Discover the past through our Photo Scans category, featuring an extensive collection of digital scans from the Civil War era, turn-of-the-century cabinet card photos by renowned St. Louis photographers, and a diverse array of preserved old photos. Each scan offers a unique glimpse into history, capturing moments frozen in time from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Explore our digital archive for a deep dive into the visual history of America’s past, meticulously curated for historians, genealogists, and photography enthusiasts.
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.
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.
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!
Here are some baby photos from the 1800s, that were mixed in with an envelop! I don’t think that the baby photo, by St. Louis Photographer Bell Studios, came in the envelop as it’s postmarked from Miss A. Schenkel in Detroit (and sent to Henry Kellogg St. Louis). Whatever correspondence it once contained has been lost. The baby, presumably E..? Warren Kellogg, looks rather crazy in the eyes, giving that unfocused gaze just past the camera.
Here are the rest of the 1800s cabinet cards I digitized for the Carondelet Historical Society. I really like the young lady wearing a hat, as shot by Polensky of Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. That photo, of any, gives me some ideas on historical re-creation. The background is so cool, and could probably be made into a photoshop texture or something!
Here are some cabinet cards, post cards, and metal photos of teenagers, children, and young adults from the Victorian Era that I digitized on my scanner yesterday for the Carondelet Historical Society. I am really fascinated with the backs of...
I got my boyfriend’s dad in on this project to post original scans on my blog! He is a HUGE history buff and I should record him telling stories about old Carondelet and historic St. Louis. Yesterday, he brought over a CD with these Civil War era photos that he’d scanned.
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?
This Civil War era photo album had names with the pictures! Fewer soldier pictures than the previous album, and quite a few missing photos. The bell hoop skirts and formal poses…!
I believe that these are pictures of Confederate Soldiers from the Civil War. This album also included pictures of women, children, and non-uniformed men. I was told that all these people were from St. Louis, or relatives of people living in St. Louis. Such fascinating untold stories… I’ll let these pictures speak for themselves!
I have no idea what South St. Louis pharmacy or drugstore is pictured here, but these pictures that I scanned are fascinating! You can see all the glass bottles and vials of medicine neatly on shelves behind the counter, and signs saying: “Frog in your throat? 10 cents – the Greatest Cough ??? on Earth”, Adams Black Jack Gum, Humphrey’s Specifics, Abbey’s ?? Salt… and more.
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
Pictures of the 1911 Central Rowing Club and the Busiek’s BaseBall team of St. Louis! How fun. I think the picture of the Busieks Baseball team is probably from the early 30s, looking at it closer…
These pictures were labeled “Civil War or Spanish War Veterans”. They’re actually slides from the 1960s, when someone had tried to copy or preserve the originals. Pretty interesting to see the elderly soldiers standing in formation. I wonder what event this was for?
These captivating photos of a Sinclair Gas Station from the late 1930s offer a nostalgic look at America’s automobile culture. With gas priced at just 18 cents per gallon, the station advertised services like tire vulcanizing, auto storage for $1 per week, and even carried Pond’s skin cream. Discovered on 1960s slides, these images preserve the charm of vintage Sinclair branding, complete with its iconic dinosaur logo, and highlight the significance of gas stations as community and travel hubs during this transformative era.
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.
These were in a mixed album of early 1900s St. Louis photos that I scanned. One of these shows the civil courts building under construction, with just the steel beams up, which was completed in 1930 (so this picture would have been c. 1929). Another old photo is dated 1910 and appears to be a group photo of men in the Teamsters Union.
I love these cute pictures of children and babies, from the 1930s! It looks like they turned one of the infants pictures into a post card, and I’ve scanned the front and back of it. I’m finished scanning this album… and not sure if I want to scan another Modern Priscilla issue, or the 1922 St. Louis Fashion Pageant magazine… Thoughts?
Here are some family and children photos from around 1938 (according to the date on the pics).... The children are wearing cute white pressed collars and simple clothing! It's interesting to see the women wearing cloche-like turbans, showing that...
Here’s the final set of 1930s nun pictures—just two sheets, but full of historical charm! These may have been taken at the nunnery in Carondelet or somewhere near St. Louis. One photo looks like a First Communion class image, with little girls dressed in white, and another is dated 1939. These photos offer a beautiful glimpse into Catholic life during the Great Depression, showcasing tradition and faith.
I'm not a Catholic, so not 100% sure, but I believe these are pictures of children on their First Communion ceremony. The little girls are all in white dresses with cloaks, hats, and veils. The little boys walking in a line and wearing ruffled tops...
Get 10% Off Your First Vintage Find
Subscribe to receive a 10% off welcome coupon by email, plus early access to new vintage drops, behind-the-scenes sourcing notes, and scans of the old photos, programs, and paper ephemera I uncover and digitize.
Almost there! Please check your email inbox right now and click the link in our confirmation message to complete your subscription. (If you don't see it, check your spam folder!)