old photos

1930s Wedding Photos, and How to Date old photos by hair style

1930s Wedding Photos, and How to Date old photos by hair style

Take a step back in time with these stunning 1930s wedding photos. Captured by St. Louis photographer J.J. Belka, these portraits reveal timeless elegance during the Great Depression. Learn how hairstyles, like the iconic pin curls, can help date old photos. Discover the fascinating intersection of vintage fashion and history through wedding photography trends of this era.

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A turn of the century Swedish Girl, German turn of the century photos, & random

A turn of the century Swedish Girl, German turn of the century photos, & random

This post explores a small but rich collection of vintage images: baby cabinet cards from German studios like Emil Tiedemann and Thiele, a New York portrait by J. Gurney & Son, and a Milwaukee photo by Hugo Broichl—plus later snapshots from the 1950s. Together they trace how families in Sweden, Germany, and the United States used studio portraits and early cameras to capture fleeting moments of childhood and identity at a time when every photograph was planned, precious, and meant to last.

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Old photos in cool old cardboard frames

Old photos in cool old cardboard frames

Discover a collection of old photos preserved in beautiful vintage cardboard frames. One is stamped April 20, 1930, while others appear to date back to the early 1900s, possibly the 1920s or late 19-teens. Learn about cabinet cards, historical photo preservation, and the subtle clues that help date these timeless portraits.

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Turn of the century photos by St. Louis Photographers

Turn of the century photos by St. Louis Photographers

Step back in time with this collection of turn-of-the-century photos from St. Louis photographers, including studios like Parsons, When Studios (1893), J. Haas, Theo E. Setzer, and more. These vintage cabinet cards and old photo scans offer a fascinating glimpse into the Victorian and Edwardian eras, capturing the artistry of antique photography and the lives of their subjects. Explore the historical legacy of 19th-century portraiture and the stories these images preserve from a bygone era.

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1800s Photos from St. Louis, MO

1800s Photos from St. Louis, MO

Discover hauntingly beautiful cabinet card photos from 1800s St. Louis, MO. These vintage images capture everyday life at the turn of the century, featuring mysterious children, First Communion traditions, and an enigmatic girl with a tambourine. Dive into the stories behind these historic photographs and their connection to a rapidly changing city.

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More scanned photos from the turn of the century St. Louis Photographers

More scanned photos from the turn of the century St. Louis Photographers

Discover a selection of turn-of-the-century photographs from St. Louis studios like When Studio, Crescent Studios, and J. Haas. This collection includes a mysterious unmarked photo, formal headshots of young men, and an intriguing bridal portrait featuring a black wedding dress. Explore the history, fashion, and social customs captured in these historic cabinet cards and vintage portrait styles.

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History of Photographers in St. Louis

History of Photographers in St. Louis

Discover the fascinating history of 19th and early 20th-century photographers in St. Louis through cabinet cards and old photo scans. From Henry Holburn’s “When Art Gallery” to William Schiller’s “Star Gallery,” explore how these studios captured the artistry and legacy of Victorian-era photography. Learn about unique details hidden in these vintage cards and their role in preserving a rich cultural heritage.

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Turn of the Century Wedding, couple, and baby photo scans

Turn of the Century Wedding, couple, and baby photo scans

I’ve been immersed in vintage history lately, scanning stunning cabinet cards and old photos dating from 1880 to 1910 for the Carondelet Historical Society. These remarkable artifacts include wedding portraits, baby photos, and couple pictures, offering a window into St. Louis life at the turn of the century. The intricate fashion details and local studio imprints bring these timeless memories to life, preserving them for generations to come!

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Old house and car slides from 1962

Old house and car slides from 1962

These old house and old car slides were in a box dated from 1962. See those flames or wingy things on the old car? Obviously, I don't know much about cars, and would appreciate any hint as to the model of the 60s car in these pictures. [gallery...

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Civil War Pocket Photos

Civil War Pocket Photos

Here are two Civil War era photos that came in small embossed leather covered wooden cases. They look like the size that could easily fit in your pocket, and one has glass on the cover, to show the woman’s portrait thru it. The interior is velvet and elaborately floral embossed metal. I wonder who these people were?

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Early 1900s band photos street photography

Early 1900s band photos street photography

Take a step back in time with these fascinating early 1900s photos of Seymour’s Regiment Band and vivid street scenes. Charles Seymour, a famed conductor and soloist in St. Louis, might have led the band seen posing near a picturesque gazebo. Another snapshot captures the liveliness of an early 20th-century market, while the final image showcases local tradesmen and children in front of John Sydow Tin Shop. These slides, digitized from the 1960s, preserve a glimpse into a rich cultural past

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A bakery shop in 1917

A bakery shop in 1917

These pictures of a bakery shop had the note “c. 1917 or 1918” and the names of the husband and wife who owned it.  I think it’s interesting to see how bakery shops were arranged, and there are pictures of the racks and “behind the counter” at this shop.

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Old Pictures of Nuns

Old Pictures of Nuns

Here are 8 pictures of nuns, from approximately the 1930s, and probably from the Carondelet St. Louis Missouri area. These seem relatively candid- in one picture the nuns are eating bread or something, with silly expressions, and in another they're...

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A woman in a WAC uniform reading a newspaper during WWII.

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