Nowadays, people take photos of anything and everything. Selfies, their food, pets, travel, random objects, and nothing in particular. The invention of the digital camera and mobile photography has made it uber easy to snap away somewhat nonchalantly at times. Our phone galleries and hard drives are filled to the brim with photographs. Sometimes four or five of the same thing.
But it wasn’t always like that. Back in the day, people didn’t have the luxury of whipping out their devices or a digital camera to capture a memory. They were a lot more intentional about what they used their rolls of film for, and how they executed the shots. There’s something precious about holding an actual physical photograph. Like a book, it has a feel, a smell, and certain characteristics that can only be picked up through time. It can almost transport you right back to the past as you hold a tangible piece of history in your hands. Even digital versions of old photos have the ability to stir up nostalgia.
If you're a sucker for rare and interesting historical photos, you're in for a treat. Bored Panda has put together a beautiful compilation of moments frozen in time, that we collected from the Old Historical Pictures Facebook group and the Historical Pictures IG page. They have a combined following of over 360,000 people, so they must be doing something right! Keep scrolling for a cozy trip down memory lane and don't forget to upvote your favorites. Don't miss the super interesting chat we had with Denise Levenick. She's the founder of The Family Curator and spoke to us about preserving and digitizing old photographs and heirlooms.
#1 ‘Mother And Children’ Spain (1920s). Photo By Antoni Arissa
Image credits: historicalpics1
#2 Vespa Family, 1950s
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#3 Two Apsaroke Native Americans On Horseback Outside Of A Tipi In A Snow-Covered Forest In Montana In 1908
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If anyone knows about handling and working with old photographs, it's Denise Levenick. She's a writer and researcher working with family photos, papers, and memorabilia. Levenick is also the founder of The Family Curator. We're thrilled when she agrees to share some of her knowledge with Bored Panda during a super interesting interview.
"I began writing about family archiving on my blog, which led to magazine writing and eventually authoring two books on preserving and digitizing family heirlooms, How to Archive Family Keepsakes, and How to Archive Family Photos," Levenick tells us.
"I've also taught courses on family archiving and digitizing at national genealogy institutes and presented lectures, seminars, and webinars worldwide. Currently, I am working on a personal family history focused on the life of my maternal grandmother."
#4 Barcelona (1955) Photo By Ramón Masats
Image credits: historicalpics1
#5 Rescuing A Horse That Fell In The Canal, Amsterdam, 1929
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#6 Lincoln Cathedral: From The Castle 1898. By Frederick H. Evans
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Levenick tells us her passion for old photos, heirlooms and keepsakes was sparked as a child, and runs deep. "I was captivated by family history as a young girl when my grandmother shared old news clippings and photographs about her early life," she revealed.
"She worked as a Harvey House waitress with the railroads and as a hotel maid to support her young daughter. After her death, I inherited a trunk filled with her letters and photos. Everything inside told a story about her life and family."
#7 The Passing Of The Train, Nailsworth, At Dudbridge On 23rd August 1965
Image credits: historicalpics1
#8 View Of The Pyramids, Eclipse Of The Sun Of August 30, 1905. By Gabriel Lekegian
Image credits: historicalpics1
#9 The Future Queen Elizabeth II Being Carried Up The Steps Of Balmoral Castle In 1927
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Of course, we had to ask Levenick about the best way to store old, precious photos. "All photos should be stored in a clean and dry location, with moderate temperature and humidity. The best place is usually inside your home, away from light and heat," she revealed, adding that a closet shelf or metal filing cabinet are good locations.
"Keep old photos inside an acid-free box or file folders, stored on their edge so the photos don’t rub against each other," cautions the expert. "Plastic boxes are not always photo safe and can trap mildew causing moisture."
#10 A Wooden Roller Coaster In Edinburgh Scotland In 1900
Image credits: historicalpics1
#11 Trollhättan, Sweden In The Early 1900s
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#12 Mother & Child, And It’s A Typical Day, San Francisco 1952. By Dorothea Lange
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Just because you have a ton of old photos, doesn't mean you need to keep them all. Sometimes, it's okay to let go of a few. "Some people are eager to clear the 'clutter' and are tempted to throw away old family keepsakes. But old photos are a window to our ancestors' lives, and documents like letters and diaries can put flesh on the bones of family stories," says Levenick.
"Photos and photo albums are the number one heirloom that people do want to save. Keep the photos of family, friends, homes, autos, pets, events. Sort vacation photos and save the people pictures; toss the repetitive landscapes," advises the expert. "It's good to keep images that show progress as a kind of 'Then and Now' reference, but you probably don't need to save dozens of cactus images. If you are short on space, scan photos and pass on the originals to a cousin."
#13 Barber And Beauty Shop, Bedrock City, Rts. 64 And 180, Valle, Arizona, 1987
Image credits: historicalpics1
#14 Battery Powered Scooter From 1918
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#15 Budapest (1914). Photo By André Kertész
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It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and in the case of old photographs, they may reveal more than we realize. "Family history mysteries have been solved by studying old photos. Fashion, hairstyles, studio props, jewelry, and backgrounds all hold clues to when the photo was taken and the identity of the subjects," says Levenick.
"An old photo of a family in front of their home might show a street address number that can help identify the time period of the family’s residence," she adds. "Use family photos to show relative ages of the children, or to note when spouses enter or leave the family group."
#16 Relaxing By A Pool In California, 1940. By J. Baylor Roberts
Image credits: historicalpics1
#17 Wentworth Street In London's Eastend In 1908
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#18 Winter Landscape From Herstedvester'. Peder Mørk Mønsted. 1923
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Levenick says it’s important to preserve family heirlooms with the story of the keepsake. Without a story, it’s just "stuff," she says. "Your son may not recognize your grandmother's wedding ring when he sees it in your jewelry box; it’s up to you to share the story."
"As the world becomes more and more digital, artifacts such as handwritten letters, printed photographs, and greeting cards are becoming rarer," cautions the expert archivist. "Something as small as a simple handwritten thank-you note is evidence of penmanship and thoughtfulness."
#19 53rd Street And 7th Avenue, Manhattan, 1957
Image credits: historicalpics1
#20 'Roman Bridge,' Mosul, Iraq (1930s) Photo By Aurel Stein
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#21 The Sagrada Família, Barcelona, In 1905
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Levenick is all about the genuine old-school... Memory keeps our ancestors with us and their stories make us stronger, she says. "Instead of purchasing new décor with a vintage vibe, use the real thing!" the expert tells us.
We ask her for some creative examples of how to use old photos and heirlooms, instead of just throwing them into a box. "Digitize old photos and have the images enlarged and printed on canvas-wrap wall art or pillows for your sofa," suggests Levenick. "Group a collection of inherited cameras as interesting objects for your shelves. Join the movement to 'Bring Back the Brooch' and share your grandmother's vintage jewelry with younger family members who might want to hear more about the original owner."
#22 An Unidentified Woman Taking A Selfie, Circa 1900
Image credits: historicalpics1
#23 Ice Skating At Night In Vienna, 1910. By Emil Mayer
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#24 Tower Bridge Under Construction London 1889
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Before we let her go, we're curious to know about Levenick's personal old treasures. "One of my favorite heirlooms is a vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machine owned by my Aunt Frances," she tells us. "She kept the little machine in like-new condition and left it for me with a sweet note from one quilter to another! I feel as though we're sewing together whenever I use her machine."
#25 The Ss Princess May Was A Steamship Built In 1888. The Ship Is Best Known For Grounding In 1910, Which Left The Ship Sticking Completely Out Of The Water. This Is One Of The Most Famous Shipwreck Photographs
Image credits: Weird, Fantastic and Odd Things
#26 Piccadilly Circus, London, 1954. By Cecil Beaton
Image credits: historicalpics1
#27 “Mother's Touch” Kentucky (1960). Photo By Warren Brunner
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#28 A Large Crowd Watches The First Balloon Rise In A Balloon Race In Berlin Germany In 1908
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#29 Angie Means Stands On A Giant Amazonian Water Lily Pad, Victoria Regia, In The Victoria Room At Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory And Botanical Gardens In 1898
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#30 Getting Some Ice Cream, Times Square, New York City, 1982
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#31 25.8 Inches Of Snow This Is A View Looking Down From 121st Street On Eighth Avenue On The Day After The Big Snowfall Of 1947
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#32 Sweden (1966) Photo By Sune Jonsson
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#33 View From Notre Dame, Paris, 1955. By Ernst Haas
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#34 Shakespeare's Birthplace Before Restoration Photographed In 1850
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#35 Selling Chocolates And Sweets On The Street Kensington London ,1930
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#36 'father And Son' Italy (1962). Photo By Elio Ciol
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#37 San Francisco, Chinatown ,early 1950s
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#38 Dublin, C1896. Photo By John J Clarke
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#39 Glasgow, Scotland (1980). Photo By Raymond Depardon
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#40 Lecco, Italy (1968). Photo By Paolo Monti
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#41 A Sunday Morning In North Aurora, Il Kodachrome Slide Taken By Clifford R. Illyes. 1951
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#42 Lunchtime, Paris, 1920s
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#43 17 Year Old Pele In Sweden Before The World Cup In 1958
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#44 The Wooden Sibley Breaker, Pennsylvania, Built In 1886 And Destroyed By Fire In 1906
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#45 From The Back Window, New York, 1915 - By Alfred Stieglitz
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#46 Passengers On A NYC Municipal Ferry.. (Staten Island) In 1895 ( Library Of Congress)
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#47 Budapest, 1963 - From The Budapest Municipal Photography Company Archive
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#48 Roof, "Latin Quarter" Paris, 1926. By André Kertész
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#49 Canoeists In A Boat Cave, Wisconsin Dells, C. 1890-95. Photo By Henry Hamilton Bennett
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#50 Amsterdam, 1901. By Bern Eilers
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