Say what you want, but photographs play an important role in everyone's life; they remind us of people, places, sentiments, and tales from our past. They can help us understand who we are, and they can also allow us to see people that are long gone but have left their footprint in history.

With that being said, I asked the Bored Panda community to show us their old treasures, and they sure delivered! Some of the photos submitted even carry some interesting stories attached to them.

#1

1916 - My Grandmother, Annabelle. Never Met Her, She Passed In The 1918 During The Flu Pandemic

1916 - My Grandmother, Annabelle. Never Met Her, She Passed In The 1918 During The Flu Pandemic

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Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what a beautiful photograph (My great-grandmother also died in the 1918 Flu epidemic).

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    #2

    I Don't Know Who She Is, This Damaged, Creased Photo Appeared On Ebay For A Tiny Amount Of Money And No Bidders. I Figured If No One Bought It, The Seller Might Throw Her Away. This Momentary Fraction Of Time, And What Might Be The Only Remenant Of Her Existance, Will Now Be Preserved And Cared For

    I Don't Know Who She Is, This Damaged, Creased Photo Appeared On Ebay For A Tiny Amount Of Money And No Bidders. I Figured If No One Bought It, The Seller Might Throw Her Away. This Momentary Fraction Of Time, And What Might Be The Only Remenant Of Her Existance, Will Now Be Preserved And Cared For

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    #3

    My Great Grandparents, Late 1920s

    My Great Grandparents, Late 1920s

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    #4

    My Great-Grandmother Is The Woman On The Right. This Was Taken In Yuma, Arizona Sometime Before Her Death In 1914. Its The Only Photo That Survived A Flood

    My Great-Grandmother Is The Woman On The Right. This Was Taken In Yuma, Arizona Sometime Before Her Death In 1914. Its The Only Photo That Survived A Flood

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    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    DNA says I'm 25% indigenous but when we went to Yuma to the BIA, couldn't find her on the registers, but then found out that she died before the 1914 census done for the local tribes. But we did go by some of the tribal museums and saw old photos that looked a lot like all my sisters and me. So we are in the right area....just need to get more native americans to get on the dna pages. It's sad that we have lost our history

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    #5

    Photo Of My Mom On Her Dad's Shoulders In 1925

    Photo Of My Mom On Her Dad's Shoulders In 1925

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    #6

    My 3rd Great-Grandmother Lavisa, Born In New York In 1830

    My 3rd Great-Grandmother Lavisa, Born In New York In 1830

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    #7

    My Grandfather's Mugshot In 1942

    My Grandfather's Mugshot In 1942

    He was 19 years old and lived in Rhinebeck, NY when he decided to steal some tires from a garage. The dutchess county judge called him "Unpatriotic" and sent him to prison. He eventually signed up to serve in WW2.

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    #8

    My Great-Grandfather Francisco From The Azores, Portugal In The Late 1800s

    My Great-Grandfather Francisco From The Azores, Portugal In The Late 1800s

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    #9

    : 1912, Milam, Tx. Great Grandfather With Mustache (My Grandfather 4th From Right). Whole Family Had Gotten New Shoes, So They Wanted To Show Them Off In A Photo

    : 1912, Milam, Tx. Great Grandfather With Mustache (My Grandfather 4th From Right). Whole Family Had Gotten New Shoes, So They Wanted To Show Them Off In A Photo

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    #10

    So, This Isn't The Oldest Photo I Have But I Wanted To Share It As It Always Gives Me A Smile When I See It. This Is Of My Great Grandfather (On The Right) When He Was Studying Art. If You Look At The Sign It Says "Models Posing"

    So, This Isn't The Oldest Photo I Have But I Wanted To Share It As It Always Gives Me A Smile When I See It. This Is Of My Great Grandfather (On The Right) When He Was Studying Art. If You Look At The Sign It Says "Models Posing"

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    #11

    My Grandfather In This Group Photo, Circa Late 1800’s

    My Grandfather In This Group Photo, Circa Late 1800’s

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    Krista Hartlen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd love to know the names! The guy on the right looks just like my father!

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    #12

    My Grandmother With Her Doll In 1888. I Still Have The Doll

    My Grandmother With Her Doll In 1888. I Still Have The Doll

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    Miss Frankfurter
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wonderful that you still have that doll. What an heirloom to pass down.

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    #13

    My Great, Great Grandfather, Taken In The Late 1800s In Northern Ireland

    My Great, Great Grandfather, Taken In The Late 1800s In Northern Ireland

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    #16

    My Grandfather In 1915. He's The One On Top. He Lied About His Age To Join, He Was Only 15

    My Grandfather In 1915. He's The One On Top. He Lied About His Age To Join, He Was Only 15

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    #17

    Year 1904, Southern Czechia, My Great Grandmother Marie Stachova (In The Middle), Her Mother Marie And Father Vaclav, Siblings Vaclav And Bozena

    Year 1904, Southern Czechia, My Great Grandmother Marie Stachova (In The Middle), Her Mother Marie And Father Vaclav, Siblings Vaclav And Bozena

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    #18

    1921- My Gramgrams

    1921- My Gramgrams

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    #19

    Daddio. 1950. You Were So Damn Cool!

    Daddio. 1950. You Were So Damn Cool!

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    #20

    My Grandparents Knew How To Have Fun! That's My Grandmother With The Arrow. Holland 1920s

    My Grandparents Knew How To Have Fun! That's My Grandmother With The Arrow. Holland 1920s

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    #21

    Family Homestead 1923, Eagan, Minnesota. That's My Grandfather On The Horse-Draw Farm Equipment. They Are Harvesting Onions. Gamily Farmed Here From 1870s To Early 1950s. Land Is Now Eagan's Central Park

    Family Homestead 1923, Eagan, Minnesota. That's My Grandfather On The Horse-Draw Farm Equipment. They Are Harvesting Onions. Gamily Farmed Here From 1870s To Early 1950s. Land Is Now Eagan's Central Park

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    unfilteredCigarette73
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm from the twin cities area (Minneapolis and St.Paul MN), and it's still amazing to think that even 70 years ago (1950s), many of the surrounding suburbs and sprawl were just farms

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    #22

    Grandma And Grandpa

    Grandma And Grandpa

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    #23

    Old Treasures

    Old Treasures

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    Tee Witt
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They can repair old pictures, I have had a couple done and they are good but do not destroy the original.

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    #24

    My Grandmother At About 3 Years Old, With Her Parents, Ca. 1898

    My Grandmother At About 3 Years Old, With Her Parents, Ca. 1898

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    #25

    My Dad's Great Aunt Elizabeth. Circa 1910, Derbyshire, England

    My Dad's Great Aunt Elizabeth. Circa 1910, Derbyshire, England

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    #26

    #43 My Great Great Grandmother, She Was Born In 1880 And Died ? I'm Pretty Sure This Picture Was Taken In Her Mid Twentys

    #43 My Great Great Grandmother, She Was Born In 1880 And Died ? I'm Pretty Sure This Picture Was Taken In Her Mid Twentys

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    #27

    Great Great (?) Grandparents On Leaving England For Australia In 1879

    Great Great (?) Grandparents On Leaving England For Australia In 1879

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    #28

    My Great, Great Grandparents James Goddard (1876-1942) And Margaret Goddard Née Millar (1877-1948)

    My Great, Great Grandparents James Goddard (1876-1942) And Margaret Goddard Née Millar (1877-1948)

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    #29

    My Mom's Grandfather's Dressmaker Factory In Downtown Cincinnati, Late 1800s/Early 1900s

    My Mom's Grandfather's Dressmaker Factory In Downtown Cincinnati, Late 1800s/Early 1900s

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    #30

    My Grandmother Jeanne, Aged 17, In 1918.

    My Grandmother Jeanne, Aged 17, In 1918.

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    Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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