It is a bit surreal to think that while we can’t physically experience history because we’re born in a particular place and time, the power of technology has empowered us to see it, understand it, and make conclusions from it.
Historical Capsule is a dedicated community that pretty much empowers people to do just that. Join us as we take a journey through time in this listicle of iconic historical photos below.
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100,000 Iranian Women March Against The Hijab Law, Tehran, 1979
In 1979 Muslim fundamentalists overthrew the secular monarchy of Iran and the new Theocrats immediately began dehumanizing and subjugating women. I hope anyone in the USA who reads this is taking notes because it might be happening here in 2025.
Elizabeth Eckford Ignores The Screams Of Students On Her First Day Integrated Into A Little Rock High School, 1957
There are plenty of people alive in the USA right now who would undo all of this. We can't let that happen.
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The angriest looking one right behind Elizabeth is a girl named Hazel Bryan, who was 15 at the time. When this photo was circulated in newspapers, she got hate mail and had to drop out of that school, which is slightly satisfying. She ended up trying to atone for her ways and even reached out to Elizabeth and apologized and joined her at some events and seminars. However, today, they’re not friends at all. This is an interesting read: https://www.history.com/news/the-story-behind-the-famous-little-rock-nine-scream-image
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The epitome of bravery. She may be shaking on the inside, but it doesn't show in this photo.
So stunningly brave. So absolutely admirable. Such a damned difficult thing to do.
Load More Replies... Hatred makes you hideous. Hatred is learned. Love, don't hate.
Theres only one person in that photo with dignity and grace. The rest just want to steal it from her
she seems like shes handling it well. I wish I was like her when I was bullied
Cuddoos. There is a hero in everyone, we all need to find it. This brave and courageous lady found it on her level... but there are many, many levels in life when we have to find courage!
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This picture makes me want to hug her. Those nasty,ugly racists should feel ashamed of themselves
Every time I saw this picture in my history books at school I would often wonder if the people in the background now feel any remorse or if their kids or grandkids recognize them.
That turns my stomach to see this poor girl be subjected to so much hate.
I wonder if those white students have ever changed their attitude or feel even a little ashamed of their behavior.
I would love a "Where Are They Now?" on all those women.
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I hope the people in the background are haunted by this photo; in regards that they have been forever immortalized being human monsters. I want to punch them all in their smug faces. Who got the time machine?!?
I'd punch them in the throat .... at least that would have SHUT THEM UP!!! But the face works too!!!
Load More Replies... For her to ignore the screams of her fellow students, even though she was clearly in pain and made that walk with fear from hearing them scream, speaks volumes about her strength of character!
Eckford later became friends with Hazel Bryan, the 15year old woman screaming at her. https://www.history.com/news/the-story-behind-the-famous-little-rock-nine-scream-image
Keep reading. The friendship ended because Eckford realized that Bryan was using her as a prop to make herself look good and had no genuine care or remorse.
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An interesting and beautiful novel on the subject: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
I don't think the women around Elizabeth Eckford are vicious... they are just plain stupid followers of the sentiments of their surroundings. It was a different time, and just like nowadays when people are made afraid of certain "enemies", these women didn't think through about what they did. What you don't see in this photo are all the (white and black) people who supported Eckford to go !
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This is so heartbreaking. The amount of hate radiating from the faces of the 2 women on the right is especially palpable. Just why?!! I don't get it!
The look of hatred on that woman's face... Makes me think of how they look nowadays screaming at trans people
hmmmm, not quite the comparison. sometimes you cannot tell if someone is trans or not. you can 99% of the time tell if some one is black ... but i see your point?
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I would love to talk to these awful women now to see if their views have changed. Wish someone would find them; likely in their 80's.
Yeha i feel for this lady amd all thw other women anden of colour whi had to go theoufh this its disgusting behaviour and I sincerely hope they're All rotting in hell right now I'm.so ashamed of being white with things like this its just like.hoq could they why what was gained why not welcome and grow amd learn about each others cultures alike why would anyone.treat anyone.this way just evacuee their skin is a different colour its vile behaviour and it should be eradicated forever 1 love ❤️
took some real guts... but some things, after so many many years, is just... fuuck it
This is the people against CRT and learning history. They don't want their grandchildren knowing what they did.
That poor, poor woman. I hope all of the hateful buggers in this photo ended up with hemorrhoids that needed surgery... and they ran out of pain relief!
And now it's happening again against Jewish students, including physical threats
My most hated part of human history. Shame on making for this type of behaviour. And I hate that it still exists.
Poor little darling...how brave she was. We have made some, but not enough, progress, since then. The pioneers were true heroes.
A true hero of our time. Look at the others' expressions of hate and plain old nastiness - they are truly ugly inside and out.
Oh my f**king god! And I'm sure the families of these bitches were so proud of their daughters and granddaughters for the hatred they emitted against their fellow human beings. I wonder how their relatives now feel about them. What a gross amount of ignorance there was back then. I certainly hope history never repeats itself! If it does, can't even dumb people see we're doomed!
Brave and bold and she did make a change to all education enrolments and will go down in history more than any of those nasty racists in the photo. She looks so clean, tidy ,well dressed and shows the only dignity displayed here too. Shame shame
She's a hero. Those women who yelled at her ... I hope they were ashamed, but I bet they weren't.
Wow, and she is still alive today. Wonderful. Well done, Elizabeth. More power to you.
One thing I've always noticed about these photo's; hate always makes these people look ugly.
This picture has been circulating quite a bit lately and I hope the white women in the background recognized themselves. What a shame on them.
Elizabeth and Hazel is an interesting book on the aftermath of this photo.
What a mighty and brave women she’s a true warrior we should all aspire to be. Hate spreads like wildfire. Love knows no bound
Must have been frightening...all those angry white people....over a "theory" that skin color makes a difference... This pre-dates Ruby Bridges. And I don't remember hearing about this case.
A strong, brave young woman in the face of those bigoted turds. She's handling it like a boss
I hated desegregation and all the psychological demands put on the black children coming into our 6th grade classroom in 1966. We were nice to them. Some black children were very angry about the situation and later in high school, some black children brought big chains to school and a riot ensued. No one was hurt. To this day I'll never know what that was about. The possibilities are endless. 💗
why did they do this with only one student at a time. It seems like a few more kids would have helped support each other.
WHITE National Guard troops there to protect her... It was our National Guard that assured Blacks enjoyed their rights as Americans. Remember that part...
Time spirits.... I really needed some time to see what this photo was about... I just saw a girl with a book walking! Nowadays, in most part of the world, this situation would be unimaginable as far as "black vs white" goes. However, we've seen in the first post that girls and women are being tortured and killed in parts of our world for not wearing a certain cloth on their heads... When will it stop? when will people grow into adults?
Maybe they're jealous that she's got a laptop. There weren't many of those around in those days. (But seriously, how disgusting)
Two Little Kids Dancing On The Streets Of New York City, C. 1940
So, Historical Capsule is a subreddit that’s a “step into the past”. It’s an online depository for old and vintage photographs that tell stories from significant events and moments in history.
The subreddit is home to 50,000 members, being ranked in the top 3%, and encourages open discussion and celebration of all things history.
Anne Frank’s Father Otto, Revisiting The Attic Where They Hid From The Nazis. He Was The Only Surviving Family Member
Ruby Bridges, The First African-American To Attend A White Elementary School In The Deep South, 1960
This is literally what flipped the South from Dixicrats to Republicans. Never forget that the GOP was (and still is) for apartheid.
A Former Slave Named Gordon Shows His Whipping Scars. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1863
On the surface, history might sound like a dull and boring discipline. However, if you dig deeper into what it’s all about, you begin to understand just how much essence it has and how much it has to offer in general.
After all, history might be something that’s all about the past, but you’d be surprised just how transformative it might be.
Lonnie Johnson, Inventor Of Super Soaker, 1992
A Lesbian Couple In Semi-Drag Wedding Attire. Kingdom Of Hungary, Budapest, 1920
Following A 23-Hour (Successful) Heart Transplant, Dr. Religa Keeps An Eye On His Patient's Vital Signs. In The Corner, His Assistant Is Sleeping, 1987
The patient lived for 30 more years and outlived the doctor by 8 years. After retiring from active practice, Religa went on to become a politician. He was a good man.
History professor Mary Jo Festle wrote a piece on how history as a discipline transforms students. In it, she explained that since there isn’t realistically any empirical evidence of this hypothesis, she took it upon herself to figure it out.
She asked nearly 60 of her students across 8 different sections of the small research seminars they hosted to give open-ended responses to prompts reflecting upon the change.
Reporters Who Exposed The Watergate Scandal Watch President Nixon Resign, 1974
Woodward and Bernstein. They did an amazing thing. A very corrupt man was elected to the highest office in the land and they, using nothing more than information, took him down.
While Cleaning Up From The World Trade Centers Falling, Crews Found A Shipwreck 7ft Below The Foundation That Dated Back To 1773
A Blind Muslim Named Muhammad Carrying His Best Friend A Paralyzed Christian Who Suffers From Dwarfism Named Samir, Damascus, Ottoman Syria, 1889
If I've learned anything from science fiction movies, it's to make sure these guys are on your side.
One of the main prompts was asking students to describe how their understanding of what history is changed during their studies.
A third of the students provided some form of “I now understand history is not just facts about names, dates, or a chronology of events.”
Remember That Photo Of The Construction Workers Having Lunch On The Unfinished Empire State Building? Well Here's The Photographer Charles Ebbets Taking That Photo, 1932
A Man Browsing For Books In Cincinnati's Cavernous Old Main Library. The Library Was Demolished In 1955
George Mclaurin, The First Black Man To Be Admitted To The University Of Oklahoma In 1948, Was Forced To Sit In A Corner Away From His Classmates
The answers verified the idea that the interpretive nature of history is a crucial lesson that can be considered a threshold concept.
One student elaborated that they realized how much power historians actually have, i.e. the power to construct the past. History is dynamic and a point of debate as a lot of the unknown in it can be argued.
A Father Looking For His Two Missing Sons That Went Missing During The Kosovo War In 1999
A Starving Boy And A Missionary In Uganda, 1980. Mike Wells Took This Powerful Photograph Of A Catholic Missionary Holding The Hand Of A Starving Ugandan Boy
Sharpshooter Annie Oakley Shooting Over Her Shoulder Using A Hand Mirror, Circa 1899
She has said: When men make shots similar to mine, others call it skill. Every time I do it, they call it luck.
Another point to mention is that students didn’t see themselves as books full of facts and figures in history. It’s these same activities of interpreting and analyzing sources, conducting research, looking for influences and biases and challenging what has been read from a critical, multifaceted standpoint, that makes all the difference in the discipline.
Cudjoe Kazoola Lewis: The Last Known Survivor Of The Atlantic Slave Trade Between Africa And North America. (Photo From The Early 1900s)
A Skateboarder Zipping Through Central Park In The 1960s
A 1912 Photo Shows A Woman Plugging In Her Electric Car
Another student pointed out that, before their studies, they enjoyed watching documentaries and furthering their knowledge that way. After them, however, it was an eye-opening experience to understand that they can now discover history for themselves, see how the evidence works and the puzzle pieces fall into place. There’s more of a hands-on approach than meets the eye.
A Filipino-American Family Posing For A Family Portrait, Philippines, 1912
Back when The Philippines were still an American Colony BTW. Just adding some context.
Allied Soldiers Mock Hitler Atop His Balcony At The Reich Chancellery, 1945
Too bad they never caught him or Gobels alive. An easy death was to good for them.
Joseph Goebbels, The Main Propagandist Of The Nazi Regime, Upon Finding Out His Photographer Was Jewish
If anything, the mini study concluded that in 70% of all cases, history topics were personally challenging in terms of values and assumptions about the world. Among these were themes and topics like gender and sexuality, religious history, the Holocaust as well as Nazism. A number of them touched upon issues of race and foreign policy, civil war and ideology.
Greenpeace Tries To Stop Radioactive Waste From Being Dumped In The Ocean, 1982
Rat Pack At The Sands In Las Vegas, Circa 1960
They're all gone. The Sands is gone. The Venetian stands there now.
A Chinese Lady Whose Feet Were Bound From Childhood. Photo From The Late 1800s
This ultimately led to some openly expressing how challenging topics have made them better human beings. One pointed out how Islam studies brought to light racist assumptions. Another changed their opinion on same sex marriage after investigating sources from LGBTQIA+ people. It gave them perspective. Perspective that made them rethink what they thought before.
An Unemployed Man Holding A Troubling Sign During The Great Depression, 1932
I hope he got help. And work in calligraphy, the handwriting is beautiful.
Greasers In New York City, 1950s
That was my Uncle Bobby. The hair, the cigarettes, the leather jacket & jeans! He & my mom grew up in Brooklyn, teens in the 50s.
A True Friend. Taken In A New York Bus Terminal Just Before They Left For The Worsening Situation In The Pacific, 1941
So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Has history changed you, and if so how? Or mayhaps you have an interesting historical story to tell that might fit this listicle. Whatever the case, share your takes and commentary in the comment section below!
And there’s plenty more historical content where that came from.
A Us Marine Gives A Cigarette To A Japanese Soldier Buried In The Sand. Iwo Jima, 1945
An Undercover Police Officer Apprehends A Mugger On The New York Subway, 1985. Photo By Bruce Davidson
Northumbrian Miner Sits Down To Eat His Evening Meal, 1937
My grandfather was a coal miner. He died of black lung when Mom was 11.
In 1963, Wives Say Goodbye To Their Loved Ones In The Navy
Navajo Youth Tom Torlino As He Entered The Carlisle Indian Industrial School In 1882, And Again 3 Years Later
Those schools are easily one of the worst parts of history. [Audible shudder]
View Of Boston, The Oldest Surviving Aerial Photograph Ever Taken. October 13th, 1860
Hot air balloons were used by both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. It must have made for a very interesting sight!
The Microsoft Staff, 1978
Last Four Couples In A Dance Marathon, Chicago, Circa 1930
The Rarely Seen Back Of The Hoover Dam Before It Was Filled With Water, 1936
Former Beauty Queen, Miss Wyoming Winner Joyce Mckinney Being Arrested By Police
After kidnapping Mormon missionary Kirk Anderson from his church, forcing him to be her sex slave for 3 days. 1977
An Unknown Woman Stands Close To A Tornado To Take A Photo, 1989
You live in the middle of the US, you get a little desensitized. Like tornado sirens go off, you go out on the lawn and look for it. On a clear day, with so visible a tornado, my guess is they knew how far off it actually was and snapped a quick picture before standing on their porch or the opening of a cellar to see if they'd need to go in and close the door.
Soviet Peasants Listen To The Radio For The First Time, 1928
What Is Now The Fully Developed Las Vegas Strip, 1955
Vegas was once a desert and I'm fairly certain that it will be a desert again someday.
Photo From The Restaurant Windows On The World, Which Sat Atop New York City's World Trade Center's North Tower, 1976
A Young Private Waits On The Beach During The Marine Landing At Da Nang, 1965
The Storyville Jazz Club, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1952
Lenin After His Third Stroke, 1923. This Picture Was Prohibited In Ussr At The Time
Looks like Manson in a snuggie. Crazy eyes (unless the photo was touched up for his eyes, but I don't think so).
Women In Bathing Suits Posing With A Prize Bull, Vancouver, 1927
OK I grew up on a cattle ranch and that is a BIG EFFING BULL!!! That thing is huge! I have honestly never seen one so big.
Anti British Propaganda, Japan 1941
Ironically, with the level of cigar smoking and whisky drinking going on, he would definitely have smelled highly offensive to the modern person.
A Soldier And His Two Girl Friends, Us, 1940s
Thats my grandmother on the left. That wasn't her boyfriend, or girlfriend. Haha
Note: this post originally had 80 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
What I mostly come away with from this post...most of the BP commenters illustrate how ugly, ignorant, and divisive people are. My faith in humanity is abysmally low.
These pictures, some of them are so historically important and are supposed to show the progress (and in some cases, subsequent regression) we've made with regards basic human rights for minority groups, women etc. I don't understand how people can refute, ignore or downright deny these things happened or worse still, advocate for a return to a time when rights were afforded to very few people. Photographs tell stories. Humanity needs to listen a lot more.
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What I mostly come away with from this post...most of the BP commenters illustrate how ugly, ignorant, and divisive people are. My faith in humanity is abysmally low.
These pictures, some of them are so historically important and are supposed to show the progress (and in some cases, subsequent regression) we've made with regards basic human rights for minority groups, women etc. I don't understand how people can refute, ignore or downright deny these things happened or worse still, advocate for a return to a time when rights were afforded to very few people. Photographs tell stories. Humanity needs to listen a lot more.
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