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(Submitted by @skateboxes)

Captioned: "Allie Morris & Ola Sharp“

I bought a cigar box of old photos at a yard sale and found this (among many others). The others are dated, but this one’s not. Could I possibly get an estimate of time range? Thanks!

Notes: In my entirely unprofessional opinion, I would estimate this to have been taken during the late 1900s or early 1910s. With their hair in particular, we can determine that time has definitely not reached the 1920s, and the style and shape of their blouses makes me think of 1905-1915, perhaps. It’s unfortunate that there’s no more to go on than their names - even Ola Sharp is a bit common.

For example, I found record of an Ola Sharp who died just last year, but she wasn’t born until the 1920s, so clearly it wasn’t her in the photograph. 

Thanks for the submission!

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Question from a very new-to-collecting kid who knows next to nothing about 1900s photos. Some of the photos in my collection have type on the sides saying stuff like "AUG 59" or "JUL 63". I know that the letters represent months, but what do the numbers mean? I'm sorry for asking such a probably-obvious question, but I've always wondered.

Absolutely not a problem! 

The numbers represent the years. So for example, if you see something that’s labeled, “AUG 59,” that means it was taken in August of 1959.

Thanks for your question!

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July 1944 Sam and Mildred. Wrightsville Beach North Carolina (at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina)

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‘53 Bonnie & Clyde

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Pictured: A young couple is pictured together; the man sits on the railing of wooden bridge while the young woman stands at this side. Captioned: “Genuine Krystal Gloss, Guaranteed Forever, Sep 20 1932, Bear Photo Service.” Approximate Time Range: September 20, 1932 Notes: If you’ve eagle eyes, you may recall this couple from this photograph - and I believe there are a few more photos of the same couple still to be had. They were all purchased at the same shop, although interesting enough, during different years. No captions except for the near useless photo shop stamp, although since I have all these photos of the same people, I wonder, who were they?

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski

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Vintage-Snapshot by Old Photos And Stuff Via Flickr: Threesome at the beach. www.oldphotosandstuff.com/product/threesome-a235/

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Pictured: A fantastically adorable photo of a married couple standing with their young child next to the street. Captioned:  “Libbey, Joey, & Davey. And Davey is precious, too! May 31, 1942.” Approximate Time Range: May 31, 1942 Notes: Although at first glance it looks as if we have much to go on with this photo, in reality there is very little. No last names for one - so there is no way we could possibly attempt to track down Libbey, Joey, or Davey. Although I think we can all agree that Davey is, indeed, precious.

Across the street behind them is a used car lot, but there are no other identifying markers and I’m afraid that we find ourselves at a dead end once again.

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski

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Pictured: Two young men in suits sit on the steps in front of the Gregory Gymnasium. Captioned: “Ellison Photo Sh-, (Jordan-Ellison), Austin, Texas, Guaranteed Not To Fade.” Approximate Time Range: 1930s-1940s Notes: Some interesting notes here, everyone. Previously unbeknownst to me, Gregory Gymnasium is actually a facility on the University of Texas Austin’s campus, so I think we can safely assume that these two young men were students at the time. Perhaps even athletes?  

The building itself was built in 1930, and while the current photos do not depict it with it’s name emblazoned over one of the entrances, the decorative stonework still matches up. You may also be interested to know that the gym as named after Thomas Watt Gregory, an alumnus of the University of Texas and Attorney General under President Woodrow Wilson.

Gym History Thomas Wyatt Gregory

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski

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Pictured: Two young men stand laughing in the woods, in front of a tent. One is wrapped in a bedspread or blanket, while the other wears pajamas.  Captioned: (none) Approximate Time Range: 1920s-1940s Notes: I’m afraid it’s rather usual to have no literal evidence to go off of with these old photos, even to date them. I cannot see enough defining features on the tent to even begin to research, and there are no captions to go off of either. Sorry everyone!

If you have them hitherto unknown insight into this photo and can help us date it, please do write in!

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski

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From 1926 to 1940, The Walt Disney Studios was located at 2719 Hyperion Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.

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Pictured: A navy man stands in front of (presumably) his parent’s house. Captioned: (none) Approximate Time Range: late 1930s to 1940s Notes: As you might now, we were able to narrow down the date of a previous photo because of the hat he was wearing (a flat hat). Not necessarily so here - the soldier is wearing a “dixie cup” hat, which was less formal than the flat hat, and also appears to be wearing winter blues?

If you happen to know that I am very, very wrong with regards to the uniform, please let me know. Regardless, its the similarity of the uniform in this photo to the uniform of the other photo that leads me to date this as I have.

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski

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On behalf of the fact that I’m OFF TO DISNEYLAND for the weekend (and very, very excited about it), here’s an old snapshot of Walt Disney and Mickey.

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Pictured: A young boy stands in an overflowing yard, which a house and fence behind him. Captioned: “Brendan Leaman, July 1940.” Approximate Time Range: July, 1940 Notes: We’re lucky this time to have a date on the photograph itself, giving us an exact time period. Less so with the name - I believe it says, “Brendan Leaman.” The last name I’m fairly confident about, but the first name could be Jordan? Brandon?

In any event, I attempted dutifully to track down a Brendan Leamon who might fit this pictures but the quest was for naught. It’s a common name in and of itself, and there are no other identifying features, unfortunately. Sorry all.

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski

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“The Thing?”

Available at www.obscuraLA.com

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Pictured: Two young women sit together on a park bench. Behind them appears to be a lake of some sort, along with an ornate building. Captioned: (none) Approximate Time Range: 1940s Notes: I feel fairly confident in dating this to the 1940s - the clothing and shoes in particular should support me, unless I’m wildly wrong.

“The basic material of photographs is not intrinsically beautiful. It’s not like ivory or tapestry or bronze or oil on canvas. You’re not supposed to look at the thing, you’re supposed to look through it. It’s a window.” - John Szarkowski