford B. Hayes on the sixth ballot at the Republican convention. Hayes served for a promised single term, having proposed the idea of restricting presidents to a single six-year term. John FraserCan't get enough John Fraser! To my taste, of the American architects working at the time, Fraser, Furness, and William Henry Miller came the closest to striking a perfect balance between simplicity and ornamentation. 2000 Mass AveDuring and before renovations: View Larger Map View Larger Map Blaine MakoverIn addition to renovating the historic building, the project is adding additional space and underground parking to the east. A recent photo of the back of the house is at DC Metrocentric. When I first moved to DC, I often frequented the hardware store located on the ground floor of the south side of this building: the hardware store has since relocated due to the renovation. BeehiveWow!! In some countries, that would be accommodations for 25 families. Blaine Mansion (color)Another image from the recently established DC Library Flikr photostream. In contrast to the posted Shorpy perspective from the NE, this view is looking from the SE. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Par Avion: 1918
... papers and photo archives. www.aerospacemuseum.org/library/convair.html 1918 Navaids Back in those days they all ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 1:41pm -

May 1918. Washington, D.C. "Air Mail, inauguration of service, polo grounds. Maj. R.H. Fleet beside Curtiss JN46H plane." Note the map tied to the major's leg. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Reuben H. FleetThe pilot is Reuben H. Fleet who went on to found the Consolidated Aircraft company. The Science Museum and planetarium in San Diego's Balboa Park is named in his honor. Same plane as Lindbergh's!Hard to imagine now, with all the airports and navigational ads and what not, but it was a real challenge to fly from one city to another back then. No radio, no radar, almost no onboard instruments other than a compass, a level indicator and a clock... having to rely on visual references, and praying that there wouldn't be fog or rain in your route... wow. Those early pilots really had to be brave and a bit of daredavils, and the demeanor of this guy clearly shows those traits. Love that leatherMaj. Fleet appears to be well dressed for the cold in his leather flying suit. This outfit would make quite a statement today in Haute Couture society. Fleet's FactoryHow startling to see such a familiar San Diego face on Shorpy. Although there was already a burgeoning aircraft industry in San Diego when Fleet moved here in 1935 (Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" was built by Ryan Aeronautical in San Diego), the vast Consolidated Vultee Aircraft factory he built here and its output during World War II and the Cold War permanently transformed San Diego. The Convair aircraft factory stretched almost continuously for more than two miles along Pacific Highway, adjacent to Lindbergh Field, our airport on San Diego Bay and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Just one portion of the plant's Building One is visible in the 1943 photo below. Most of the factory is now long gone, but Building Two now houses the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR). The San Diego Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park houses the Convair/General Dynamics company papers and photo archives. www.aerospacemuseum.org/library/convair.html 1918 Navaids Back in those days they all flew IFR - as in 'I Follow Roads' (or Rails). Cold up there...One of our neighbours where I grew up had been a gunner on 2-seater WWI fighter/bomber aircraft, and he told me that it got to be -20 F "up there". They were dressed for bitter cold: even their faces were smeared with axle grease to prevent frostbite. As soon as I saw this picture, I remembered my neighbour's words. &*$#!I guess road-maps have always been tough to refold. Plenty of DangerIt was said that the early days of flying the mail was almost as bad as flying in combat. So many pilots were lost that the government had to suspend the program for a time. It sure was dangerous!Lindbergh himself crashed his mail plane twice between October 1925 and February 1927 due to bad situations he got into flying into Chicago. He fortunately bailed out each time. That first day had its adventuresThis was May 15 and until the U.S. Post Office hired its own pilots who took over on August 12, Fleet and six other army pilots carried the load, so to speak. The trips that day were to Philly and continuing on to NYC. Other flights left from New York for Washington. One pilot was Lieutenant George Boyle, chosen not because of his experience (he had fewer than 60 hours) but because his fiancee was the daughter of Interstate Commerce Commissioner Charles McChord. With President Wilson, other high level politicos and, I’d imagine, his admiring girl friend in the crowd, Boyle couldn’t get his Jenny started. Someone forgot to fuel it. That was a minor snag for the young aviator, though, because he got lost en route to Philadelphia and crashed in Maryland about 25 miles from takeoff. Another account says he got lost twice trying to fly from Washington to Philadelphia. “The Atlantic Ocean and lack of gas prevent him going further,” Fleet said. Fleet’s trip that day and the other pilots’ were completed. I wonder if the leaf hanging on the wire or cable held on all the way. He’s got his map folded exactly as I did on long car trips for years before GPS. He's drawn a straight line down to his first destination. Making a folded point at the one end contains the rest of the map underneath. Strangely, his map outline looks quite a lot like an overhead view of the SR-71 Blackbird (Los Angeles to Dulles in 58 minutes). Here is an excellent story about early air mail and its pilots, featuring the central Pennsylvania town of Bellefonte, the first refueling stop established for air mail flights. Lindbergh knew the field quite well; Wiley Post, Amelia Earhart, Eddie Rickenbacker, Will Rogers, Admiral Richard Byrd had reasons to land there, too. Many early air mail aviators were something special, including colorful pilot Harold “Slim” Lewis, of whom an admirer said, “He was the which than which there was no whicher.” http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/Slim_Lewis_Slept_Here.html?... The Air & Space site itself is terrific. (The Gallery, Aviation, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Dancing Queen: 1942
... the photographers who brought them to us. [Also the Library of Congress, repository for this vast collection, whose contractors and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/28/2022 - 1:47pm -

September 1942. "Local dance hall in Richwood, Nicholas County, West Virginia. Photos document U.S. Department of Agriculture efforts to recruit adolescents and adults as farm labor to relieve manpower shortage for harvesting New York State crops." 4x5 inch acetate negative by John Collier for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. "Leeks are for geeks"... might have been a good slogan for the USDA to lure Wallace, Ferrell and Josephine or their fellow foot stompers from their mountain home, 'cuz Richwood is home to the longest continuously running festival celebrating America's native wild leek, the ramp. (As if you didn't know!) The Festival seems to be a Spring affair, so they might just be looking for something new anyway. (We know the juke box never left town...much to its eventual regret) That look --Her song just came on! If not rockSince rock 'n' roll would not become a thing for more than 10 years, I am wondering what those teenagers were dancing to. Bebop? Swing? Swing Out SisterI would guess that her biggest problem is catching her breath between dances. I can't imagine her sitting out many numbers. p.s., It's easy to dance to swing music, just about impossible to dance to bebop. 1941 Wurlitzer 850 PeacockIt appears that this 78 rpm jukebox was one of the most technically advanced of its time, according to this collector. Save the last dance for meFrank and Joe Hardy taking turns with Callie Shaw. Iola Morton, the pleasantly plump sister of Chet Morton, is not a happy camper. Only song title I can make outFirst row, bottom: "The Nickel Serenade" by Les Brown (misspelled as "Less", I think). Amazing Images From Our PastI have been a member of the Shorpy community for many years. During this time I have been amazed of the variety and quality of photos that came from the Depression years. This collection of photographs exist because several US Government agencies actually paid photographers to document the country during that time. What we now have is an incredible and diverse collection of photos that record our country during the most difficult economic times in our history. Some of these photos have become quite famous, but the rest which Dave has shown us I find endlessly fascinating. I am thankful the politicians at the time had the vision to fund this, and most of all the photographers who brought them to us. [Also the Library of Congress, repository for this vast collection, whose contractors and employees are still busy scanning the negatives. The ones we've been seeing on Shorpy were digitized and uploaded only days or weeks before being posted here. - Dave] Selections #2, 6, 7 and 8The second one down is "Midsummer Matinee" by Russ Morgan. No. 6 is "Ev'ry Night About This Time" by The Ink Spots. No. 7 is most likely "Abraham" by Freddy Martin No. 8 is "I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean" by Benny Goodman (Peggy Lee vocal) Famous companyWurliTzer of course not only made iconic juke boxes but also their mighty theater organs, some of which are still in operation. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Collier, Music, Pretty Girls)
Harley-Davidson: 1925
... [The original (a glass negative) is at the Library of Congress. - Dave] Dreamy To the man on kneeling on the far ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:56am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "H. Addison Bowie." A motorcycle dealer on H Street. With "Harley-Davidson" in the big window under "Distributors," and a smaller sign upstairs. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. If onlyA lot of collective individuality going on here. If only we could find someone who could tell us something, anything, about this crowd. I bet most everyone had a nickname. Like "Chick" or "Buddy." I suppose the most we could hope for is that someone here has a (very elderly) son or daughter, or maybe a grandchild, who will recognize a face. Right now, all we have is this photograph. But it's really something! A little of everythingI love how there are the cops, the women in fur, the motorcycle toughs, the men in business suits, and people who are both black and white. Harley Davidson - the great equalizer? Cast of charactersSylvester Stallone, Paul Newman, Curly Howard, the Dead End Kids, the Jets and more. Whatta Shot! Shorpy in the WindowI see you. FacesWhy are the faces in these early pictures so interesting? Are modern faces interesting too, but we are just accustomed to them? Out of 64 visible faces, only 4 are wearing glasses. Seems like a low percentage. What a hootNearly laughed myself out of my skin in looking at this photo, but then, I looked at my family photos from this era, no perceptable difference, yikes; hopefully tis the fashion that is the comic relief. One notable thing is the quality of window glass which appears to be about the same as the century before. Motley CrewWhat a great picture. Look at them faces. I can't tell if the man in suspenders toward the left is genial or menacing. I hope that's a screwdriver in his hand. Character with a capital C. Look at those mugs. My grandmother would have called them "tough cookies." The hats, jackets and boots are amazing. Right in the middle of the roaring twenties. Look outThese guys are coming after all the 21st century smarty pants who made nasty comments about their kid sisters at the Thayer Studio. Say what you likebut almost every man in the picture is wearing a tie. Unlike the modern equivalent with their pants on the ground or jams or cargo pants and basketball jerseys 4 times too big, the crowd is basically well dressed. This even includes the guy in the Snoopy outfit holding the screwdriver Bikers Galore!It would seem that quite a few of these guys (cop included) rode their Harleys to this photo op. And a chilly ride it was, judging from the clothing. The Wild OnesUnlike the 50-year-old CPAs who ride Harleys today, most of these guys look like true badasses! Text book "Hanging Out"If anyone ever needed a solid example of that idiom this is it in spades. I'll cut yadon't mess with the old guy YMCALooks like a 1920's version of the Village People. What a picThis might, albeit a big might, be my favorite picture on Shorpy to date. The number of characters in this photo is ridiculous. What a deliciously eclectic portrait. WOW TroublemakersI wouldn't trust any of them (not even the three "women") with my sister! Awesome!Great pic Dave. Would love to see their bikes. I don't think 'elf and safety was top priority then. Time TravelerDig the guy with the Storm Trooper outfit, and what does the shoulder patch signify? Ghost Riders627 H has been disappeared. View Larger Map Re: A little of everything.These guys are sharp. I agree with Jay Carolina on the way they are dressed, and man, do I love those boots. And you must see how significant this picture is culturally. Policemen, bikers of multiple races, and the ladies all posed together for this photograph... this is a fantastic find! Real BikersRead the window. The sell bicycles. They're not overweight -- they peddle to work. I want me a Harley-Davidson fifteen speed road bike! [Actually they would pedal to work and peddle at work. - Dave] Dave, you're such a caution. Semper FiGot a Marine in there, too, middle row under "Distributors" on the storefront. Gotta love the leather in this pic. Most of the classic motorcycle wear dates straight from the 20's -- the archetypal leather motorcycle jacket like the one Brando wore in "The Wild Ones" is still made by the original manufacturer, and dates from this era: http://www.schottnyc.com/products/length/waist/classic-perfecto-leather-... This picture made me get an account here.I have been visiting Shorpy for a long time but seeing this collection of great faces early this morning made me actually get an account tonight so I could chime in and agree the faces are like from a master painting. Everyone tells a story. And the diversity in the collection tells us something too. Someone asked if today's faces are as interesting. I think in the US the weight problem makes some faces smoother and obviously rounder and less defined so many of us seem to sort of look the same. Also in this picture people are not smiling for the camera -- they are smiling a bit because they are assured and confident -- they are looking into the camera with a very different facial expression than some might use today. No-motor cyclesYes, Harley-Davidson did sell bicycles as well as motorcycles: The Harley-Davidson bicycles were painted and pinstriped in the same colors as their motorcycle brethren. Ads for the bicycle were primarily directed at pre-teen boys and girls; they clearly intended to capitalize on the Harley-Davidson name and mystique of the day. Most notable is the crank; note the ingenious "HD". Harley-Davidson received a patent for this design. Storm Trooper ShirtThis is a "cotswool" US Army issue olive drab flannel shirt. Interesting in the fact the shirt was closed, having to be pulled over the head to be put on. Fully buttoned shirts were not regulation until 1934 although the low set pockets remained. The patch I assume is a distinctive unit insignia. I do not have a reference handy but it looks like a M1917 helmet (the Doughboy helmet) imposed on what looks like a wagon wheel. There is something on the helmet, perhaps Mercury wings, I cannot tell. Anyone know their 20s unit patches? Every Single OneAll of these guys, every single one, look like a movie character. Amazing! I have to agree that this is one of my favorite Shorpy photos to date. H.A. Bowie H-D memoriesMy father is 93 years young and still talks about H. Addison Bowie. He was only 8 when this picture was taken but would patronize the dealership in the 1930s to buy H-D VL parts. He operated a small motorcycle repair shop on his parents' farm in Maryland, about 15 miles from the Bowie dealership. In the mid-1930s he bought a 1931 H-D VL there. My parents took their honeymoon on this machine and were still riding it up until a few years ago. A big thanks to whoever found this great old pic. I always wondered what the place looked like! That's my Grandfather!Addison is my grandfather and the two women are my grandmother and great aunt. I'm pretty sure your sister would have been safe with Frances and Beulah, "Tipster." I have a cool photo of Addison standing with a motorcycle. My RelativesThis is an email I just got from my wife, Julia. Her maiden name was Julia Bowie. Oh, her dad's name is Henry Addison Bowie too. The owner of this place was my wife's great-grandfather. Jack, this is the craziest picture!!! Remember Cousin Will? Well, a friend of his had read about this pic on a website. Every one is talking about it!! AND IT'S MY DADS POP POP AND NANA!!!!!!! Just make sure you read the replys that cousin Will sent and Leslie so you can know who is who. Also read what everyone is saying about it on the site AND NOTICE MY DADS NAME WRITTEN ACCROSS THE BUILDING:o) HENERY ADDISON BOWIE. the first Harley Store ever opened!!!! WOW....That is SOOOO COOL!!!! Now, Leslie said that Pop pop was the man all the way to the left, but she described it wrong. He is the man standing BETWEEN the two women in the furs who are my Great grandmother and Great Aunt. Also the man squatting all the way to the left with the hat who looks like a movie star is Uncle Rosco. He was a Boxer. It's amazing that this picture is circulating and relatives of the owner know it's out there. Thanks for whoever found this picture. And if you have an original I'd like to locate it. email me at wackodrumr@aol.com [The original (a glass negative) is at the Library of Congress. - Dave] DreamyTo the man on kneeling on the far left in the flannel with the cigarette -- I would invent time travel for you. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Motorcycles, Natl Photo)
Motoress: 1921
... Think I picked it up from the throwaway pile at my local library! 1270 pages of directions, followed by bibliography and index for a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 9:48pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Woodward & Lothrop window." Department store display with a motoring theme. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Sporty Knicker SuitThe mannequin is wearing a woman's wool knicker suit, with matching plaid fabric on the pocket facings as on the short pants. The tight button or buckle fastener band just below the knees identify the knickers. Vaguely scandalous knicker suits for women came in with bicycling in the 1890s, and remained fashionable as outdoor sports attire through the end of the 1920s. The arrow clocks on her stockings (which may be decorated seams) and her two-tone shoes indicate sports activities also, perhaps golf, or just hacking about the countryside on what was then still called a pic-nic. FirstsApparently the Woodward & Lothrop stores were the first major retailers to sell chemistry kits (Chemcraft) to the public, as well as the first store to introduce Play-Doh in the 50s. Still doesn't make this yawn of a window display any more exciting though... ProsceniumWhen I first looked at this, I thought it was a stage. Great dressing, and great lighting, highlighting the shape of the proscenium arch. Touring BookThe book on the floor with "Kelly Tires" on the spine is an "Automobile Blue Book" - a highway touring guide that listed point by point travel instructions for regional travel. ABB changed formats in the late 1920's, changing from the almanac style shown here to a wider book format in the late 1920's. I have not seen any publications from them in the 1930's. The directions were more detailed than modern triptiks or the directions you get from online mapping services. In older areas, you can still find the landmarks these guides referenced. The map on the wall is AAA. No highway numbers were used in this area at the time, any numbers you could make out are mileages. The turnpikes and interstates are decades away, but the roads that would make up the US highway system five years later can be seen. A Short TripTrip's off. I don't see how she's going to get in that car. Still touringI have a similar book -- "The American Guide," published by Hastings House and dated 1949. Think I picked it up from the throwaway pile at my local library! 1270 pages of directions, followed by bibliography and index for a total of 1348 pages, all without benefit of advertising support. Take that, AAA! Heaven's AboveThe stockings with the up-pointing arrows reminds me of an old joke Groucho Marx told about a girl he once knew: "She was very religious. She wore an ankle bracelet that said "Heaven's Above." Dear SantaI'd like that huge and well crafted model car for Christmas. The American GuideK2, I have a copy of that book, too. I can only imagine that it had to be read aloud by a passenger while the driver tried to follow the directions. It's much easier to follow the gal's sock arrows. (Oh, and her shoes look like a marriage of saddle shoes and spectator shoes that produced ugly kids.) Map on the wallThe Baltimore-Washington map is interesting. It's big enough to see that there were far fewer roads in 1921. I wonder how many were still unpaved. Ho, Ho, HosieryThose stockings on Miss Mannequin are highly suggestive. To what are the arrows pointing? A little racy?I liked the upward pointing arrows on the mannequin's stockings. Reminds me of some of the less than subtle lingerie I have seen advertised but the shoes might be a mood killer. Eye-openingWell, this might be yawn inducing for A. Tipster, but that model car made my eyes fall out of my head. Is it too late to get a letter to Santa? Spiffy socks!!I love the socks on that dummy! Skiddoo!I like the arrowhead clocks on those stockings. Very spiffy. She's gone all out in packing her picnic for two -- salad AND entree forks, two spoons, two knives, three spreaders, and enough wine to guarantee post-prandial petting in the back seat and a nap. Cigarette?What is she holding in her right hand? [A glove. - Dave] Stunning Model!The car, I mean. I have been trying to gauge just how large it is - surely at least four feet, perhaps more. A model that size, detail and workmanship had to be an expensive item, not the sort of thing you might expect for the typical window shopping display. Not a toy. I would be amazed if it hasn't survived to grace someone's private or museum collection. Sock ArrowsMaybe they were to remind you how to put them on. This end up. A hole in oneI believe those arrowed beauties are part of period golfing attire. That said, they best belong on that mannequin. Or on a hussy, advertising her wares. 1921 Blue BookThe 1921 Automobile Blue Book cost $4 in 1921, and came with advertising. It is very similar to today's AAA regional guides: Locational advertising for placves like Poland Spring, Maine, The Balsams at Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, The Belleview in Bellair Heights, Florida... "National Touring Objectives" Local garages are listed throughout the guide, as well as hotels (American or European Plan) Fireproof was a big selling point. There were also ads for tires and other auto accessories. Inset maps for 1921 as usually still accurate today, very few places have totally destroyed the old downtown street grid. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Jewel in the Kitchen: 1942
... 1942. Washington, D.C. "Jewel Mazique, worker at the Library of Congress, getting a late snack." Hey, we'll have some of that. Large ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/16/2023 - 8:16pm -

Winter 1942. Washington, D.C. "Jewel Mazique, worker at the Library of Congress, getting a late snack." Hey, we'll have some of that. Large format nitrate negative by John Collier for the Office of War Information. View full size. LookalikeShe certainly looks a lot like Phylicia Rashād. My Mom used to make us kids grilled sandwiches on a waffle iron just like that one. ( I know it's not set up to make waffles, but that's what we called it ). ClaireI hope there's more food in the oven, because that's not enough food for Cliff, Theo, Rudy, Vanessa, Sondra and Denise. Heck maybe even Elvin. Nice kitchenIt must have been state of the art at the time the photograph was made. I wish I could still buy linoleum like that for my 1936 kitchen. My sink is a copy of the one in the pic, with a slightly different plumbing fitting. We used to have a waffle iron with plates that could be flipped over to provide a grilling surface similar to the grill shown. No Joke (Cliff, Theo, Rudy, et. al.)As it turns out, the 1940 census shows Jewel as the 24 year-old head of the household at "1861 California," a dwelling that includes her husband, two sisters, and ten (!) additional lodgers. A nice Adams Morgan address even today. Snack with a cocktail ?Closer examination of this picture revived a very dim memory from early childhood. The plates and cocktail shaker are resting on metal sheet that has a pad built into it on the bottom to protect the surface underneath. Must have been the fashion back then as we had one on our stove. Think we used it to make extra surface area as we put it over two of the burners on the stove. In this case it would keep the temperature down of items that might be above a heated oven by providing insulation. Not Just a Pretty FaceJewell Mazique was a prominent mid-century labor and civil rights activist in Washington. She died in 2007. Forget the snackI sleep terribly when I eat at night anyway. I want a bathrobe like that! Still in use That sandwich grill looks exactly like the one my mother still uses today to make grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches for her lunch pretty much every day during the summer. It even has the same cloth insulated cord. Really nothing else works as well. Home on the (Art Moderne) Range The stove's Tappan logo and matching timer-knob escutcheon are just too cool for words. Clever PhotographerHe turned the handle of the Coffee Pot towards the camera so you wouldn't see his reflection, well maybe just a little bit of him. That pad!When we got a new electric stove in 1959, we had to get a "pad", an asbestos mat with a metallic top, because the bare painted tops of modern ranges would be damaged by placing hot pots on them that were fresh off the burners. Older stoves had iron tops that could stand the heat in the kitchen. The handles are red Bakelite.On the very similar gas range that's sitting in my garage. It's not quite as deluxe as this model, it doesn't have the timer or the fancy Tappan logo, just a small, nondescript nameplate. But the stainless steel burners with built-in covers, efficient drip pans, and excellently engineered operating valves caught my eye and I just had to save it. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I had been trying to date it, and this photo helps a lot. About that protective pad... if you look closely you might be able to see that the stove surface underneath is not white enamel. Anticipating that the surface would become scratched and worn, Tappan used a different finish in that area, gray with "swirls", that would not show scratches like white would. It almost corresponds exactly to the protective pad in the photo. (The Gallery, D.C., Jewell Mazique, John Collier, Kitchens etc.)
The Unknown Soldier: 1863
... unknown." Wet plate glass negative, photographer unknown. Library of Congress. View full size. Take a good look This, along ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 8:58pm -

Circa 1861-1865. "Unknown location. Embalming surgeon at work on soldier's body. From photographs of artillery, place and date unknown." Wet plate glass negative, photographer unknown. Library of Congress. View full size. Take a good lookThis, along with the color picture of the sailor treated for burns received at Pearl Harbor, is part of war. It must be faced squarely. In fact, if we don't look at pictures like these, we are disrepecting the fallen. I think it was Sherman who said, "It is good that war is so terrible, or we should become too fond of it". My vote Dave, is more of these types of images, not less. Spare me this photoI can appreciate that this old photo is from the civil war, however, seeing the remains of a young man being embalmed is somewhat macabre and disrespectful to a soldier who bravely served his nation. This is not a battlefield photo. There is no dignity in this photo. You also run photos from the sixties. I don't think you would feature a photo of a young Marine being embalmed in Vietnam. [No, we wouldn't. But in a hundred years we might. - Dave] Solemn reflectionI believe there is dignity in any photo of any soldier, dead or alive. Most people who visit Shorpy reflect upon photos like this with proper and due respect. Also with an acute awareness of what this young man, and others like him, sacrificed. In other words, most people here know this isn't posted for the shock value. This just isn't that type of site. "It is good that war is so terrible"That quote was from Robert E. Lee, not Sherman. Sherman's famous quotes on the war include "I can make Georgia howl" and "war is hell" (which he actually said several years after the war). I agree with anonymousWar is harsh. Too many of our generation think it's glorified and great. Being raised on video games and movies that don't show actual consequences, it's important to see it. Fits the new tag line"Always something interesting" ... boy, you said it! This is a great image for a number of reasons, the grit of our human plight never fails to impress me. thanks, jonny We need to be remindedI agree with posting this photo, as well as the battlefield photo of the other day. That one has haunted me since seeing it, thinking of the millions of people who have died in wars since then. Here we have a photo of a dead man, who otherwise would be thinking about his family, dinner, next season's crops. Instead, those who remain behind must do without him. I do think there are necessary wars, but we must remember what going to war means. Civil War RequiemFrom a series of photos that appeared here a few months ago. War's WindfallThis photo is featured in Drew Gilpin Faust's "This Republic of Suffering" (Knopf, 2008) along with a detailed account of America's "new relationship with death" as the result of the estimated 620,000 solders killed or lost to disease in the Civil War. Faust reports this staggering number is approximately equal to the total American fatalities in the Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War combined. Some historians estimate that nearly 50,000 civilians also lost their lives as a result of Civil War military action. Never before, or since, has America endured so many deaths to a single cause. If a comensurate proportion of deaths hade occurred in World War II, Americans would have lost 6 million soldiers. Faust's fascinating book recounts the cultural and societal impacts of the Civil War's dead. Emblaming was a new technology in the 1860's and there seems to have been a specualtion market in corpses of the killed during the war - some enterprising embalmers would embalm first, then seek the greiving family to strike a bargain. Prices were scaled according to military rank - presumably because officer's families could pay more. One Undertaker reported charging five dollars for a private soldier, one hundred dollars for a colonel, and two hundred dollars for the emablming of a brigadier general. According to Faust, he undertaker told a Yankee newspaperman, "There's a lot of them [corpses] now, and I have cut the acquaintance of everything below a major. I might,' he added, 'as a great favor, [embalm] a captain, but he must pay a major's price. I insist upon that. Such windfalls do not come every day. There won't be such killing for a century." Goober Pea Government policyInteresting how so many are rushing to the defence of posting pictures of embalming or medical autopsies of fallen soldiers and yet in these modern times our government has forbidden any photographs of flag draped coffins of the fallen returning home from Iraq or makes press coverage of military funerals in Arlington cemetery almost impossible. [That's not quite the situation. The U.S. government never banned photographing coffins, flag-draped or not. What it did was decline to release official photos of same at the request of news organizations, which then filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, which they won. The government is now obliged to release official photographs of coffins returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Details here. Also, this has nothing to do with whether you can take pictures of coffins at Arlington, or news coverage of funerals there, which are covered all the time.- Dave] The last journey homeThis photo has considerable historical importance, because for centuries a dear wish of soldiers and their families has been that, if they fall, their bodies be returned home for burial. The Civil War saw great strides both in awareness and in the technology of embalming for this purpose. Thousands of fallen officers and soldiers were buried at home rather than where they fell. The culmination was the long journey home of Abraham Lincoln, whose embalmed body was viewed across the country for 19 days before finally being laid to rest in Springfield. The deceased in this photo was likely as not an officer, since the military's original commission of professional embalming was intended, at least primarily, for officers. DignityI'm interested that Dr. Campbell sees "disrespect" and "no dignity in this photo." My response is almost the exact opposite of his. I am reminded of images of Christ entombed, and at the same time, looking at the face of this dead soldier, I feel a connection to a particular person. I am moved by the tenderness of the surgeon's left hand, resting on the soldier's body. The opening of the tent into darkness behind the pair. For me, this is a powerful picture, and one I'm willing to open myself to in a way that I can't or won't to the (also powerful) pictures of the dead on the battlefield. EmbalmingAs a former embalmer, I find the photo interesting. It's difficult to tell if the tube with the valve is entering the chest cavity or if it goes to the tubes that can be seen entering the neck. Modern embalming is done through the carotid artery and jugular vein. I assume that the fluid was poured from the pitcher into a funnel attached to the hose. Later years saw the introduction of the gravity-fed "percolators." Electric pumps are used today. This unfortunate fellow seems to have died from illness. He is very gaunt and I can't see a fatal wound, though there does seem to be a mark of some sort on his abdomen. History is his storyLife isn't always pretty. When I first saw this picture my thoughts went out to the poor solder lying there. I noticed that under his beard was a very handsome face. I wonder if he had a sweetheart, wife, or mother praying for his safety. I also noticed how skinny he was and if perhaps he was in a POW camp where conditions were harsh for everyone. I noticed the primitive embalming methods but wondered if his family found some small comfort in knowing what happened to him and having a body to bury. Many never knew. Some of the pictures here are very lighthearted, but others like the poor children working in factories always make me sad. No matter the pictures I always think and wonder about the subjects. I like the mix you have here because it is a reflection of what life is really like. Sometimes warm, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. The Lean YearsI imagine a lot of soldiers were on the skinny side by the time the war had been going on a few years. Final SaluteThe picture at the following URL was nominated and won its category in 2005 or 2006. http://rockymountainnews.com/news/2005/nov/11/final-salute/ Pause for a moment and witness American's reverence and respect for our fallen (as seen in the photo). Then read of the pain of a wife coming to claim her loved one. There is no cover up. Dignity of CareFor me, it's the almost tender expression in the surgeon's face as he looks down upon this young man he is laying to rest. His care adds to the dignity of this photo. War is hell, and so long as the photos are for our observation and education, it is a good thing to post them. They are difficult to look at, but they give us a clear view of what men went through, and men and women are going through now. Keep them coming Dave, you have an excellent eye for a captured moment in time. Tastefully doneA both timely and appropriate photo. The link provided above is especially poignant. I've seen this particular photo in a number of venues. It was handled very tastefully on this site. Such photos educate and enlighten us about a day and age we'll never see. Final SaluteThanks for the link to the Rocky Mountain News story. Some read stories and statistics of war and think "That's war." Shorpy's pictures and this story make it very personal. A MemoryOne of my fondest memories (if fond is appropriate) was, as a teenager, being in the family car of my father's funeral. On the drive to the cemetery we passed by a house where an old man was raking leaves. He heard the hearse approaching and then turned, removed his hat and stood at attention with his hand over his heart until we had passed. A poignant tribute to a fallen fellow citizen, veteran or otherwise. Dr. Richard Burr, PhiladelphiaAccording to this link the embalmer is Dr. Richard Burr of Philadelphia. Photographer KnownThis was taken by Mathew Brady. I recently saw it in a book of his photography. The Unknown SoldierI have to use this photograph for a project that I have to do in History. It is called the Gallery Guide, and I really don't care for this project but I do apperciate the photographs of the Civil War that we have to use. This is one of the better photographs that I am using for the project. I like to wonder who this person is in the photo. I wonder if he had children, or a wife or parents who were worried. The less you know about a photograph makes it all the more intersting. The Unknown Soldier of GettysburgIf you're curious about soldiers and their deaths' impact you should read the fascinating multi-part piece Errol Morris is doing on Amos Humiston. His body was found on the Gettysburg battlefield with no ID except for a photo (Ambrotype) of his three children. To date there are three installments. The first of which is at: http://morris.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/whose-father-was-he-part-one/ Could be my great-great-grandfatherI have a great-great-grandfather who served in the Civil War (and more family as well). His name was Mansel W. Brown; he died in Richmond, Virginia. I had heard he died of measles outbreak. I enjoy any and all pictures of OUR HISTORY. WarMansel W. Brown Is my Family also. (The Gallery, Civil War, Medicine)
Two for the Show: 1915
... http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/documents/departments/library/pdf/Piedmont... Apparently, Daddy didn't like Mr. Doeller: ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 3:11pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1915. "Miss Catherine L. Littauer. Dog show." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Brushed and groomed withinBrushed and groomed within an inch of their lives. The girls, that is. Planet hatThe hat on the right has a Saturnal design—not very becoming. Three Mutts and a DameSpiffy brim, though! Oh, Daddy!Miss Catherine Louise Littauer, born in 1901, was much in the news in 1923, along with her parents and her boyfriend. William E. Doeller, a former Army officer, had come to Washington from his native Ohio, opened an auto dealership, and met Miss Littauer, who was the daughter of a millionaire glove manufacturer. Early in 1923, when the couple announced their plans to wed, her parents took her to Paris and tried to get a court order to prevent the marriage. Her father did not think that Doeller could support his daughter. The newspapers followed this saga with great attention. The couple promised to postpone things, and there was a reconciliation. They married in June 1923. Here is her obituary from the Washington Post, 11 October 1972: "Catherine Louise Littauer Doeller, active in social circles in Washington, New York and the hunt country of Virginia, died Saturday in London. She and her husband, retired Army Col. William E. Doeller, were on a trip through Europe when she was stricken. They lived at Prospect Hill, a stately mansion at Orlean, near Warrenton, Va. The home, which was often open to visitors during Historic Garden Week in Virginia, was built in 1934 after the Doellers' 18th century house, built by Chief Justice John Marshall, was destroyed by fire a year earlier. Mrs. Doeller, a tireless traveler, and her husband had brought back furnishings for it from England, the Middle East and Asia. Born in Geneseo Valley, N.Y., Mrs. Doeller had lived in Washington as a girl and again during World War II, when Prospect Hill was closed after her husband was sent overseas. During the war, she was chairman of Virginia's Christmas campaign to sell war bonds and stamps. In Washington, she worked actively for the Stage Door Canteen and the American Red Cross. Mrs. Doeller was a member of the Sulgrave Club here, the Colony Club in New York and the National Society of Colonial Dames. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son...." High MaintenanceBoth the dogs and the girls. And likely not worth the trouble in either case. Sailing with Mom & DadMiss Catherine Sails: and Marries: and dies in Piedmont, VA in 1972 bearing the last name Doeller: http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/documents/departments/library/pdf/Piedmont... Apparently, Daddy didn't like Mr. Doeller: http://extras.leaderherald.com/millennium/19201929/daughter.html Thank Heaven for Little GirlsThe girl on the left is pretty cute. The one on the right reminds me of Maurice Chevalier. Very fine-looking ladiesI think both ladies are very fetching. I like both hats; the depth of the brim on the right more than makes up for the plainness of the design. Youse guys are a tough audience!Who among us here today would choose to be judged and harshly critiqued in 94 years just exactly as you look this very minute? (Hopefully by a futuristic Shorpy audience.) No Mr. DeMille, I am NOT ready for my closeup. I never have been and never will be ready for a closeup. Soachou Sing & Handsworth ChinkieAll I can say is that these dog's names would be remarkably pretentious and racist by today's standards. Handsworth Chinkie? Washington Post, Apr 19, 1914 Capture Dog Prizes Pekinese Spaniels Awarded Two Cups and Five Firsts. Closeburn Chancellor Wins Washington Post Cup and Three Other Awards. Mrs. Larz Anderson's Poupee Also is Given a First Prize - Exhibition is First of the National Capital Kennel Club. ... Little Miss Catherine L. Littauer, daughter of William Lattauer, won two cups and five firsts with her Pekinese spaniels Soachou Sing and Handsworth Chinkie; ... FursI think that this might be one of those rare cases in which the animals would be more appealing as neckpieces. Tough crowdI agree, this is a tough crowd. I love dogs and these are little cuties! Huh?pretentious and racist by today's standards. I think you're looking for fault where really there is none to be found. Those names are no more racist nor pretentious than any of the names given to purebred cats & dogs and thoroughbred horses in 2009. Cold dayI love the coats on both these ladies; they would be stylish still today. The tailoring on the left one is especially spiffy. Even though fashion has changed so remarkably in 94 years, a good coat on a cold day never goes out of style. (The Gallery, D.C., Dogs, Harris + Ewing)
Margaret Truman and Annette Wright May: 1951
... on a sofa. I found out that it is part of the Truman Library collection . I did not find the photo I am posting on the Truman Library website, and don't know if it has any copyright. Local news ... 
 
Posted by Cazzorla - 01/15/2020 - 11:16am -

The president's daughter with friend Annette Wright aboard the SS America, on the way to Europe. I was fortunate enough to know Ms. Annette Davis Frank, through a family friendship with her daughter. I found this photo in a portfolio that was given to me by her family after she passed away in 2014. She had taken the portfolio on the voyage in 1951. It still had her packing list in it! She was a warm down to earth lady that brought joy into every place she entered. Note to editor: This was one of two photos that I found and scanned. The other one is of the them sitting on a sofa. I found out that it is part of the Truman Library collection. I did not find the photo I am posting on the Truman Library website, and don't know if it has any copyright. Local news segment.https://fox5sandiego.com/2013/06/04/90-year-old-uses-rowing-to-keep-her-... (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
The Drugstore: 1913
... of the 25,000+ Detroit Publishing glass negatives in the Library of Congress archive is a gift from the Colorado Historical Society. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 2:14pm -

1913. No location given. "G.W. Armstrong drugstore." Seidlitz Powders only 25 cents. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. You get all wrapped up in the cigarsand completely neglect the righthand side, where Peter's, Red Rapt and Romance brands of chocolate, among others, are being offered along with Beech-Nut peppermints. And back on the left: can one imagine anyone going to the trouble now of re-sharpening safety razor blades? Can one even imagine it then? Those were the daysMy late uncle would have known what toilet cream was. He once told me he used toilet water but he stopped after the seat came down and hit him on the back of the head. Salida, Colorado?I was curious to find out where this was located. On another site, I found this picture was labeled as a gift from the Colorado Historical Society. There was a G. W. Armstrong who owned a large drugstore in Salida, CO - though it looks like he sold it in 1910. [Every one of the 25,000+ Detroit Publishing glass negatives in the Library of Congress archive is a gift from the Colorado Historical Society. This drugstore was most likely in Detroit or New York (or maybe Boston). - Dave] Toilet CreamWhat is toilet cream? Preparation H? Commode to JoyWow, so much to look at in this shot. This is going to waste several hours of my time this afternoon. I see at the upper left that Gibson's Toilet Cream is only a quarter (although it may be an exorbitant 75 cents). I'll bet it smelled unique in thereThis reminds me of a drug store I used to go in as a kid. They also sold photography equipment and some cosmetics. Really had a neat aroma about it. Hard to explain, but if there's any other old farts out there, they will remember what an old time drug store smelled like. Chocolates!Scrolling around on my little laptop screen, I came to the stacks of wrapped packages, first, and wondered what was in them. When I scrolled a bit farther, I saw the answer. What I wouldn't give for a chance to taste those chocolates! I wonder if the cup holders on the left were for sale, or were for holding coffee and tea in some kind of disposable cup. I love pictures like this! [The holders are for soda fountain customers. - Dave] Continental In Europe, once you get out of the big cities, you can still find drugstores that don't look unlike this one (you have to ask for things behind the counter and/or try to figure out what the HECK THAT IS behind the counter!) In the USA however, this kind of lovely, quaint drugstore is pretty much gone, sad but true. What a treasure!My head almost exploded when I saw this! Fantastic snapshot full of history -- and 75 cent toilet cream! Toilet creamGibson's Toilet Cream sounds interesting. What the heck is that for? [For the complexion, a la toilet soap. - Dave] Vinol, a Nutritive Tonic.Now we know what it is. Two things I would hate to do:Take inventory of the place or be the sap who had to build those coffee displays on top. I can see the poor guy with a handlebar mustache, garters on his sleeves, a green visor, and button down shoes trying to accomplish those tasks. Noble TobaccoPrince Albert had his can; Peter the Great his box. Mahogany & MarbleI'm always impressed by the incredible craftsmanship and the intent of permanence in the construction of these old stores. That paneling is fit for Rockefeller's study and the mosaic floor is a work of art. If a modern drug store was built with the same level of skill and materials today, we couldn't afford to shop there due to the overhead! Gibsons Toilet CreamFor dry, chapped Porcelain. I took one apartAs a young kid, my neighbor was a pharmacist. He bought out an old time drugstore in South Baltimore after the elderly gent passed away. His old store looked much like this one, although it hadn't been open in a year or more. My neighbor gave several of us young fellows a little spending money one summer to help him take this old store apart. My druggist neighbor purchased any drug stocks and equipment, including soda fountain items. We spent the better part of the day hauling things out to the truck. Some of the more valuable items had already been taken. That old store on Cross Street must have looked like this in its heyday. Pardon meBut do you have Peter the Great in a Box? well you better let him out! Sometimes a cigar is just a cigarRuby Star Cigars Look Like 15 cents - Smoke Like 10 cents Our Price 7 cents - 4 for 25 cents The last bit comes out to 6.25 cents each, but it still looks like 15 cents and smokes like 10 cents! And that was a lot of money, back then. It was expensive to be a cigar smoking waif, back in the day. Western Union ClockThe clock over the doorway is a Western Union Self Winding pendulum clock. It used one of the old telephone batteries to re-wind itself after it had run down a certain amount. Western Union sent out a time pulse from the central office every hour which had been synchronized with U.S. Naval Observatory time at noontime every day. If the clock in a customers office was more than ten seconds off it would not reset automatically on the hour and a tech would have to go fix it. Every main W.U. office in metropolitan areas had a Master clock which was synched with Naval time. These master clocks set sub-master clocks in smaller towns and the sub-masters sent the time pulse to the customers premises. Perhaps BostonA case could be made that the store may have been here. No G.W. Armstrong appears in various directories of druggists around the time of the shot, but the G.W. Armstrong Dining Room and News Company was a strong presence in the New England railroad scene. The company ran the restaurant and the newsstand at the Boston station at the time, and a druggist trade journal describes how the company opened, and later expanded, a drug store in the same complex. From a 1908 ABC Pathfinder Railway Guide: A note from the "Boston Briefs" section of the trade publication Journal of the N.A.R.D (National Association of Retail Druggists): VertigoIf you have never experienced vertigo, now is your chance. Focus on the bottom of that floor. Now use your browser button to push that image quickly up to the ceiling. Whew! Now down. Now UP. Whew. Now down. Now UP. Whew. Now down. Now UP. Whew. Did Last In Last Out (LILO) rule in this store, or who got stuck with the old stock. I'm thinking a parent sent in a kid to get a can of Prince Albert and the clerk went up the ladder and pulled out the FILO can for him. I'm thinking this because when I was 8 my aunt sent me to the grocery for a loaf a bread. The clerk gave me a day-old with a torn wrapper. My aunt and I were back in the store before the clerk could say "got rid o' that one, boss". I want to be the bookkeeper for this place. I direct and you stock. Great photo, Shorpy. Thanks. Re: VertigoI did that trick and felt the sensation you described. I didn't get vertigo bad enough to keep me from finding a dime or quarter on the tile floor left of center about seven tiles up from the bottom. Love all drug store pictures, especially earlier than the 50's. SpongesI like the three grades of sponges available in the lower cabinet right in the middle of the picture: Velvet sponges Bath sponges Automobile sponges Manistee, MichiganI have no idea where this was taken, but if you are ever in Manistee, Michigan, there is a historical society museum on Water Street that looks very much like this...but with side rooms and an amazing upstairs. The drugstore closed suddenly and the whole thing...including contents...was given to the museum. It is preserved much as it was. Bonus: The most interesting thing is a preserved (through taxidermy) double calf head, yes real, from a two-headed calf born nearby. http://www.manisteemuseum.org/about_us (The Gallery, DPC, Stores & Markets)
Gasolene Gospel: 1937
... in 1963 Here is a photo from the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery . It shows a view of this block from the St. Claire ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/13/2013 - 3:54pm -

August 1937. "Gas station and gospel mission in Cleveland, Ohio." In addition to Koolmotor "Gasolene," a long-defunct Cities Service brand, we also seem to have at least a couple of the major food groups represented here, as well as two verses from the New Testament. Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Intersection todayThe warehouse across the street is still standing, though the facade has been updated. Otherwise the intersection is quite different. View Larger Map Missing Billboard"Pray And Get Gas" English Teacher's NightmareGasolene. Kool. Thru. Towards. No wonder the kids today can't spell. Hotel Auditorium Wonderful photograph! From the web site, Cleveland Memory, regarding the Hotel Auditorium: The Hotel Auditorium is Cleveland's newest hotel in the downtown section, and is directly across from the famous Cleveland Public Auditorium. It was located at East 6th Street and St. Clair Avenue and apparently opened in 1930. Wonder what the difference was between a two dollar and a two dollar and a half room. [If the Hotel Auditorium had an auditorium, things could get super confusing. - Dave] Way Kool!!!This photo is just begging for colorizing! What a scene! And I want that panel truck! But does that second Bible verse read oddly to anyone else? I was expecting it to be "those" instead of "them." I suppose that's the King James Version of the text, which usually sounds so wonderful to my ear. Amazing Photo!Again, Shorpy whisks us away to another time and place. In a flash, it's 1937. Thanks Shorpy! All Closed CarsWhat I love about these pics are the old cars in their natural surroundings. Gather a group of cars of this era today and there will be a preponderance of open cars. Twenty-one cars in this pic and not a one of them an open car! Three times three slices of bread.Why not an even number, so you don't wind up stuck with half a sandwich. My CliffordvilleYes, I think I have found it. But with a happier ending, please. Terminal TowerPeeking over the building in the upper left corner. Bible verseIn response to Jim Page's comment, the verse sounds odd now, but remember that several of today's most popular Bible translations hadn't even been written in 1937. On a different note, I can't be the only one here who wouldn't mind paying a visit to the ice cream truck on the bottom left. Well Ethylis standing right next to the Koolmotor gas pump. Looks like their glass globes are canted toward each other and they're carrying on a conversation. Koolmotor is asking, "Is your name really Ethyl?" I love old gas stations. Looks like all the "night parking" is filled up and it's only 5 minutes to 3. Wheels "O" RollinYou've got to love those old trucks. The AuditoriumI presume the Auditorium Hotel received that name because it was located across the street from the Public Auditorium, which is part of downtown Cleveland's Group Plan designed by Daniel Burnham. The Auditorium Hotel is gone, but the site had another hotel, which is now getting a major re-work in anticipation of the reopening later this year of the downtown convention center after its own major overhaul. A corner of Public Auditorium can be seen in the upper right corner, showing the word "CONCEIVED" as part of the sentence inscribed on the building. [“A Monument Conceived as a Tribute to the Ideals of Cleveland, Builded by Her Citizens and Dedicated to Social Progress, Industrial Achievement and Civic Interests” - tterrace] The March of Time Will Now Take a Short BreakLiving for a while some 164 blocks East of this scene and nine years later, I found similar cars to be common sights during my daily wanderings. The three-year hiatus in passenger car production during WWII, coupled with delays in getting Detroit reconfigured after war production, meant that many cars of the '30s soldiered on for some time after peace broke out. I recall finding cars with "lights that stick out" preferable to more modern ones ... and I suspect that I still do. Pack 'em inI like the painted lines on the walls for spacing the night parking. Shorpy TruckShorpy truck on the left. Filled with large format glass negatives, waiting for the internet. That lounge chairThat lounge chair intrigues me. What an odd position to put a chair like that. I realise the angle and camera standing adds to the visual illusion, but to me, it remains strange placement. St. Clair and E. 9th Street in 1963Here is a photo from the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery. It shows a view of this block from the St. Claire Avenue side. The City Mission is still there, and the Koolmotor station is a Sohio in 1963, but a lot of the rest of the view ended up as parking lots for a while. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Cleveland, Gas Stations, John Vachon)
Columbia U: 1897
"Columbia College, New York." The Low Memorial Library in a circa 1897 shot of Columbia University's Morningside Heights ... of the photographer to record the magnificence of the Library, it's interesting that he also gave us a view of a rather rough-hewn ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 9:55am -

"Columbia College, New York." The Low Memorial Library in a circa 1897 shot of Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus. Note the steamroller (or whatever that is) to the right. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Wow!Almost no construction on upper Broadway -- you can see clear through to the river! That's obviously Amsterdam Avenue in the foreground. Love the streetcar and the little house! Paradox?One would assume that a photo of this era would have required the shutter to be opened a long time, as evidenced by the blurred streetcar. However, we have a gent bent over something in the back yard (lower left). Either he was bent over for a long time (slow shutter speed) or that streetcar was really booking! [Shutter speeds for outdoor exposures made with view cameras of this vintage were generally fractions of a second. Shutter speeds on inexpensive Kodak box cameras were demarcated in hundredths of a second. - Dave] A Matter of CroppingWith the intent of the photographer to record the magnificence of the Library, it's interesting that he also gave us a view of a rather rough-hewn structure in the foreground, complete with a man bent over some sundry task; as well as a nice row of scrap piled along a fence; yet these details are full of interest for us today. Slices of timeI love these candid slices of time. The camera caught a man looking for treasures(??) out in the empty lot and another man behind the house doing some sort of chore! There's always so much to look at in these pics. Thanks, Shorpy! Looks like Springtime!It's bright, sunny and those little flowerpots wouldn't be outside on the table behind the house if the last frost hadn't already occurred - and neither would the guy nearby in his shirtsleeves. I'm particularly struck by how 'clean' Amsterdam Avenue appears. FabulousWonderful image. So many things to look at in this shot. Just look at the size of the telephone pole! I wonder why the windows are open in the house in the foreground. It appears to be a winter day. Lou GehrigIf you had come by this scene around 1924, you might have seen Lou Gehrig playing baseball for Columbia in the large field right in front of the Library. It's also interesting to see (I believe) the towers of Teachers' College in the background. I live here from around 1947 to 55. Many changes. Road ConstructionAlso notice behind the rock-strewn lot on the right that the road is being Macadamized--you can see the steam roller and a pile of gravel behind it. Amsterdam Ave.According to Google Naps, the land in front of that brick building on Amsterdam Avenue has been regraded, and there's now a bridge/tunnel over that entire block where the building is (though the building itself is still there. Sadly, the beautiful mansion in front of the library is gone, and it appears that the mansard roofed house further beyond the library is also gone. Where the shack in the foreground is appears to be a large apartment style building; there is absolutely no view of the library from anywhere close to that spot this picture was taken today. BTW, this is my first post as a REGISTERED user, though I think it's somewhere around post 100 total. Thanks for the great site Dave; maybe when "old photos" finally reach the very late 1960s and early 1970s some of my own photos will start showing up. [The "beautiful mansion" (Buell Hall) is still there. - Dave] Telephone wiresI love this photo for all the reasons that have already been mentioned. I love how it captures people in their late afternoon routines, with some buildings still there and others long gone. A slice of time that has something different for each viewer. For me, the phone poles are interesting. Back in those days when telephones weren't so common or cheap, one pair of wires could carry only one conversation. This led to phone poles that carried hundreds of pairs, this was both unsightly and expensive. After a certain distance, the wires in each pair had to be swapped over to prevent crosstalk. All this changed very quickly, with the introduction of carrier multiplexing around WWI. A single phone pair could now carry multiple conversations and phone systems became significantly cheaper to install and maintain. As always, can't wait for tomorrow's pics. That sinking sensationIn the original photo, the ground floor of Buell Hall looks half-sunk in the landscape. Did they raise the house later? Lower the grounds? Strange. [I think you have it backward. They raised the grounds. That's the basement level (partly obscured by a fence) in the 1897 photo, which is no longer visible in the current view. - Dave] Buell HallBuell Hall was originally named Macy Villa, after benefactor William H. Macy (of department store fame). The building is the last remaining part of Columbia's predecessor, the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum. Macy Villa housed wealthy male patients, who were separated from regular folks. [William H. Macy is an actor. The department store you're talking about was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy, a Nantucket Quaker who started out as a whaler. - Dave (thanks to A.T.)] Columbia's law school now stands in the lot just north of the tractor thing. The blocks beyond were tenements for much of the 20th century. The novelist Oscar Hijuelos was raised two blocks away on 118th Street. Those tenements were replaced in the 1960s by the International Affairs Building, which houses the School of International and Public Affairs, whose most famous graduate will be sworn in as president January 20. AmazingHaving attended Columbia in the late 70s/early 80s, I find this to be an amazing photo. I lived in Johnson Hall (now Wien Hall), to the right of the area where, as one of the other posters noted, the Law School is now across Amsterdam from the Library. I also recall that the building had a 1912 date on it, and of course that seemed ancient at the time. Now I see a photo taken 15 years before the construction of the dorm. And the famous and beloved cobblestoned "Walk" at 116th Street hasn't even been laid yet! That's 116th running in front of the house where the man is working on something. Thank you Shorpy! Street workIn addition the the steamroller you can see men working on the street. In fact, just in front of the machine you can see the top half of a man who appears to be holding some sort of tool in a ditch. Bedrock CommunityThe block in the lower right corner of the photo is bounded by a beautifully made old farm-style dry stone wall, and there appears to be a natural outcropping of the underlying bedrock in the extreme lower corner of the image, textured with linear glacial scouring quite like that on the outcroppings in Central Park. Is there anyone in the Legion of Shorpy Archive Aces who might know what was on this lot before it was cleared for the university expansion? The stone wall doesn't look as if it was built as a construction barrier, and would seem to predate the surviving wood frame house in the adjacent block. The six-over-six sash windows, the broad shiplap siding and interior chimneys on that house suggest that it is pretty old itself, perhaps 1840s-1860s, or even a bit older. Superintendent's HouseThe mansard roofed building in the background was the superintendent's house for the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum. It housed the music department when Columbia first took over the property and later served as the Men's Faculty Club. The building was demolished in 1922 to make way for Dodge Hall, which today also houses the Music Department. Bloomingdale Insane AsylumOne more... Here's a map of the campus when it was the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum: LOVE THIS PHOTO!My sister went to Columbia U. in the 1980's and still lives a few blocks away from here (West 110th). I love walking around the campus. I am FASCINATED by this photo...can't wait to go back to walk the campus again! (The Gallery, DPC, Education, Schools, NYC, Streetcars)
Clam Chowder Today: 1905
... go? There are two other photos of this tenement in the Library of Congress collection. They look much more inhabited and show how this ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 2:37pm -

New York City circa 1905. "Exterior of tenement." The longer you look at this, the more you'll see. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Time for some road repairWow, that's a nasty bit of road in front of that building. HauntingBest face-in-a-window shot in a long time. Looks like a painting, and speaks of timeless solitude across a century. 308Who'll be the first to post a Street View? S&H Green StampsAnd here I thought they were a product of the 1950s, or earlier. ["Earlier" would seem to be correct. - Dave] Pop. 2So far I see two people in this photo. Not counting George McClellan. I wanna buy that mason a beer!Those are the coolest headers I've ever seen! There's probably a term for that style, for all I know. The cobblestones on the street are another story. No doubt a mosquito plague after every rain. DeepI think I lost a truck in that pothole. Scared the bejesus out of me!The shadowy lady in the doorway! And the pensive woman in the window looks so lost in thought. The people in this photo are the best part! Down in flamesHmmm, fire escapes that go nowhere. Maybe notI was thinking of swiping something out of that tool chest, then I read the label! Loafer DeterrentThose sharp triangles on the top of the railings look to be very effective at keeping people from sitting on them. [Also effective for loafing pigeons -- note that they're also on the lower rung. - Dave] Trading stampsThat S&H Green Stamp sign would be quite a collectible now. Sperry & Hutchinson began in 1896. They're still around, just virtual. Give the man a steak to go with the beer!The brickwork is fantastic. Look at the fancy work above the second floor windows and the double diamondwork up the walls. I have never seen diamondwork in brick before. It does not survive.308 East 40th Street (courtesy of the 1915 city directory). View Larger Map Chillin at the windowI count two windowsill milk bottles. Plus some paper-wrapped packages, maybe meat or butter. I just figured it outWhy do vintage street lamps always those two arms sticking out? To support a ladder for maintenance! Thank you!Clicking on these photos to get the full-size view is like opening gifts! I'm thrilled every time. Thank you. Tudor City308 East 40th Street in Manhattan is just off Second Avenue on the south side of the street and just a few doors away from the Tudor City apartment and park complex. Back in the 1980's, there were some terrific restaurants in that immediate area. Tenement?In New York City a "tenement" is considered to be a small (under five story with no elevator) overcrowded run-down building. The houses on the Lower East Side in the early 1900s were tenements. 308 East 40th Street does not fit that description. [Meanings change over time. Strictly speaking, a tenement is any tenanted building, i.e. apartment house. Below, NYC real-estate listings from 1905. - Dave] GaslightThe lamplighter would lean his ladder against those arms. It's a gas!I see that H. Kino the Tailor still uses gaslights (in the front window) -- but seeing as how this building was a "tenement," I suppose electrification was a low priority. Fire EscapesThe two "Fire Escapes" I guess are not balconies but have no apparent way to get down to street and away from the conflagration. The only thing I can figure is the NYFD would come and raise a ladder to them. We can't tell how tall the building is but I imagine no more than four or five stories [Actually, seven. - Dave]. The fire escapes for the floors above must be on the sides and rear of the building. I am having trouble identifying the metal bracket affixed to the wall between the tailor shop window and it's door. It looks like it could have held a hanging sign but appears to be too low. Morning scrubbingThe lady in at the doorway seems to be scrubbing the floors. You can see the water dripping down the front step. Graffiti If you zoom in you can see initials chalked on the bricks. JuniorIn spite of the apparent distaste someone in this neighborhood had for George B. McClellan, he won his mayoral campaign. The name sounds familiar, of course, and the man on the poster is the son of Civil War General George B. McClellan. He served as mayor of New York City from 1904 to 1909 (he was elected first for a two-year term, and then for a four-year term). Apparently he was a little moralistic, and canceled all motion-picture exhibition licenses on Christmas Eve 1908. Perhaps that's why he was not encouraged to run for reelection for the 1910 term. Once, tenements were even respectableLovely curtains, with lace or bobbles or fringe, at every window. No broken glass. Well-kept and middle-class. Jacob Riis had shown New York tenements as nothing but degrading slums. "How The Other Half Lives" was only 15 years old when this photograph was made. But there was always a strong sense of middle-class values that resided in the people who lived in the "better" tenements. They embraced the Settlement House movement, strove to present a "decent" face to the world, and certainly didn't want to be tarred with the same label as those dirty, disreputable slum-dwellers downtown. What an amazing image. There's so much we've forgotten. Thank you for reminding us. George B. McClellan JrMayor of New York 1904-1909. Born in Dresden, Germany, and son of Gen. McClellan of Civil War blundering. Elmer's GantryOn the wall above the cellar stairs, there's a triangular rig for hoisting stuff up out of the basement. Where'd the cart go?There are two other photos of this tenement in the Library of Congress collection. They look much more inhabited and show how this image might have been manipulated for effect -- the other images show the address number (curiously missing here), the awning down, and a cart of produce in front of the building, a much more inviting view. [Nothing was "manipulated." You can't see the address numbers because they're on the front doors, which are both open in this view. - Dave] Lace Curtain IrishIf this is chowda, it must be Friday. When I was a kid, every Friday was meatless and during that era, the better-off Irish were referred to as titled. Likewise the Polish people who were "comfortable" were "silk stocking Poles" and my father used to call us cotton stocking Poles. Both ethnicities were Catholic and Friday always meant seafood, (Irish were also referred to as "mackerel snappers) and odors of frying fish, tuna salad and chowda permeated the neighborhoods. My mom made three kinds of chowda, New England with a creamy, white base, Manhattan with a tomato base and lots of vegetables and Rhode Island which was a lighter version of the N.E. kind but with added broth. I love them all but also miss the smell of everybody's tuna and onion sandwiches at school lunch and fish frying aromas wafting through our town at supper time. I do remember that fresh mackerel was ten cents a pound and almost everyone could afford it. Thanks for the great nostalgic picture, the despairing lady in the window seems trapped and scared, there has to be a story there. Windowsill gardenI love the window with all the plants in it! Hard to tell what they are, though it looks like one may be an orchid. I wonder if they were purely ornamental or if some were herbs for cooking. Either way, you've got to cram as many as you can into your available sunny spaces! Francie is gazing out the windowIt could be Francie. It could. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn was my favorite book as a young adult and this detailed photograph brings a better understanding of the novel. Almost "Norman Rockwell"Imagine a 5000-piece picture puzzle with this photo as the topic! I LEARN so much from the comments!This is one of my favorite sites for resting my weary eyes during work breaks. And while I certainly savor the photos, so many layers are added by the comments. Thank you, everyone, for sharing your knowledge. Holy horse dung!Having lived in Manhattan for 12 (yes, only 12) years and having moved away, this photo leaves me speechless. The detail of the photographic process is amazing and the subtle (and somewhat hidden) joys on view here make me wanna head back for any chowder--even the famous Gowanus Canal Chow. All the sights, smells and sounds of the greatest city on earth come back to me. Many thanks. I now live on this spotOr possibly right next to it. I live in the Churchill, a 33-story apartment building at 300 East 40th Street - it takes up the entire block between 39th and 40th Street, and 2nd Avenue and Tunnel Entrance Street. 308 was either torn down to make room for the Churchill (built 1968) or possibly during the building of the Midtown tunnel and its approaches (1936-40). What am I missing?Just wondering how "swein" determined that this was E. 40th; might I be enlightened on this "1915 directory"? I'm half-cringing in anticipation of a "duh" moment but I've looked over the pic & the comments -- and I'm not getting it. [Swein consulted the 1915 Manhattan City Directory for Wm. Inwood, Grocer, and found a listing that matched the 308 address in the window. - Dave] Do You Supposethe Sicilian Asphalt Company also offered a line of concrete shoes? (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Little Pete: 1921
... Photo whereabouts The photo is likely in the Library of Congress' American Folklife Collection. [It's not. As noted in ... I believe his brother Mike worked or still works at the Library of Congress; one of my guitar-playing pals works or worked for him in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/30/2014 - 11:13am -

    Pete Seeger, Champion of Folk Music and Social Change, Dies at 94 May 23, 1921. Washington, D.C. "Professor Charles Louis Seeger and family." Charles Seeger, wife Constance Edson Seeger and their 2-year-old son Pete, of future folkie fame. National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size. Quit That!My mind persists in thinking Dad's got a laptop perched on top of a crate, though I know it ain't so. Pete's brothersWhatever happened to them? A Gifted Violinist Music and Musicians Constance Edson Seeger, of New York, a gifted violinist, and niece of Capt. Templin Potts, U.S.N., retired, of Washington, is visiting this city for two weeks with her husband, Prof. Charles Louis Seeger, a distinguished composer. Last night they gave a lecture and violin recital at the Arts club on "The Trend of Modern Music," illustrated by the playing of rare classical masterpieces and equally rare modern work - a vivid clash between seventeenth and twentieth century ideals. Washington Post, May 22, 1921 Still Going Strong...Pete, of course, is still going as strong as ever in his 90th year up in Beacon, NY, where he has lived for years and has been the driving force for the cleanup of the Hudson River, and the man behind the plan for the sloop Clearwater. I'll always remember his singing of Woodie Guthrie's "This Land" up at the Newport Folk Festival back in the mid-sixties. A related book recommendationI just finished the excellent "The Rest is Noise" by Alex Ross. The book discusses Charles Seeger at length and cites him as an influence on many better-known 20th century American composers. A fascinating read. Still SingingPete Seeger will turn 90 this May. No clue in this serene scene......to the wonderful and tempestuous folk singing career Pete Seeger would have as the Depression crucible forged his world view. As leader of legendary Weavers in the 1940s, and later, as the most extraordinary, if not most controversial, folk voice of the 1960s and beyond, Seeger has indeed rocked the world in his 90 years. GuantanameraI saw him at Yale one winter (mid 60's) where he pleased everyone by performing "Guantanamera" as a singalong. Before singing it he explained the lyrics and the story they told. Later on the tune became a hit on the folk charts by other artists. Must 've been doing something right (or left)My extreme right-wing father hated him. This was a man who, mind you, voted for George Wallace for president in 1968! The kindest (?) word he ever had for Pete Seeger was "commie." So a very happy 90th to this living American National Treasure, who irritated every troglodyte who so richly deserved it. How to become Pete SeegerThe story of the family touring the countryside by motor home is outlined in "How Can I Keep From Singing?" by David King Dunaway, as well as in "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?," the more recent autobiography (to be republished soon), and his "Incomplete Folksinger." According to the retelling, Charles and Constance wanted to bring "quality" music to the people, so they drove deep into the countryside put on little concerts along the way. Yet when they finished, the people would often say, "Wouldn't you like to hear some of OUR music? Charles realized that they had more to teach him than the reverse. The experience developed Charles' interest in ethnomusicology, his eventual career. Along the way he took teenage Peter to a folk festival in Asheville and the rest is history. The oldest son, Charles, a radio astronomer, died in 2002. The middle son, John, is a retired educator. Pete recently released the Grammy-winning CD "At 89" and is preparing for the annual Clearwater Festival, held along the banks of the Hudson. Woody Guthrie said of him, "Pete Seeger is the youngest man I ever knew." A TroglodyteI'm a life-long conservative who cast his first vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964, and I also voted for George Wallace in 1968. I knew Nixon was going to win, I just wanted him to know how many conservatives there were out here. (Not many at that time!) I also spent most of the "Sixties" in the military, fighting so that Pete's admirers could stay free to burn their draft cards. That said, I've got many of Pete's albums, most of Joanie Baez's and all of Arlo Guthrie's. On vinyl, of course. Politics is politics, but talent and good music transcends. Still can't forgive Jane Fonda, though. She got folks killed. After 50 years, an apology... in the news just this last month. The San Diego school district that sought to cancel an appearance nearly 50 years ago has issued an appology, and an invitiation to folk legend Pete Seeger. Good on 'ya, Pete. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/feb/12/pete-seeger-school-board-apo... Ansel Adams had the Zone System... I'm working on the points system. First I points it here, and then I points it there... Pete Seeger todayThis year's Clearwater Festival Great Hudson River Revival (Father's Day Weekend) will include a 90th birthday celebration and tribute for Pete Seeger. My daughter's photo of Pete playing his banjo was in last year's festival program. Pete's still going strong at almost 90.....Bless Him! Thank you for putting this photo up........AMAZING!!!! Love it. [I hope Pete sees it. I wonder if he knows about this photo. - Dave] Dear PeteI wrote a letter to Pete when I was 15 (I'm 37 now) asking him the best way to lengthen the neck on my banjo. He wrote back advising me not to try. A standard length banjo neck is better than a crappy long one. Good advice. Photo whereaboutsThe photo is likely in the Library of Congress' American Folklife Collection. [It's not. As noted in the caption, this photo in the National Photo Company Collection. It would have been taken by Herbert E. French or one of his photographers. - Dave] A few years ago the Seegers donated films, photos and other stuff to the collection. There are a couple of similar photos from this trip too. They all originated from the Seeger family. More info about Pete at the "Pete Seeger Appreciation Page." And more info about that fabulous, one-of-a-kind Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival also found by Googling. Thanks for bringing us this photo. A Big FanI'm a big Seeger fan. I especially like "Against the Wind" and "Night Moves." P.S.Old Pete had a strong and lasting influence on me, going back 40 yrs, both musically and politically. Thanks for this baby picture. Just love the Bohemianism of it. My dad, a West Pointer, hated him too, but loved my banjo playing. Re: A Big FanThat's Bob Seger, not Pete Seeger. [Up till now everyone got the joke. - Dave] So long, it's been good to know youInterviewed him about a dozen years ago. We talked about ferry service to Manhattan around the turn of the last century, between takes for a NY State film. I sent him a copy of a map I owned showing the numerous ferry lines. Got a handwritten note thanking me a few days later, signed "Pete" with a cartoon banjo next to it. We're Not All TrogsI am one of I hope more than a few West Pointers who found much to admire in Pete Seeger, including his gentle defiance of HUAC. His fidelity to his principles and his environmental activism -- the kind where you actually sometimes get your hands dirty -- placed this humble man on a pedestal far higher than any to which most public figures could ever aspire. When I went back on the faculty in the mid '70s, the Clearwater often birthed at WP's North Dock, and casual visitors were always welcomed aboard. Those who dropped by on the chance that Mr. Seeger would be present found that occasionally to be the case, and his cordiality belied any possibility that he harbored the same antipathy toward the military that many of them presumably harbored for him. I was never a folkie, however, probably the result of hours spent at a municipal swimming pool in downtown Baltimore when I was seven years old: the juke box seemed permanently stuck on "Goodnight, Irene." Thanks for re-posting thisAll politics aside, "songwriter and champion of folk music" says it all. R.I.P., Pete. RosebudJust imagine the excitement if someone should discover that little chair. Thanks, Pete. Grand Old ManAs much as I respected and admired Pete Seeger, I only saw him once in person, and it happened so quickly that it was over in a flash. There was a Maryland Historic Marker dedicated to Mother Jones on Riggs/Powdermill Road in Adelphi, Maryland. I was driving home one afternoon and glanced over to see a small group of people singing a song in front of the newly installed sign. Playing his old banjo, with its warning against hate, was Pete Seeger. There was nowhere to stop or turn in, so I just proceeded the half mile more to our (then) house. I believe his brother Mike worked or still works at the Library of Congress; one of my guitar-playing pals works or worked for him in audio archiving. I wore the grooves out out my Pete Seeger vinyl in the mid-1960s; there was magic in those tracks, and I so wanted to catch some of it. He taught us music can be a force for good, when courage matched conviction. Tom Paxton did a lovely tribute on DC radio WTOP this evening about his friend and our friend, Pete. Pete's older brothersPictured at right are Charles Seeger III, age 8 (born 10-10-1912 and died 8-26-2002 at 89), and John Seeger, age 7 (born 2-16-1914 and died 1-10-2010 at 95). Charles was a pioneer radio astronomer and professor at Cornell University. John was a teacher at the Dalton School in Manhattan and later principal of an Ivy League prep school, Fieldston Lower School in Riverdale, NY. One of a kindI firmly believed Pete Seeger would live forever. It's hard to imagine the world without him. Fortunately he left millions of fans who will keep his music - and his principles - alive. Goodnight IreneNo. 1 in 1950 and "On Top of Old Smoky", No. 1 in 1951, were my first exposures to popular music and I treasure the Decca 78 recordings with their backup by Gordon Jenkins Orchestra to this day! So Long It's Been Good To Know YahAs his spirit moved onto a plane of existence where men of good conscience and strong convictions go he was heard singing... So long, it's been good to know yuh; So long, it's been good to know yuh; So long, it's been good to know yuh. This dusty old dust is a-gettin' my home, And I got to be driftin' along. If there is a folk singer's heaven I'm sure Pete and Woody are having one heck of a good session and giving all Fascists the proverbial hell. So long Pete, it really was good to know a man who stood up for his beliefs and never did any violence toward those who opposed him. All he wanted to do was sing his songs. Check out his stand against the House Of UnAmerican Activities here Brother MichaelMike Seeger died in 2009. What a wonderful man. Now Pete is gone. I suppose there's a terrific hoedown in Heaven. Dad's laptopIt's a portable pump organ. Bye Pete RIPMet him once at a folk festival somewhere with my school. He spoke to our group and I remember being mesmerized by his genuine concern for everything good. Then I discovered his music and political social history. Very saddened when he left us. (The Gallery, Camping, D.C., Kids, Music, Natl Photo)
Water Avenue: 1935
... years ago, but digitized and made available online by the Library of Congress only last fall. - Dave] (The Gallery, Stores & ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/14/2023 - 11:37am -

December 1935. "Main street architecture. Selma, Alabama." Premises of the Cotton Exchange and L.C. Adler & Co. furniture store. Note the fire bell tower at right. 8x10 inch nitrate negative by Walker Evans for the U.S. Resettlement Administration. View full size. FiligreeThe word comes to mind when I look at the fine metalwork of that attractive upper gallery. I know it’s used more with regard to jewelry, but we are allowed to use it when talking about metalwork and wrought iron, too. I also think of lace. Period architectural detailsIt's interesting to see the quoins (corner blocks/stones) on the brick building. It's hard to see in the shadows, but it looks like arched windows on the second story. The ventilator grilles above each window are an interesting Southern architecture touch. What's not clear to me is the window/door header on the ground floor above the row of doors/windows. There might be arches hidden behind the porch, or this might have a iron/steel beam as a header. If the latter, I'd tend to date this to early 20th century, if the former, then earlier. And if later, the quoins and similar detail along the ground floor doors could be cast concrete, rather than stone. The porch posts are most likely cast iron. I hope someone has some more history on this building. Sort of survived Head bangersThose low hanging light bulbs in the furniture store appear to be ... low hanging. You would think any one of those chairs they're selling would give a person some extra height so they could change a burned out bulb. Architecture/geography coincidenceWhen I opened Shorpy just now, this was the first image on the top and I said to myself "nice photo of New Orleans French Quarter", then quickly read that it is instead Selma, Alabama. Then, I scrolled down to the next photo, and it's New Orleans! And on top of that, I wouldn't have guessed it by looking. Still there, maybeIf the recent tornado that ravished the Selma area missed this old building then it is still there. [You haven't been ravished until you've been ravished by a tornado. - Dave] Someone stole my balconiesPlease bring them back! The building (1225 Water Avenue) is still extant, and, up until a few years ago (above) looked little different than in 1935. The most recent Street Views show the ironwork missing. Hopefully they just sent it out to be cleaned. The historical survey of the building is rather brief: "1223-5 Water Ave. c 1860-70. Italianate. Two-story, two-bay brick two-part commercial block ... Cast iron quoins." I just knew ...... this was a Walker Evans photograph before reading the caption. [Taken almost 90 years ago, but digitized and made available online by the Library of Congress only last fall. - Dave] (The Gallery, Stores & Markets, Walker Evans)
Amethyst Twilight: 1942
... All you have to do is do is google "KODACHROME DELANO." Library of Congress has many more. Indeed he was great. Master of lighting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/15/2016 - 8:07pm -

December 1942. "Proviso departure yard of the Chicago & North Western R.R. at twilight." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. View full size. Fantastic ShotDoesn't matter how it was done, I wouldnt understand it anyway. trick shot?yeah - i'm a big fan of delano, too... but.. how'd he manage to have the lantern in the foreground be in sharp focus when it is in a field of soft-focus cinders? odd. shifted focusExposing for that scene would likely leave the lantern badly over-exposed. I'd bet that the lantern was masked and the focus adjusted mid-exposure. Perhaps...... my favorite Delano shot ever. a touch of tiltLooks like he tilted his focal plane to keep the ground in focus off into the distance (note the top of the building is also out of focus) Forgive my ignorance...I've seen a couple photos on Shorpy of railroad yards that have the same light trails like this one. I'm assuming that they were captured by leaving the shutter open longer (hence the double image of the rail car on the left), but what were they created with? Were they lanterns being carried around? Was this a Jack Delano trademark? In any case, beautiful photo, and one more example I'll be directing people to when I next praise this site. [Yes, lanterns. - Dave] Jack's lanternIf you look close you will see two lanters that left the trail of lights....One lantern has a freshers battery in it and thus produces a slightly brighter trail. One man was standing outside the shanty and the other was inside (probably getting a switching list, they both walked to the right where they were probably doing switching. [The other shots show kerosene lanterns, not battery-powered. - Dave] Nikon EM can achieve theNikon EM can achieve the same shot with given circumstances Jack's Lantern"how'd he manage to have the lantern in the foreground be in sharp focus when it is in a field of soft-focus cinders?" Photoshop maybe? Just kidding. I'm guessing he did it by tilts. Could the lantern have been flashing perhaps? This could prevent it from being overexposed. Or perhaps Jack knew when it was turned on and setup the exposure so that the lantern would be switched off for the first portion of the exposure and switched on for the second portion of the same exposure. this is simply stunning. onethis is simply stunning. one of my favorite photos as well. Jack DelanoThis is the work of a master. That's obvious, but I had to say it. LanternThat's a kerosene oil switchlamp. No on/off switch. The flashing lanternobviously on his other side from the camera. Stating the obvious, againAll you have to do is do is google "KODACHROME DELANO." Library of Congress has many more. Indeed he was great. Master of lighting KodachromeJack Delano, wiley photographer. Beautiful image. Most color films tend toward blue with long exposures, with Kodachrome the reciprocity effect goes more toward this gorgeous indigo/violet. I think this is a double exposure: a short one with the lamp lit and the boxcar nearer (fainter image) and a longer one after the boxcar was moved. If there had been a longer single exposure I would expect the boxcar to show a gradient rather than two states (think of electron field probability diagrams...) He clearly used a small aperture as focus is maintained through a fair depth of field (at least on the longer second exposure). I doubt he used any tilt--not a significant feature on Speed Graphics of the era (I use one), and rise (pretty limited) would not help with the Sheimpflug effect. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
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