Category Archives: portraits

Family of Nine Living in Field on U.S. Route 70 Near the Tennessee River During the Depression, 1936

A native of Boston, Carl Mydans (1907–2004) was born into a family of second-generation Russian immigrants. He studied journalism at Boston University, where he first learned how to take and develop photographs. After he graduated in 1930, he found work as a reporter for American Banker, but eventually bought a 35-millimeter Contax camera. The ContaxContinue reading “Family of Nine Living in Field on U.S. Route 70 Near the Tennessee River During the Depression, 1936”

Victorian Readers: 40 Vintage Portraits of People Posing With Their Books From 19th Century

Victorians were great readers of the novel, and the number of novels available for them to read increased enormously during Victoria’s reign. The activity of reading benefited hugely from wider schooling and increased literacy rates, from the cheapening costs of publication, from improved distribution that resulted from better transportation, and, towards the end of theContinue reading “Victorian Readers: 40 Vintage Portraits of People Posing With Their Books From 19th Century”

Photos From Daisy Studio in Memphis, Tennessee From the Early 1940s

Memphis is a city along the Mississippi River in southwestern Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. It is Tennessee’s second-most populous city behind Nashville; fifth-most populous city in the Southeast, the nation’s 28th-largest; and the largest city proper of those situated along the Mississippi River. The city is the anchor of West Tennessee and the greaterContinue reading “Photos From Daisy Studio in Memphis, Tennessee From the Early 1940s”

40 Photos of Actor Robert Montgomery in the 1930s and 1940s

Robert Montgomery (born Henry Montgomery Jr.; May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was an American actor, director, and producer. He began his acting career on the stage, but was soon hired by MGM. Initially assigned roles in comedies, he soon proved he was able to handle dramatic ones, as well. He appeared in aContinue reading “40 Photos of Actor Robert Montgomery in the 1930s and 1940s”

45 Beautiful Photos of Actress Mae West in the 1930s

Born 1893 in Kings County, New York, American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol Mae West had her entertainment career spanned seven decades. She was known for her lighthearted, bawdy double entendres and breezy sexual independence. West was active in vaudeville and on the stage in New York City before moving to HollywoodContinue reading “45 Beautiful Photos of Actress Mae West in the 1930s”

The Amazing Story of Alla Ilchun, the Kazakh Muse of Christian Dior

Alla Ilchun (1926 – March 8, 1989) was the first Euro-Asian model who has worked for twenty years at Dior. She was famous for her waist of 49 cm and eyeliner arrows. Information about the family and the ancestors of Alla Ilchun is not very much preserved. Her father, Zhuanhal Ilchun, was allegedly a railwayContinue reading “The Amazing Story of Alla Ilchun, the Kazakh Muse of Christian Dior”

Amazing Historical Photographs of Dentists From the 19th Century

Dentistry has come a long way since the gory days of teeth extraction in the 19th century. The 19th century saw the rise of dentistry as a distinct profession, with its own practitioners, techniques, and standards. The emphasis of dental care shifted from simply removing painful teeth to trying to avoid extractions by filling cavities.Continue reading “Amazing Historical Photographs of Dentists From the 19th Century”