A family posing for a photo in front of a house. Appears 1930s (See comments). More of this group here.
Categories
Family Photo, 1930s.
Categories
Prince of Persia, 1909.
Portraits from Persia, early 1900s, around 1910. The images are somewhat related to an entry in The Book of History describing Persia (also called Iran in the article) up until the exile of the Shah and the division of their land between England and Russia. The article ends with the ominous claim that the treaty resulted in the end of an independent nation of Persia. Iran, however, grew from the remains; however, their more rural and less progressive residents have not changed much from these pictures a century ago. The article does not explain what the ‘political prisoners’ were in chains for, although it vaguely hints at ‘reformers’ who were instrumental in deposing of the Shah.
Map of the towns serviced and tracks used by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, effective as of 1 August 1977. Scanned from a small centerfold in the railroad’s timetable booklet.
Categories
1930s Ford 5-Window Coupe
5-window Ford Coupe, 1935 or 1936, with an odd hood ornament: it looks more like a Buick ornament than other Fords of the time, or it could be aftermarket. There also appears to be an interesting ‘fin’ running down the center of the hood, but that could be something in the background. Taken in the mid-1930s.
Categories
Massey Harris ’44, 1940s.
A farmer, dressed for cold weather, standing next to a Massey-Harris ’44. This photo appears to be the partner to this photo – the camera was traded, giving us a rare look at the photographer of most of these photos.
Categories
Communist Crop Pests, 1960.
The advertisement is selling crop spraying equipment, and it’s quite a small ad, so there’s no time for them to explain the references. First, a critter, wearing a military cap adorned with a star, is holding up a sign that reads, “The 5th Column to Hold Up American Farmers.” The ad’s copy reads, “Farewell, Comrades! Our training to destroy American farm crops not up-to-date on Comfort Multi-Purpose Sprayer.”. A “Fifth Column” is an organized group of moles or dissenters, thwarting war efforts from within a country. However, the style of dress of the head ‘critter’, and the broken english used for his speech would indicate that the critter is intended to be an invader from the Soviet Union. So, who are these invading armies? My best guess is the Russian aphid, a common wheat and barley pest in the midwest. Today, selling insecticide by Photoshopping a suicide-bomber vest and turban onto an anthropomorphic insect wouldn’t go over so well; times were much different back when enemies were clear and well-defined.
Categories
Boy And Pine, 1920s.
Boy standing next to a small pine tree, 1920s.
Categories
ND Songbird Rebus, 1917.
Try your hand at these: rebuses depicting native North Dakota songbirds, circa 1917 (click for larger view). The illustration is by Walter Wellman, a popular illustrator of the time, known for doing naughty postcards as well. From Uncle Will’s Magazine for Children, “The Rotary”, February 1917.
Categories
St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1914.
St Moritz remains a “cradle of winter tourism,” as it was nearly a century ago. According to the caption, St Moritz “is one of several swiss towns that make a business of furnishing every sort of winter diversion for the tourists who come from far and near to skate, ski, sled, and then enjoy steaming meals and evenings by the crackling fire.” From the encyclopedia “Our Wonderful World”.
Categories
Done Opening Gifts, 1940s.
Several children, expressing great excitement at finishing their gift-opening on Christmas morning, 1940s.
