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Looking at old pictures can be fascinating: people dressed in what could be considered the latest fashion trends (grandpa’s pants are soooo back in style), homes and surroundings that could only be seen on movie sets nowadays, and so much more all frozen in time for us to marvel at.

Covering the good, the bad, and the ugly of life as it was, the subreddit titled ‘The Way We Were’ is a treasure trove of such moments frozen in time. If you’re a fan of time travel enabled by browsing old photographs, you ought to love today’s list, so wait no longer, scroll down to find it and make sure to upvote your favorite pictures from the subreddit.

Upon scrolling down you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with an assistant professor of history at the Department of History, Philosophy, and Geography at Columbus State University, Dr. Laura June Davis, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions on the charm and significance of old pictures.

#1

A Young Black Man, In An Act Of Resistance To South Africa's Apartheid Policies, Rides A Bus Restricted To Whites Only, In Durban, South Africa, 1980s

A Young Black Man, In An Act Of Resistance To South Africa's Apartheid Policies, Rides A Bus Restricted To Whites Only, In Durban, South Africa, 1980s

-11H17NO3- Report

#2

Three Best Friends From Nebraska Circa 1910

Three Best Friends From Nebraska Circa 1910

-11H17NO3- Report

#3

My Father & Grandparents, Louisiana, 1965

My Father & Grandparents, Louisiana, 1965

venusianpisces Report

Browsing through old photo albums entails more than just looking at pretty pictures. They all tell a story—be it one of an extended family or many that somehow ended up in the same bunch—and it's the person with said album in their hands that gets to unravel it.

Nowadays, physical photo albums have largely been replaced by galleries on people’s phones or computers, or in the online world. However, that is not necessarily worse; while it is true that they don’t have the same feeling, digital albums allow more people to access them, consequently reaching a wider audience of curious humans.

And if you’re at all curious about what life was like back in the day, you ought to love the ‘The Way We Were’ subreddit, which, in their own words, covers “What **normal everyday life** was like for people living 50, 100, or more years ago”.

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#4

Tuskegee Airmen Getting Briefed Before A Mission. 1945

Tuskegee Airmen Getting Briefed Before A Mission. 1945

4morebeers Report

#5

Flora And Sikes, 1905 - On The Back It Said "Love's Old Sweet Song"

Flora And Sikes, 1905 - On The Back It Said "Love's Old Sweet Song"

Slow-moving-sloth Report

For people whose job it is to delve deeper into the stories of the past, pictures have immeasurable value. “Photographs are an invaluable primary source resource for historians as they provide a window into the past,” Dr. Laura June Davis pointed out in an interview with Bored Panda. “They might capture a specific event, reveal the clothing, culture, or values of the time, or put a face to a long-forgotten name. Sometimes, photographs are the only historical evidence we have of a person.”

#6

A Black Man And A White Woman Embracing On A New York Subway - A Controversial Image For It's Time. Late 1960s. (Image - Ernest Cole)

A Black Man And A White Woman Embracing On A New York Subway - A Controversial Image For It's Time. Late 1960s. (Image - Ernest Cole)

Dhorlin Report

#7

My Mom, An Engineer, In Her Office, One Month Before I Was Born. 1967, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

My Mom, An Engineer, In Her Office, One Month Before I Was Born. 1967, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

principle_fbundle Report

#8

Three Young Girls And A Dog Pose For The Camera. 1930

Three Young Girls And A Dog Pose For The Camera. 1930

AlainasBoyfriend Report

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“For many key moments in our nation's past, it was the photographic evidence that not only captured the event but helped give it meaning,” Dr. Davis continued, discussing the value of old pictures. “Photography was relatively new during the Civil War but photographers like Mathew Brady captured the carnage of the conflict and made Americans (from both sides) comprehend the human costs of war.

“Jacob Riis, the famous muckraker, highlighted the plight, dangerous working conditions, and unsanitary living conditions of the turn-of-the-century New York City slums, prompting reforms. And the graphic violence endured by peaceful protesting civil rights activists and captured by the media helped garner popular support for change, leading to things like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.”

#9

My Grandparents On Their Wedding Day. March 1969, West Sumatera, Indonesia

My Grandparents On Their Wedding Day. March 1969, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Schrozdinger Report

#10

My Sister And Me 1963. The Photographer Told Us To Not Smile Which Made Us Giggle

My Sister And Me 1963. The Photographer Told Us To Not Smile Which Made Us Giggle

andsusie Report

#11

My Grandparents' Wedding, 100 Years Ago Today

My Grandparents' Wedding, 100 Years Ago Today

earspasm Report

Some historical pictures are so significant, they can even be recalled in the memories of people millions of miles away from where—or decades of years later from when—they were taken.

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Take the picture of construction workers having lunch on an unfinished skyscraper in New York, for instance; chances are you already have the image of eleven men hanging above the city in your head – an iconic picture taken back in 1932, known under the title “Lunch atop a Skyscraper”.

#12

Mad Magazine Artists Al Jaffee And Will Elder, In The Lunchroom At The High School For Music And Arts In New York City, 1936

Mad Magazine Artists Al Jaffee And Will Elder, In The Lunchroom At The High School For Music And Arts In New York City, 1936

Quick_Presentation11 Report

#13

Two Women Grinding An Axe, 1918

Two Women Grinding An Axe, 1918

jocke75 Report

#14

Grocery Shopping In The 1960s

Grocery Shopping In The 1960s

jocke75 Report

In an interview with Bored Panda, Dr. Davis emphasized that by processing, digitizing, and archiving old photographs, we can help preserve our history.

“On a personal level, it's a great way to preserve our family stories, relive key moments of a collective past, and give faces to our long-lost loved ones. It's also a way to honor those who came before us, and remember where we came from,” she added.

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#15

Great Grandmother & Great Aunt (~1946)

Great Grandmother & Great Aunt (~1946)

zero_choquette Report

#16

I'm The Tall American With My Sri Lankan Family In 1980. Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

I'm The Tall American With My Sri Lankan Family In 1980. Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

Chinacat_Sunflower72 Report

#17

My Date And Me All Dressed Up For A Fancy Party, 1974

My Date And Me All Dressed Up For A Fancy Party, 1974

dittidot Report

Research suggests that on a personal level, browsing old pictures can even help alleviate low levels of pain, as the nostalgia it evokes can reduce activity in areas involved in pain perception.

According to Professor Huajian Cai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences responsible for carrying out the research, “As a predominantly positive emotion, nostalgia serves various adaptive functions, including a recently revealed analgesic effect,” The Mirror reports.

#18

Summertime In The 1940s

Summertime In The 1940s

Majoodeh Report

#19

Occupants Of A Sod House In Drenthe, The Netherlands, Photographed Standing Outside In 1936

Occupants Of A Sod House In Drenthe, The Netherlands, Photographed Standing Outside In 1936

jocke75 Report

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#20

Man With Down’s Syndrome, 1890s

Man With Down’s Syndrome, 1890s

serdnanicol Report

Whether it’s history-based research, curiosity, or a mild headache you’re trying to alleviate that encourages you to browse old pictures, we have plenty of them in store here at Bored Panda. So, when you’re done going through this list, feel free to continue to our previous editions on ‘The Way We Were’ here or here, or check out Bored Panda’s history category for more of similar content.

#21

Disco Sally, 78 Year Old Studio 54 Regular, 1978

Disco Sally, 78 Year Old Studio 54 Regular, 1978

jocke75 Report

#22

A Selection Of 1890s To Early 1900s Mugshots From Nebraska

A Selection Of 1890s To Early 1900s Mugshots From Nebraska

Lepke2011 Report

#23

A Couple Of Victorian Travellers, 1890s

A Couple Of Victorian Travellers, 1890s

jocke75 Report

#24

May 1922: 78-Year-Old Robert T. Lincoln (Son Of Abraham Lincoln) Is Helped Up The Steps At The Dedication Of The Lincoln Memorial In Washington D.c

May 1922: 78-Year-Old Robert T. Lincoln (Son Of Abraham Lincoln) Is Helped Up The Steps At The Dedication Of The Lincoln Memorial In Washington D.c

xXHarleen_QuinzelXx Report

#25

Swimsuits And Roller Skates, Chicago, Il, C. 1947. Photo By Wayne Miller

Swimsuits And Roller Skates, Chicago, Il, C. 1947. Photo By Wayne Miller

FlamingoEvery5528 Report

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#26

My Grandparents And Mom Around 1960 In Chicago

My Grandparents And Mom Around 1960 In Chicago

HowToCook40Humans Report

#27

One Of America’s Youngest Newsboys (4 Years Old) Florida, 1913

One Of America’s Youngest Newsboys (4 Years Old) Florida, 1913

jocke75 Report

#28

This Behemoth Of A Flip Cut, 1960s

This Behemoth Of A Flip Cut, 1960s

mpathg00 Report

#29

That’s A Lot Of ‘70s Going On In One Pic

That’s A Lot Of ‘70s Going On In One Pic

Quick_Presentation11 Report

#30

Three Jolly Sisters In Failsworth, Greater Manchester, 1970s

Three Jolly Sisters In Failsworth, Greater Manchester, 1970s

Sweet-Peanuts Report

#31

The Wright Family, Wokingham UK - 1967 - In Their Matching Dresses When Mums Used To Make Your Clothes

The Wright Family, Wokingham UK - 1967 - In Their Matching Dresses When Mums Used To Make Your Clothes

Sweet-Peanuts Report

#32

Great-Grandparent’s Home Around The Late 1800s/Early 1900s. Eventually 7 Kids All Lived Here With Them

Great-Grandparent’s Home Around The Late 1800s/Early 1900s. Eventually 7 Kids All Lived Here With Them

Cliffedgejones22 Report

#33

Annie Edson Taylor And Her Cat, Pose With The Barrel She Went Over Niagara Falls In, 1901

Annie Edson Taylor And Her Cat, Pose With The Barrel She Went Over Niagara Falls In, 1901

-11H17NO3- Report

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IrishGirl
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure it's just me, but I would've sworn she's holding a cellphone! 😄

Hi
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of the song Over the Falls. By Primus.

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#34

Easter 1969

Easter 1969

SamTheHamJam Report

#35

The Crowd At Woodstock 1969

The Crowd At Woodstock 1969

jocke75 Report

#36

Wedding Portrait, Minnesota, 1911. Note The Delicate Lace On The Bride’s High-Necked Blouse

Wedding Portrait, Minnesota, 1911. Note The Delicate Lace On The Bride’s High-Necked Blouse

CatPooedInMyShoe Report

#37

At The Age Of 16 In 1946 My Grandfather Worked In A Paper Factory, This Is His Work Badge

At The Age Of 16 In 1946 My Grandfather Worked In A Paper Factory, This Is His Work Badge

Americanvegetarian Report

#38

My Great Great Aunt Louise Hayes Née Andersen, Circa 1929

My Great Great Aunt Louise Hayes Née Andersen, Circa 1929

arintj Report

#39

The Fort, 1965

The Fort, 1965

Slow-moving-sloth Report

#40

My Terrified Dad (20) And His First Wife (19) Days After The Birth Of Their First Child (Maine, USA, 1961)

My Terrified Dad (20) And His First Wife (19) Days After The Birth Of Their First Child (Maine, USA, 1961)

Bamm83 Report

#41

My Grandma (Still Alive At 96) And Her Dad Baling Hay On The Family Farm In Clintonville, Wi. 1940s

My Grandma (Still Alive At 96) And Her Dad Baling Hay On The Family Farm In Clintonville, Wi. 1940s

0nesandzer0es Report

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#42

A Grocery Store Clerk In Tallahassee, Florida, 1962

A Grocery Store Clerk In Tallahassee, Florida, 1962

Quick_Presentation11 Report

#43

In This Image From 1955, We See A Woman Hanging Her Laundry On The Clothes-Line In Her Backyard. When I Was Growing Up - In The 1960s And 1970s - Every Backyard On My Street Had A Clothes-Line. While Hanging Out Their Laundry, The Neighbors Would Holler To Each Other

In This Image From 1955, We See A Woman Hanging Her Laundry On The Clothes-Line In Her Backyard. When I Was Growing Up - In The 1960s And 1970s - Every Backyard On My Street Had A Clothes-Line. While Hanging Out Their Laundry, The Neighbors Would Holler To Each Other

Vasey6067 Report

#44

Linda Ward (And Two Admirers) Dublin, Early ‘60s

Linda Ward (And Two Admirers) Dublin, Early ‘60s

111mysticman111 Report

#45

Woman In Knee-Length Dress And Pants, Ca. 1860s. From A Bound Photo Album I Bought Years Ago. Subject And Photographer Unknown. [1457 X 2361]

Woman In Knee-Length Dress And Pants, Ca. 1860s. From A Bound Photo Album I Bought Years Ago. Subject And Photographer Unknown. [1457 X 2361]

HxAndMusx Report

#46

A Chinese Lady Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood. Late 1800s

A Chinese Lady Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood. Late 1800s

Sweet-Peanuts Report

#47

Beautiful Vintage Photos Collection, 1962-1980

Beautiful Vintage Photos Collection, 1962-1980

Slow-moving-sloth Report

#48

Western Saloon

Western Saloon

CincoDeMayoFan Report

#49

Grandpa’s Photo From The Dorms Freshmen Year At Purdue University 1956

Grandpa’s Photo From The Dorms Freshmen Year At Purdue University 1956

Safe_Net_9558 Report

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#50

My Great Grandmother’s Brother, Perry. He Was Beaten To Death In A Bar Fight In 1949 At The Age Of 31

My Great Grandmother’s Brother, Perry. He Was Beaten To Death In A Bar Fight In 1949 At The Age Of 31

wms5228 Report

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#51

Vintage Image Of A Sign

Vintage Image Of A Sign

Slow-moving-sloth Report

#52

People Taking Selfies, C. 1890’s - 1940’s

People Taking Selfies, C. 1890’s - 1940’s

nipplequeefs Report

#53

Boys In Los Angeles Show Off Diving Helmets Made From Sections Of Hot Water Heaters, Boilers And Other Junk, 1933

Boys In Los Angeles Show Off Diving Helmets Made From Sections Of Hot Water Heaters, Boilers And Other Junk, 1933

Old-Monk-7766 Report

#54

In Honor Of My Late Sister’s Birthday Tomorrow, Here Are Some Pics Of Our Childhood

In Honor Of My Late Sister’s Birthday Tomorrow, Here Are Some Pics Of Our Childhood

monstermashmego Report

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#55

My Dad And Late Mum On Their Wedding Day - 1983. I Forgot How Beautiful She Was

My Dad And Late Mum On Their Wedding Day - 1983. I Forgot How Beautiful She Was

AnonymousIntrigue Report

#56

There Were 357 Residential Schools In The U.S., Where Native American Children Were Sent, And, By 1926, More Than 80% Of Native American Children Were Attending Such Schools. The First Such School - The Carlisle Indian Industrial School - Was Established In 1879. The Photo Here Is From 1885

There Were 357 Residential Schools In The U.S., Where Native American Children Were Sent, And, By 1926, More Than 80% Of Native American Children Were Attending Such Schools. The First Such School - The Carlisle Indian Industrial School - Was Established In 1879. The Photo Here Is From 1885

Vasey6067 Report

#57

This Book From 1908 Shows How Photo Retouching Was Around Long Before Photoshop Ever Was

This Book From 1908 Shows How Photo Retouching Was Around Long Before Photoshop Ever Was

USHistoryUncovered Report

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#58

Esbon High School District Champion Girls’ Basketball Team. Kansas, 1925. I Think At Least Some Of The Girls Are Wearing Bloomers

Esbon High School District Champion Girls’ Basketball Team. Kansas, 1925. I Think At Least Some Of The Girls Are Wearing Bloomers

CatPooedInMyShoe Report

#59

Nimrod Depue, 1920, Aged 20

Nimrod Depue, 1920, Aged 20

AncestryBruh Report

#60

The Hobble Skirt Trend From The 1900’s And 1910’s

The Hobble Skirt Trend From The 1900’s And 1910’s

nipplequeefs Report

#61

Dinner Time In The 1950’s

Dinner Time In The 1950’s

SamTheHamJam Report

#62

Scanned Some Of Dad’s Old Climbing Slides (1970’s)

Scanned Some Of Dad’s Old Climbing Slides (1970’s)

dickiefrisbee Report

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#63

Atlanta High School Basketball Player Shooting Underhand, A Free Throw Against Tech High School In 1921

Atlanta High School Basketball Player Shooting Underhand, A Free Throw Against Tech High School In 1921

-11H17NO3- Report

#64

Two Girls Doing Their Easter-Shopping, London, April 8, 1936

Two Girls Doing Their Easter-Shopping, London, April 8, 1936

alanboston405 Report

#65

My Dad Eating Cake For His 2nd & 3rd Birthdays, Atlanta, Tx 1955 & 1956

My Dad Eating Cake For His 2nd & 3rd Birthdays, Atlanta, Tx 1955 & 1956

edencathleen86 Report

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#66

Purchased A Box Of 35mm Slides From An Abandoned Business (Ontario, Canada) [est. 1950's]

Purchased A Box Of 35mm Slides From An Abandoned Business (Ontario, Canada) [est. 1950's]

talking_walls_photo Report

#67

My Dad's Family Leaving Missouri For California Cicra 1944. My Dad, 1st Row All The Way To The Right. Crazy Thing Is There Are 8 Older Kids Not In The Picture

My Dad's Family Leaving Missouri For California Cicra 1944. My Dad, 1st Row All The Way To The Right. Crazy Thing Is There Are 8 Older Kids Not In The Picture

Fomorian58 Report

#68

Schnuck's Grocery Store Cashier, St. Louis, Mo 1970s

Schnuck's Grocery Store Cashier, St. Louis, Mo 1970s

Quick_Presentation11 Report

#69

Mother On A Couch With Her Baby On Her Lap, Bronx, N.y., 1966

Mother On A Couch With Her Baby On Her Lap, Bronx, N.y., 1966

Paul-Belgium Report

#70

The Danish Bakery At Publix From The 1976 Annual Report

The Danish Bakery At Publix From The 1976 Annual Report

AxlCobainVedder Report

#71

These Photos From The 1930s Through The 50s Show Polio Victims In The Dreaded Iron Lung Machine Prior To The Invention Of The Polio Vaccine

These Photos From The 1930s Through The 50s Show Polio Victims In The Dreaded Iron Lung Machine Prior To The Invention Of The Polio Vaccine

HelloSlowly Report

#72

Haunting Portraits Of Surgery Patients Of Dr. Harvey Cushing From The Early 20th Century

Haunting Portraits Of Surgery Patients Of Dr. Harvey Cushing From The Early 20th Century

USHistoryUncovered Report

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#73

The Woman In These Photos Was A Swedish Immigrant To The Us, And Was Sixteen And Pregnant When She Married In 1924. She Died In 1925 At Age Eighteen

The Woman In These Photos Was A Swedish Immigrant To The Us, And Was Sixteen And Pregnant When She Married In 1924. She Died In 1925 At Age Eighteen

CatPooedInMyShoe Report

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#74

My Granma And Her Boyfriend Before My Grandfather

My Granma And Her Boyfriend Before My Grandfather

The_Milk-lady Report

#75

(1953) Ford Executives Selecting That Year's Automobile Colors From 76 Different Scale Models Of Them

(1953) Ford Executives Selecting That Year's Automobile Colors From 76 Different Scale Models Of Them

johnnylgarfield Report

#76

Rickards High School Principal Checking Skirt Length In Tallahassee, 1965

Rickards High School Principal Checking Skirt Length In Tallahassee, 1965

jocke75 Report

#77

Jane Lucy Thompson (Later Lesich) Poses With Her Brother, Grover, And Mother, Agusta, In I Think The 1920s

Jane Lucy Thompson (Later Lesich) Poses With Her Brother, Grover, And Mother, Agusta, In I Think The 1920s

CatPooedInMyShoe Report

#78

Teenagers' Marriage Criteria From Progressive Farmer October 1955

Teenagers' Marriage Criteria From Progressive Farmer October 1955

norbertt Report

#79

My Mom (Bottom Left) And Her Family Dressed Up For A Bicentennial Celebration 1976

My Mom (Bottom Left) And Her Family Dressed Up For A Bicentennial Celebration 1976

a_complex_kid Report

#80

Northern Ireland During The Troubles, Late 60s And Early 70s, By Akihiko Okamura

Northern Ireland During The Troubles, Late 60s And Early 70s, By Akihiko Okamura

zainab1900 Report

#81

My Parents, The Couple In The Front, On Their Flight Home After Going On A Mexican Cruise In March, 1977. The Couple Behind Them Were Friends Of Theirs That Also Went On The Cruise

My Parents, The Couple In The Front, On Their Flight Home After Going On A Mexican Cruise In March, 1977. The Couple Behind Them Were Friends Of Theirs That Also Went On The Cruise

ecobot Report

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#82

Party On!

Party On!

CincoDeMayoFan Report

#83

American Family On Easter Sunday, 1968

American Family On Easter Sunday, 1968

Troublemonkey36 Report

#84

Birthday At Nadine's Dollhouse Grave, 1934c

Birthday At Nadine's Dollhouse Grave, 1934c

NickelPlatedEmperor Report

#85

A Minnesota Woman, Lempi Raattama, And Her Baby Son, Minnesota, Circa 1924

A Minnesota Woman, Lempi Raattama, And Her Baby Son, Minnesota, Circa 1924

CatPooedInMyShoe Report