Christmas

December 1924. "Santa's toys." Toy World at Wanamaker's in New York. Be nice, boys and girls, and you might get a Packard! Be naughty and you might get arrested! 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. View full size.

New York, December 1924. "Unloading Railway Express car." When the sleigh's in the shop, Santa might have to hijack a truck. 5x7 glass negative. View full size.

Christmas 1949 in Valparaiso, Indiana. That's Grandma in a Kodachrome slide. View full size.

It's December 1962 and family and friends have gathered for a near-Christmas dinner. I've just gotten my first 35mm camera, a Kodak Retinette, and with the help of my trusty Kodak Master Photoguide, manage to ace this Kodachrome bounce-flash exposure. That's me, age 16, strategically positioned in front of my father, who's still in his supermarket work garb, so it's obviously not Christmas day. Next to me in front are Aunt Grace and Uncle Jack, my mother's oldest brother. At the time I probably thought his shirt/tie combo was corny, but now I love it. Mother's on the left looking pleased, perhaps because the serendipitous arrival of identical cards made for a pleasing symmetry in her card tree on the wall. In back, my brother and our friends Colleen and Bob. Bob had been my brother's Cal Poly college mate, and later lived with us a bit before marrying Colleen. View full size.

"Volunteers of America, Christmas 1925." Another look at the VOA meeting hall in Washington, now filled with food baskets. National Photo Co. View full size.

"Volunteers of America, Christmas 1925." A festive table, good friends and that venerable yuletide sentiment "Profanity Positively Forbidden -- Shut Up or Get OUT." Merry Christmas! National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size.

"Garfield Hospital Christmas tree." Nurses at the Washington, D.C., hospital circa 1921. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.