THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL PHOTO ARCHIVE • FRAMED PRINTS • STOCK IMAGES

That's what I like to imagine my future-brother-in-law was telling me as the showdown is about to come in our poker hand here in the living room of our home in Larkspur, California. The "shut up" part was, of course, something I was familiar with hearing often enough from others in non-wagering situations. At my side I had a glass with a finger of root beer, playing the part of whiskey, to emulate (pay homage to?) the saloon scenes in the old cowboy movies I'd watch on TV Saturday mornings. He became my brother-in-law in actuality two years later, and passed away just two months ago. Rest in peace, old friend. My sister took this 2¼" square Kodacolor negative. View full size.

Southern Utah, and my father with our 1971 Toyota Corona. He taught me how to drive stick shift in this car, and several years later, I bought it and drove it for a few more years.

Our cabin would be built near this lake. Good memories.

My younger brother (right) and his pal from across our street. Our Dad took this picture, as he did with most of the others posted here. There was a level of trust that the other kid's parents let him go on an extended trip with our family.

The time is around 1971 or 72. It's southern Utah, east of Cedar City, where eventually we built a cabin which was a great refuge for us for 20 years or so.

"Does this car make me look fat?" I point the finger at this ancestor from Connecticut for my life-long issues with weight. From hereon, all photos of me will be shot in front of a bus, thank you very much.

Bethesda, Maryland, 1947. A teenager takes a break from a laborious day of learning the trade of becoming a brick mason.

Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1931. My father Walter overheard the women talking in the background. What concerned him was when grandma Nellie warned his mother Louise, "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." The message wasn't lost on the children who stood in wait.

Comment on back of photo says "Evelyn Walker, Green Mountain Falls, 1931." Can anyone identify the Packard?

On the afternoon of March 29, 1960 I had occasion to ride the Jersey Central Railroad car ferry across the Hudson River into Manhattan. Soon after departing the Jersey City terminal I snapped this photo of the Ferry Wilkes-Barre with its patrons anxiously awaiting the boat to dock.

Not long after I took the photo, a similar shot appeared as the centerfold in the Saturday Evening Post magazine. The post captioned their photo as the "Five O'Clock Sailors," which I thought was totally appropriate. This ferry operation is, of course, long gone from the scene. The slow ASA 10 speed of the Kodachrome film of the day seems to have taken its toll on the camera's ability to stop moving objects. 35mm Kodachrome Retina IIIc folding camera. William D. Volkmer

Circa 1946, Chicago at 63rd and S. Halsted streets. This was the largest shopping area outside the Loop with six movie theaters, some with live stage shows. Bob Hope appeared in the Stratford Theater here in the late 1920s

An EKTACHROME slide of Joe Valentine and family looking at results from the fancy new Polaroid 100 camera. Those photos are long gone but the slide lives on with a classic look.

More details: The slides were in a latched Kodak box that barely survived a fire in the 80s which destroyed the accompanying polaroid photos taken that same day.

Photo taken at: 15 Bradley St., Bristol, CT. Easter Sunday, March 29, 1964

My paternal grandparents are at far right, next to my great grandparents, my great-great grandfather, my grandfather's sister and two younger brothers, my grandmother's younger brother and older sister and brother in law. The children are my dad's two eldest sisters.

Taken on June 29, 1915 at the Alsobrook homestead in front of the "Big house." Livingston County, Kentucky.

On the occasion of Great-great grandfather John Wilson Davenport's 73rd Birthday.
My father would not be born until 1921.

My Great-Grandfather Elwood Walker Smith in 1880 taken on his wedding day in York, PA.

My great aunt Leonora in Montigny-sur-Loing, France in 1902 with two unidentified gentlemen.

This is one of my favorite photos of my great aunt on a buckboard with an unidentified man. Somewhere in Michigan near Detroit or Grand Rapids. Circa 1900.

Another of my great Aunt, likely on Lake Michigan or nearby. Circa 1900.