Authorthe Admin represents the Illustrated Past editorial desk, preparing concise visual-history notes, captions, and short essays for archive images. The editorial voice is practical, curious, and image-led, with special attention to photographs that reveal everyday life, social attitudes, and forgotten public scenes.
Out for a Drive A group of fashionably dressed women go for a Sunday drive in 1915 San Francisco through Golden Gate Park. I have no idea how they managed to keep their giant hats from being blown off. Based on their dresses and the fact…
christmas shopping Throngs of Christmas shoppers fill the street on Washington Street, Boston, 1919. There must have been some really excellent sales judging from the number of people; the sidewalks are so crowded that the shoppers are…
These scenes of a busy Paris market were photographed by Eugène Atget (12 February 1857 – 4 August 1927), a noted early documentary photographer. Though now regarded as one of the pioneers of photography, Atget did not enjoy commercial…
talkinggod The Navajo (also spelled Navaho) are the largest group of Native Americans. They traditionally inhabited the lands in what is now the state of New Mexico, in the United States. The Navajo possessed a rich culture and religious…
British troops celebrate Christmas Day in the Somme, 1916 Photograph of British soldiers celebrating Christmas. They are obviously cold and still in danger, even during this moment of relative happiness. They are all wearing helmets in…
Modern Homemaker 1908 This is an advertising photograph showing off GE’s new fangled electrical cooking pot, just what every housewife in 1908 needed. Here the model is showing off her cooking skills on an electrical heating plate plugged…
Picture of Actress Sarah Bernhardt, 1865 Picture of French Actress Sarah Bernhardt, 1865 This is a photograph of an exotic looking Sarah Bernhardt , taken when she was about 21 years old. Bernhardt was one of the first world wide…
worldseries1912 A large crowd turns out to watch the first game of the 1912 World Series, which saw the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Giants four games to three (with one tie). The picture was taken on Tuesday, October 8, 1912 at the…
blocks of ice Two happy girls are delivering large blocks of ice. What better way to keep cool in than with these giant blocks of ice, delivered by two smiling girls. It is 1918 and since you don’t have a refrigerator, you will need to…
chillabour A little girl works at a knitting mill at the Louden Hosiery Mills in Loudon, Tennesseem 1910. She is so young and small that she has to stand on a stool in order to reach her machine, yet she is doing the same work as the…
pioneer home 1890 Oregon Territory This is a photograph of a pioneer homestead in the Oregon Territory, taken around 1890. The west had not yet been tamed, and American settlers faced hostile Indians and outlaws. Here we can get a glimpse…
American Indian This photograph of a Native American man standing next to his teepee was taken around 1890, somewhere in the Indian Territory. The Indian Territory was land set aside by the American government as a place to deport American…
Walking on Brooklyn Bridge Put on your Sunday best and join us for a morning walk over the Brooklyn Bridge this fine day in 1905 New York. Men and women can be seen walking in both directions. Two purposeful men, businessmen perhaps,…
cucumberman Just in time for this 1887’s growing season, we present to you a Fine New Sort of Nichol’s Green Cucumber. It is found exclusively in Rice’s Box of Choice Vegetables! This new and very handsome variety is worthy of the first…
Climbing a Glacier in Mt. Ranier National Park A group of adventurous men and women, sporting the latest mountain climbing equipment for 1915, climb a glacier in Mount Ranier National Park. It’s interesting to see just how unsuitable their…
Human Powered Traffic Signal This handsome Haynes Roadster is stopped at a traffic signal on the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington D.C. And because this is 1913 the traffic signal is but is “powered” by a traffic…
Boer Soldiers A Unit of Boer Commandos Posing for the Camera. Boer War – 1899-1902 During the Boer War (also called the South African War) the British Empire faced off against a rag tag group of farmers and cattle drivers – the fiercely…
