Every glimpse of the past that we see is a chance for our imaginations to take off on a wild time-warp journey. The beautiful vintage photos of the past gathered by this amazing Facebook page also promise to take you on a journey across time and space.

Indeed, the photos featured by this account come from all around the world. Each photo tells a story of when, where, and who. We are invited to daydream (or, you know, research) about the lives of people in the photos, whether they’re hard-working peasants in a rice paddy, roguish children playing in a street, or businesspeople showing off their new-fangled horseless carriages.

We can be glad that modern technology is helping us preserve and spread these photos. Many old paper or silver plate photos are in danger of irreversible deterioration, and countless more are already lost. These few remaining glimpses of the past are to be treasured and shared, so scroll onwards, brave time traveler. Let us know which ones are your favorites in the comments and share these old vintage photos far and wide!

#1

Neighborhood Kids Sharing A Laugh In Nebraska, 1910

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#2

Three Women Who Completed Their Education And Graduated As Physicians In Philadelphia, 1885

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Marco Richter
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Context from the Huffington post: "The first women’s medical college in the world, the WMCP was a magnet for ambitious ladies of all stripes. The three in the photograph -- from left to right, Anandibai Joshi, Keiko Okami, and Sabat Islambouli -- eventually became among the first licensed female doctors in their respective countries: India, Japan and Syria."

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#3

Dapper Young Man All Dressed Up To Have His Photo Made, 1905

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The history of photography begins with very tangible chemical processes, far from the powerful digital sensors and endless reproduction we enjoy today. The first photo that has survived to this day was taken in 1826 or 1827 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. In his heliograph, the view from a window in his home was reproduced in low fidelity using a process involving bitumen (a component of asphalt) and lavender oil.

#5

These Progressive High School Girls Learn The Finer Points Of Auto Mechanics In 1927

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#8

Madame Decourcelle The First Female Taxi Driver In Paris, France, 1909

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scag$y
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I challenge you to look at that horn without making the noise in your head. Or out loud.

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The first photo approximating modern life-like quality standards was invented by Louis Daguerre. He named the daguerreotype process after himself, so we must be grateful that better and less egotistically named processes were discovered later. Although daguerreotypes required longer exposure times of up to several minutes, this was a vast improvement over the 8-ish hours used for Niépce’s heliograph.

#9

Apache Woman And Child. Fort Apache, Arizona, 1898

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#11

Louis & Lola, Titanic Survivors

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Cultural attitudes towards photography also changed as the technology improved. With the long exposure times of early processes, photographs could be thought of much like still-life or portrait paintings. Families or dignitaries would dress up to sit for a portrait, or artists would select beautiful landscapes or scenes to photograph. As film exposure times shortened and film became easier to acquire and process, photographers were able to start experimenting more boldly and to start capturing dynamic shots.

#15

A Father With His 4 Daughters, 1904

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Seabeast
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure the one in back is a boy. The coat buttons left to right.

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The photographs in this collection come from a wide range of different historical photographic processes, but of course, the most fascinating aspect of each is the subject matter. In most, the people depicted are no longer with us, and if their memories don’t live on with their progeny, these may be the only signs of their existence that we have left. We invite you to spend some time with these photos and try to imagine what the moments they captured might have looked, sounded, felt, and even smelled like so many years ago.

#17

A Beautiful Couple From The 1940s

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Jessica Cifelli
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hard to believe that just 20 years before this photo there would be almost no skin showing

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#18

In The 1940s, Men Dressed In Shorts And Cowboy Boots Served Up To Women At A Drive Through In Texas

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Nathaniel (He/Him)
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How VERY sexist! We would not dream of having WOMEN parade around like this in short shorts!!

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#20

Elk River And His Wife, Montana, 1890

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Li’l E.
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, it her name Montana or are they in Montana? Or possibly even both?

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#22

Mother And Daughter Watch A Tall Ship Navigate The Thames In London, 1880

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#23

Mother With Her Daughter, 1880

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Ms Merete
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

May be Mother and Son - this is how little boys used to be dressed until they were old enough for breeches

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#25

Barefoot Kids At A Mobile Book Cart In The Appalachian Mountains

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#29

Two Friends Strolling In A Cool Stream On A Warm Day, 1910

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#32

A Stylish Woman Walking Her Dog At The Bois De Boulogne In Paris, 1910

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Patty Panda
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This old photograph then became today's modern distracted boyfriend meme 😁

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#35

The High Jump At Olympics Games In London, 1908

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Andrew Clouse
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4 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What we see high jumpers do today (going over the bar head first and back to the ground) is called the Fosbury Flop, after D**k Fosbury. He won the 1969 Gold with the technique. Before that, like in this picture, people would just jump normal over the bar. Might be why it's so low.

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#36

A Mom Asks Not To Kiss Her Baby To Avoid Catching A Bug, 1939

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#40

The Noonans, A Family Of 15 Living In 1920s. Lawrence, Massachusetts

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Note: this post originally had 140 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

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