Phyllis Brown
History is often seen through the lens of textbooks and documentaries, but there’s an undeniable magic in exploring it through photographs. These historical photos offer a unique glimpse into the past, capturing moments that words alone can’t convey.
Whether it’s the playful side of a Russian Tsar or the bravery of female firefighters, these images reveal new layers of history, reshaping our perceptions and deepening our understanding.
Get ready to embark on a visual journey that will make you see the past in a whole new light.
1. Tsar Nicholas II goofing around, Darmstadt, Germany, 1899
This photograph shows Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (white shirt) having a playful moment with friends in Darmstadt, Germany.
The image depicts them making funny faces and poses, which contrasts sharply with the often serious and formal depictions of historical figures from that era.
Tsar Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, ruling from 1894 to 1917. His reign faced major challenges, including the Russo-Japanese War, the 1905 Revolution, and World War I, leading to his abdication and the end of the Romanov dynasty.
Nicholas and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918.
2. Vietnamese babies orphaned on plane during Operation Baby Lift to the US
Operation Babylift was a significant and emotional event during the final days of the Vietnam War.
In early April 1975, the U.S. government launched this campaign to evacuate thousands of orphaned children under the age of 10 from Vietnam to the United States, France, Canada, and Australia. About 3,300 infants and children were taken out of Vietnam on 30 flights.
This operation aimed to provide these Vietnamese orphans with safety and new homes abroad, according to the U.S. government. During the long flights, the babies were placed in cardboard boxes, which served as makeshift seats.
3. Two Armenian women posing with their rifles ready to battle against the Ottomans, 1895
These women, adorned in traditional clothing, display unwavering determination in their expressions. Armed and prepared, they defy the gender norms of their era.
During this time, Armenians suffered greatly from persecution and violence by the Ottoman Empire. These women embody the courage of those who bravely took up arms to defend their homeland and people.
This image serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and valor shown by those who fought tirelessly for justice and survival during such tumultuous times.
4. Do Your Bit! Skate To Work. Save Gas, NYC, 1940s
This lively 1940s photograph features women roller-skating in New York City, promoting a wartime campaign to conserve gas. Holding a sign that reads, “Do Your Bit! Skate to Work. Save Gas,” they glide down the busy street with joyful expressions.
Their synchronized movements and coordinated outfits perfectly capture the blend of patriotism and playful ingenuity. This campaign encouraged people to skate to work as a means of saving gasoline, a precious commodity at the time.
Citizens were urged to contribute to the collective good in creative ways.
5. Winner of The Most Scary Woman In The UK Award in 1883
This fascinating photograph from 1883 features Hattie ‘the Mad Hatter’ Madders, the winner of the Most Scary Woman in the UK award and the only woman ever to hold the boxing heavyweight championship world title.
In this striking pose, Hattie dons boxing gloves and an intense expression. She was formidable in the ring as she defeated Scottish pugilist Wee Willy Harris in the first round of their bout and won the championship.
Despite her fearsome reputation in boxing, Hattie was known to be a gentlewoman at heart. After retiring from boxing, she moved to Ireland and became a dairy farmer, embracing a peaceful and fulfilling life.
This image serves as a testament to her unique legacy and the remarkable duality of her persona.
6. Female firefighters in action in London circa 1916
These female firefighters were in action in London circa 1916. One woman is seen climbing a ladder, carrying an unconscious person over her shoulder, while another woman stands below, steadying the ladder and providing support.
Dressed in uniforms, they courageously assumed vital, life-saving duties traditionally reserved for men. Their actions serve as an inspiring reminder of the indispensable role of women during World War I.
7. A female mason perching high above Berlin circa 1910
The Industrial Revolution prompted an increasing number of German women to seek employment outside the home.
While many found work in factories, some daughters in family-owned businesses learned trades to contribute effectively.
Here, we witness the skilled participation of a master mason’s daughter in preserving Berlin’s architectural heritage through her craftsmanship on the city hall tower.
8. Victorian Mountaineers crossing a crevasse in the Alps, 1900
This dramatic 1900 photograph captures late Victorian mountaineers, including a fully dressed and corseted lady. They were crossing a crevasse in the Alps on a ladder bridge.
This image epitomizes Victorian daring in mountaineering and how individuals embraced adventure regardless of gender.
9. A lineup of men dressed as ladies in Brazil circa 1913
This captivating photograph from circa 1913 features a line-up of men dressed as ladies during a carnival in Brazil.
The men are adorned in elaborate dresses, wide-brimmed hats, and accessories such as fans and handbags. They posed confidently and showed expressions freely when traditional gender roles were temporarily set aside.
10. A mother and her children making matchboxes
This photograph from around 1900 shows a mother and her children making matchboxes, as documented in Charles Booth’s London Poverty Maps.
Gathered around a small table, the family diligently works on assembling the matchboxes, surrounded by piles of their handmade products. The children were responsible for fetching wood chips and paper from the match factory and returning with the finished boxes.
This work was part of one of the lowest-paid industries, where families earned just two pence for making 144 boxes, often having to buy their own paste and string for bundling.
The image vividly portrays the harsh realities of child labor and the economic challenges faced by many working-class families during this time.
11. Pioneering American female photographer Jessie Tarbox Beals (1870-1942), posing with her camera on the streets of Manhattan, New York, circa 1901
12. The art of domestic dentistry
13. Two girls washing clothes in the street in the Spitalfields area of East London, circa 1901/1902
Photograph by Horace Warner, commissioned by The Religious Society of Friends in Britain.
14. A bride leaving her recently bombed home to get married in London on November 4th, 1940
15. Portrait of Lady Kathleen Pilkington with two dogs, circa 1903.
16. Men in Harlem gathering in front of a shop to listen to the radio, 1940
17. A housewife taking frozen long Johns off the washing line, 1940s
18. Sophia Loren, circa 1955
19. Four generations, circa 1905
20. Helen, an American Indian telephone and switchboard operator, Montana, 1925
21. Cat taking a photo, 1909
22. A little French girl giving an American soldier a kiss on Valentine’s Day, 1945
23. The last known photo of the Titanic afloat, April 12, 1912
24. Two ladies and a local man watching the sunset, 1925
25. An angry kangaroo knocking out a woman for trying to photograph him, 1960’s
26. Grandma patching the only pants of her grandson, 1907
27. Samurai warriors taken between 1860 and 1880
28. Charlie Chaplin meeting deaf-blind American author Helen Keller, 1919
29. Train travel in the 1890s
30. Woman and her dog in her one room house, Texas, 1938
31. Two gentleman from the early 1900s
32. David Isom, 19, broke the color line in a segregated pool in Florida on June 8, 1958, resulting in officials closing the facility
33. Rare photo of a remote control from the 70s
34. Progressive high school girls learning the finer points of auto mechanics in 1927
35. A man enjoying music on a record player in 1922
36. Same scene, same motorcycle, same woman, 72 years later
37. A settler family on the American prairie in the 1880s
38. An officer stopping traffic to allow a cat carrying a kitten across the street in 1925
39. A Japanese couple posing for a selfie in the 1920s
40. Camberley Kate and her stray dogs in England, 1962
Camberley Kate never turned away a stray dog. She took care of more than 600 dogs in her lifetime.
41. The top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
42. A soldier coming home to his daughter after World War II in 1945
43. A joyful French girl with her cat in 1959
44. Amateur Victorian dramatics, circa 1890s, source and theatre unknown
45. “Artists’ Excursion on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad,” photograph by an unknown artist, 1858, Metropolitan Museum of Art
46. Tomigiku, 1910s, Japan
47. Portrait of a young girl with her pet cat in a pram, accompanied by a dog, sunbathing in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, circa the early 1900s
48. A Victorian batwoman, identified as Marie Schleinzer, photographed at Adele Kuk Hof-Atelier in Vienna circa 1890
49. London bar scene featuring a pub landlord, his barmaids, and a lone drinker, circa 1893
50. A charming picture of a Victorian young woman “attempting” to ski
