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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Nowadays, physical photo albums have largely been replaced by galleries on people’s phones or computers, or in the online world.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

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TBS
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These brave men would serve their country, then come home to be treated as second class citizens.

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#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

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Nea
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happy to see this. Central Asia is one of the least represented regions in BP posts (not complaining, just saying) so its nice to see this one.

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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

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

I enjoyed 70s/80s MAD the most. Still got a good bunch of them. "The Lighter Side.." from Dave Berg was always a favorite.

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#13

Two Women Grinding An Axe, 1918

Two Women Grinding An Axe, 1918

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Spocks's Mom
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have an ax to grind? These two lovely ladies will help you bury the hatchet.

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#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)

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#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

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

And that beautiful Tucker they sit on. A car ahead of its time. Sadly not a success. The movie with Jeff Bridges is worth a watch.

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#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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[>.<]/
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Residents of Drenthe could build a sod hut at night. During construction the builder could be evicted, but if smoke came from the chimney before sunset, living on the site was free and the builder could not be evicted from his place.

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#20

Man With Down’s Syndrome, 1890s

Man With Down’s Syndrome, 1890s

serdnanicol Report

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Emma London
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is interesting! Photographs were expensive, so this must have been either a picture of a beloved son, or an independent man, when the history only tells us a story about disabled people being killed or hid in the murky backrooms.

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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

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

When the song said, "Ride, Sally Ride" I always thought it was about the astronaut. /J

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#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

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

“White uniform lacks definition. I’ll just touch it up and nobody will notice.”

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#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

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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

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#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

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

Ah! The old set of World Book encyclopedias! Back in the day when you got information from books and not just that square thing in the middle.

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#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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#35

The Crowd At Woodstock 1969

The Crowd At Woodstock 1969

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Richard Graham
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was there. You can see me in the photo (467 rows back, 278th from the left).

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#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

#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

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

He should be terrified. I've seen enough horror movies to know she is possessed by something and is going to off him in his sleep. /j

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#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

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

I'm guessing this is a black and white photo that has been colorized by someone who is not a farmer. That hay looks VERY green to be putting up. It would likely start a fire and/or rot into silage.

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#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

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

In NZ clotheslines are still used mostly. Dryers are for wet days or winter, if you have one.

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

I’m nearly 50, in the UK, and live in my third home. I’ve never owned a tumble dryer. They are just so bad for the environment. I use a heated clothes rack in the utility room during winter months, and a line in the summer.

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

I used a clothesline for while....birds kept pooping on my laundry though

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

look at all those diapers...abnd the boys in the pic look like twins...that is a BUSY woman!

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

I can't find house with clothesline other than my mom's. My kids asked what it was for? I told them and they asked why not use the dryer inside the laundry room. I explained we used it during summer to save power. 🤯 They couldn't comprehend how we dealt with the heat and hanging at the same time. We had guts being we live in the desert you don't ask you just do what your told.

Huddo's sister
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Living in Australia, I find it harder to comprehend not having a clothesline. The heat is great- you can put your washing out and bring it in on the same day!

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

We have a clothes line here in the garden. It is not that uncommon in Denmark, still, in 2024. It is mainly used in the gardens of vacation homes and also just regular homes out on the countryside. I remember my grandma, when she lived and had a flat in the middle of Copenhagen, there was a special room in the attic with clothes lines and then huge "doors" in the ceiling that you could open so the dampness could go away instead of staying in the building. I think it was a leftover from when it was unthinkable to have a dryer at home.

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

In the suburbs we also had a incinerator in our backyard, there was no trash pickup

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

So where did rich people's clothes dry? I know it was done by staff, but they had to hang somewhere.

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

I used a clothesline for a while. The clothes got instantly dirty from dust blowing around, it was infuriating!

Papa
Community Member
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a clothesline until about 1990. I quit using it because of my wife's allergies.

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

Our clothesline was three stories up, attached to a big tree.

Crissy Newbury
Community Member
Premium
3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s a sh*t load of nappies for what look like three year olds.

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

she's hanging up diapers... for those curious. Cloth diapers, which she likely washed by hand.

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

My wife grew up in Fremont Nebraska. She hated when her mother hung clothes out to dry because of the meat packing plant made everything stink

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

What kinda laundry is that, what is it that she's drying

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

Back in the late '60's and early '70's my mom used to hang out her laundry in the backyard. Now many women were judgy back then. When they moved it was just a street lower. So I used to go visit one of her neighbor's. We called her Charlie. She would rave about my mom's whites. She would always say your mother had the whitess whites hanging on her clothes lines. I know how she did it and I would do it but I don't have a washer or dryer.

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

Yeah… I’m going to keep using my dryer, unless, of course, I want clean clothes to take hours to dry and end up covered with dirt and allergens.

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

My Nany used the clothesline well into the 80s and 90s. She washed her clothes on a washboard.

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

I was born in 1960 and I remember my grandmother using ourclothesline.

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

My house has a clothes line out back, just in case I decide to dry the sheets in the sunshine instead of the dryer :)

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

The sun bleaches out stains and outside drying is just so much better for the environment

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#44

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

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

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David
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you saw a store mannequin posed like that you'd think they got it wrong.

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#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

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

Whoa. I had to look at this a few times to take it all in.

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#46

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

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

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#47

Beautiful Vintage Photos Collection, 1962-1980

Beautiful Vintage Photos Collection, 1962-1980

Slow-moving-sloth Report

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Spocks's Mom
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are sensitive to animals getting hurt like I am, DO NOT click the link. Some of the pictures are good, but one just made my heart hurt.

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#48

Western Saloon

Western Saloon

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#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

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Panda Kicki
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3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor guys, such crowded dorms they had to share beds. Look at their sad little faces...

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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

Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.