Seventy one pictures, mostly from the 1930s to the 1950s, some earlier and a few later. They’re collected here because the subject or occasion hasn’t been identified. Someone else may know something and clear up a puzzle or two.
Oldest Picture in the Archive
The picture to the left may be the oldest in the archive. It’s a tintype, a photographic medium popular from the 1860s to the 1880s, used with decreasing frequency until the beginning of the 20th century as photography technology became more sophisticated. A thin iron plate (tin wasn’t used) was coated with a dark lacquer and a positive photographic image imposed onto the plate.
It’s a remarkably durable technique, as can be seen by how sharply defined the lines still are.
Attempts to more precisely date the picture from the gentleman’s clothes were futile. His shirt collar style was popular from the 1880s to the turn of the century. The suit style may also be European rather than American.
The rest of the unidentified pictures are below.