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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.
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#1
1916 - My Grandmother, Annabelle. Never Met Her, She Passed In The 1918 During The Flu Pandemic
Final score:
98points
Agnes Jekyll 4 years ago
what a beautiful photograph (My great-grandmother also died in the 1918 Flu epidemic).
Nimues Child 3 years ago
I lost my great-grandfather in the same epidemic.
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Steph 3 years ago
Beautiful woman! My great grandmother died the same year, Spanish flu - so sad, she lost her husband in the war, barely survived (starvation) with 3 little children. My grandmother took care of her younger siblings at the age of 9 until they were brought to relatives
Agnes Jekyll 3 years ago
oh my....I don't know what quite to say, except I hope you pass these stories on.
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RELATED:
#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
Final score:
93points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
She is gorgeous. Thank you for keeping her story memory alive.
Glen MacLeod 3 years ago
I keep a couple of photos of people I don't know for the same reason. They should be remembered.
Leslie Cookietown 3 years ago
What a thoughtful soul you are! Every person has value and this photograph is quite professionally done.
Sandy Farley 3 years ago
A really lovely girl in native dress, even down to her stocking feet in her thong shoes: a true treasure!! Most probably from the 1930s or ' 40s.
#3
My Great Grandparents, Late 1920s
Final score:
80points
Nines Rodriguez 3 years ago
They look like members of an epic gang. People were/looked amazing back then.
#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
Final score:
78points
Caiman 94920 (Submission author) 4 years ago
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
Caiman 94920 (Submission author) 4 years ago
HER NAME WAS SERAFINA GAUNA, her granddaughter (the baby) is Laura Ward. I think the other 2 are Serafina's daughters ...I only met Laura in Yuma when I was a kid in the 60's
#5
Photo Of My Mom On Her Dad's Shoulders In 1925
Final score:
72points
Tee Witt 4 years ago
Such a shame he carried other peoples problems and it cost him and his family.
#6
My 3rd Great-Grandmother Lavisa, Born In New York In 1830
Final score:
71points
#7
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.
Final score:
66points
Shannon Butler (Submission author) 4 years ago
He was causing trouble during the depression too. But he didn't go to prison until during the war.
Load More Replies... Nines Rodriguez 3 years ago
The era when even people who were breaking no matter what law were wearing suits.
lweneous maxey 3 years ago
Loo how old he looks. by looking at these old pictures we can see how modern people age more slowly than people generations ago.
Miss Benzo 3 years ago
I hope some of your family inherited his lips. He's a fine looking man.
Steph 3 years ago
My understanding is that a lot of young boys committed minor crimes, hoping they would rather serve time in prison than at war front...
Shannon Butler (Submission author) 3 years ago
I wish that were the case, but Grandpa's record shows he was causing trouble long before the war.
Load More Replies... #8
My Great-Grandfather Francisco From The Azores, Portugal In The Late 1800s
Final score:
64points
Kay Sohn (Submission author) 3 years ago
Yes it is! I took a photo of the photo and forgot to un-live it!
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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
Final score:
64points
Blackheart 3 years ago
8 people got new shoes at the same time. Imagine how much that would cost even today!
On the Mark... (Submission author) 3 years ago
That's my great-aunt Effie. She was a bit of a sourpuss, but otherwise very sweet.
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Rebecca Joan 3 years ago
That’s so nice. Idk if photography was still super expensive in 1912, but it’s sweet that they gathered to show off their new shoes. They prob had to last the whole year!
On the Mark... (Submission author) 3 years ago
Thank you, Rebecca. I don't know the cost, but I know they didn't get many pictures of the family during the early 20th century. True - shoes (probably better made back then) had to last awhile - at least until the growing child's foot required a refit. BTW - the house in the background was around until 2005 when it became too cost prohibitive to keep it up. It was a typical "shotgun" house (long hallway in the middle). It was a great late 19th cent. home, but creepy at night when I was a kid! Untitled-S...57acd8.jpg 
#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"
Final score:
63points
#11
My Grandfather In This Group Photo, Circa Late 1800’s
Final score:
61points
Krista Hartlen 3 years ago
I'd love to know the names! The guy on the right looks just like my father!
lweneous maxey 3 years ago
seems to be a popular pose in the late 19th and 20th centuries looking tough with their BFFs
#12
My Grandmother With Her Doll In 1888. I Still Have The Doll
Final score:
61points
Miss Frankfurter 4 years ago
Wonderful that you still have that doll. What an heirloom to pass down.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
What a sweet photo. I am so glad that you still have her doll. What a cherished heirloom.
#13
My Great, Great Grandfather, Taken In The Late 1800s In Northern Ireland
Final score:
60points
#14
Mommy. 1950 ❤️
Final score:
58points
Animalsrgreat (Submission author) 4 years ago
She was.... in and out. Today is her birthday! She married "Daddio", also in this post. Such a awesome couple.
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Animalsrgreat (Submission author) 3 years ago
The best part…. My grandkids now sit in this very spot! My dad said this would happen. Seemed impossible, yet here it is. I miss her So. Much. 🥺
#15
My Grandmother, 1941
Final score:
57points
#16
My Grandfather In 1915. He's The One On Top. He Lied About His Age To Join, He Was Only 15
Final score:
57points
Petra Moon 3 years ago
My dad did the same. He was an orphan so lied about his age and got sent abroad in WW2.
L̸1̶z̵ 3 years ago (edited)
My grandpa did the same to join the Canadian military during WWII. He says it was easy to fake your birthday, and by the time they found out he had lied he had already turned 18 so they couldn't do anything about it. He had a fairly long military career before he retired.
Agnes Jekyll 3 years ago
My mom's cousin did this too. he was 16. He refused to speak about what he saw and experienced--Canadian too.
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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
Final score:
56points
#18
1921- My Gramgrams
Final score:
56points
#19
Daddio. 1950. You Were So Damn Cool!
Final score:
56points
Animalsrgreat (Submission author) 4 years ago
"Daddio" was married to " Mommy 1950" also in this post, for sixty-five years.
Ladybug 3 years ago
You must be very attractive! Your parents look like they were super cool!
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#20
My Grandparents Knew How To Have Fun! That's My Grandmother With The Arrow. Holland 1920s
Final score:
55points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
I love all of the women's finger waved hairstyles. They definitely look like a fun group!
3Woodstock 3 years ago
I love this photo.it's got mr. serious with his bottle in the front and of course the young lady who gets emotional when she drinks on the right! Looks like a great party!
#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
Final score:
54points
unfilteredCigarette73 3 years ago
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
#22
Grandma And Grandpa
Final score:
53points
#23
Old Treasures
Final score:
50points
Tee Witt 4 years ago
They can repair old pictures, I have had a couple done and they are good but do not destroy the original.
Agnes Jekyll 4 years ago
yes. that is key. Keep the original--it the appropriate paper (I can't remember what it's called)
Load More Replies... #24
My Grandmother At About 3 Years Old, With Her Parents, Ca. 1898
Final score:
48points
#25
My Dad's Great Aunt Elizabeth. Circa 1910, Derbyshire, England
Final score:
48points
Somber Stricken 3 years ago
I know exactly how that woman sounds when she talks. She's definitely one of those exaggerated offended British ladies who say "Well I never!".
#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
Final score:
47points
#27
Great Great (?) Grandparents On Leaving England For Australia In 1879
Final score:
46points
Gary Sansom 3 years ago
What's the story with going to Oz? It wasn't quite what it is today.....
#28
My Great, Great Grandparents James Goddard (1876-1942) And Margaret Goddard Née Millar (1877-1948)
Final score:
45points
Kristie Jones 3 years ago
What happened to his left leg?? I’d guess World War I happened to it, but …?
#29
My Mom's Grandfather's Dressmaker Factory In Downtown Cincinnati, Late 1800s/Early 1900s
Final score:
44points
#30
My Grandmother Jeanne, Aged 17, In 1918.
Final score:
43points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
Wonderful photo! I love how photos like this show that are ancestors still had fun despite difficult times.
Pascal Oudot (Submission author) 4 years ago
... and on the right her future husband, a nurse in 1914 during WW1. img048-61a...1b210f.jpg 
#31
My Opa And Oma Idk When It Was But He Was 71 When He Died And He Died 5 Years Ago
Final score:
20points
October 3 years ago
This is confusing. Opa means grandfather and Oma means grandmother. Who's sister is she?
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Veronica Connelly 3 years ago
Wouldn't that make him a great uncle and not a grandfather to you?
#32
Captain John Bogart: My Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Around 1850. As A Young Man, He Fought In The Revolutionary War
Final score:
20points
#33
The Young Man In The Antique Shop
Final score:
20points
Myst Edenflower (Submission author) 4 years ago
I don't know who he is, I found his picture in an Antique shop in Sutterville California about 25 years ago and couldn't leave him there. He's been with me ever since
#34
My Dad, 1957. He’s Always Had A Full Beard, This Is The Only Way I’ve Seen Him Without One.
Final score:
19points
#35
1911, Milam, Tx. My Great Grandfather And Great-Great Grandfather Are The 2 Seated. Mom's Dad Is Boy In The Middle On Ground
Final score:
18points
#36
My Great-Grandparents. Alice Normandeau With Their Son Henri And Joseph Brault With Their Son Léopold (My Grandfather) 1908 St-Étienne-De-Beauharnois
Final score:
18points
#37
My Great-Great Grandparents, Both Born In1827, Married In 1855. He Died In 1863 After Falling Of A Roof, She Died In 1888..
Final score:
17points
Glen Ellyn (Submission author) 3 years ago
My great-great grandparents, both born in 1827, married in 1855. He died in 1863 after falling off a roof, she died in 1888. I still haven't solved the mystery of why their son and daughter-in-law (my great grandparents) died within 3 weeks of each other in 1942.
#38
Grandma And Grandpa Ryder, Alberta Homestead 1924
Final score:
17points
Agnes Jekyll 3 years ago
Do you know where in Alberta? My great grandparents had one near Farentosh
Catherine Graves (Submission author) 3 years ago
They were in Faust. Most of it blew away in the dustbowl.
Load More Replies... #39
My Great-Grandfather, A True "Székely"
Final score:
16points
White Wolf (Submission author) 4 years ago (edited)
1915. He was from Transsylvania and was of the folk székely. This photo seemingly was sent to a lady named The Honourable Manci Heigert, to the castle of Nádasdladány, from another lady called Gizella. "Dear Mancika! Hereby I send the portrait of my little brother, Károly. I received your card, please accept my gratitude for it. Mother hasn't returned so far. I wish you good health. Kisses and hugs with love, Gizi."
#40
Japan 1944
Final score:
16points
Animalsrgreat (Submission author) 4 years ago
My Aunt took that photo when she was in Japan, working as a teletype operator during the war. Who knew......
Load More Replies... #41
Image 2. This Is Him Showing Off Some Of His Work
Final score:
15points
sophie (Submission author) 4 years ago
Thank you. He actually went onto become an art professor.
Load More Replies... #42
1897 - My Great Grandfather (Far Left), His Sister (My Great Aunt), His Wife (My Great Grandmother), My Great-Great Grandfather, His Sister-In-Law (My Great-Great-Great Aunt), My Great-Great Grandmother, Probably In Regensburg
Final score:
15points
#43
My Paternal Grandmother. Picture Taken April 13, 1919, When She Was 18 Years Old.
Final score:
15points
#44
My Great-Grandmother Sophie And Her Mother, Maria; Denmark, Circa 1895. The Picture Was Taken By A Travelling Photographer. I Wish I Knew More About It.
Final score:
14points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
What a wonderful photograph. I love the natural rooftop. It honestly looks like a scene from a book.
Maja Lange (Submission author) 3 years ago
It does! :) And yes, the roof is lovely. The house doesn't exist anymore, and I don't like that.
Load More Replies... Maja Lange (Submission author) 3 years ago
Yeah. I wish it still existed.
Load More Replies... Maja Lange (Submission author) 3 years ago
Oh! I didn't expect to be thanked! Well, you're welcome. :) I wanted to post the whole photo to show their house, which I find interesting. But of course their faces matter more to me emotionally. My great-grandmother, Sophie, looks a lot like my mother, which I didn't know until I got the photo a few months ago. I'm somehow moved by the likeness. Sadly, her mother and siblings had to move to the poorhouse when the father died. Sophie got married to my great-grandfather, who owned a farm, and was able to take her mother in not too long after. His mother lived with them, too, plus the workers, so there was no room for Sophie's siblings. I have no idea what happened to them. :/
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#45
My Grandpa, Master Sargent Cic Us Army. (Top, Center - 1949, China), (Bottom - 1952, Germany)
Final score:
13points
Carrie Reed (Submission author) 4 years ago
He was a good looking man! Not to mention, amazing hair!!
Load More Replies... #46
Mom And Dad 1958
Final score:
13points
#47
If The Info I Got Is Correct This Should Be My Great Great Grandfather(Top Left) And His Family
Final score:
13points
#48
Second Great-Grandfather, Joseph Braun Sr., Circa 1894
Final score:
13points
Sue From Michigan 3 years ago
There was a pretty well known miners strike that year in Cripple Creek.
#49
My Great, Great Great Grandparents Andrew (Born 1830) And Nancy (Born 1838) Barkley.
Final score:
12points
#50
This Is My Grandmother (Far Right) And Her Family In Friesland In The Netherlands. My Great Grandmother (Seated On The Right) Is Wearing A Traditional Bonnet. When You Were Considered A Grown Woman Your Hair Was Clipped Short. Over Your Hair They Put A Black Cap. Over That Was The Oorijzer, A Silver Or Gold Helmet That Has A Large V Shape Cut Out In The Front. Over That Is A Lace Cap With A Longer Section At The Nape Of The Neck. There Are Clips Attached To The Oorijzer That Help Hold The Lace In Place. It Looks Like My Great Grandmother Has Little Elfin Ears. This Picture Is From Around1890. My Grandmother Lived To Be 98.
Final score:
12points
Jods 3 years ago
My sister was once cutting my hair and I thought she finished so looked at how she’d cut it in the mirror. It looked just like your great grandmothers bonnet except I didn’t know the proper word for it and said it looks like a Dutch cap! Cue much laughter from sister and mother. I was only about 6 at the time and didn’t know why they were laughing!
#51
This Is My Great Great Great Grandparents On My Moms Side.
Final score:
12points
#52
My Mom In 1954 At 2 Years Old In Montana. She’s Such A Little Cutie In This Pic.
Final score:
11points
#53
After Posting A Picture From Ca. 1895 Of My Great-Grandmother And My Great-Great-Grandmother, I Realised That This One Is Older. It's The Same Great-Great-Grandmother, Maria Svendsdatter (Born In 1829), Who Is Clearly Younger In This Photo. How Old Would You Say She Is Here?
Final score:
11points
Ruby Dimont (Submission author) 4 years ago
Fascinating info: A historian told me that what she's doing with her left hand - it looks strange, right? - is most likely making a "magical sign" to ward off the devil. Apparently, this was rather common back then, because people were afraid that being photographed put their soul in peril.
Veronica Connelly 3 years ago
Looks to me like she's just holding her book that way so it isn't lost in the photo being black on black but with the info you gave I see it in a whole new way! Very interesting, thank you for sharing!
Load More Replies... Ruby Dimont (Submission author) 3 years ago
Yeah? :) How do you find it moving?
Load More Replies... #54
My Mother (Now 81) Is One Of The Babies In Sr. Lap. I Also Have The Original Studio Photo Too.
Final score:
10points
#55
Great Grandparents…. 1930 Ish..,
Final score:
6points
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What do you think ?
Ruby Dimont 4 years ago
I wonder why posts like this one get so few upvotes? I mean the challenges. I really enjoy them.
mario measor 3 years ago
where do they post these challenges at originally? I could have joined this one.
My grandfather's grandfather in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He was a Rough Rider. IMG_201912...0032d3.jpg 
Jods 3 years ago
I used to collect old photo albums from flea markets. The only one that says where the photos were taken and who the sitters were is from a teacher training college in the UK from the early 1900s. All the others are obviously family albums but I have no idea who they are. All my albums date from the 1800s and up to about 1936. I also have lots of Daguerreotype, glass and tin. Even tiny tin ones in leather frames. I don’t want them to end up in a bin somewhere but what do I do with them?
Seb Moranova 3 years ago
I love looking at old photos especially if there's some story attached to them. But it also makes my heart ache. Because I'm searching for my ancestors and I have already found a lot of stuff (and some really cool stuff), yet I have no photos. All I have are photos of my maternal grandmother and grandfather or younger. So basically I know names and some details of lives of my greats and great-greats etc, but I'll never know their faces. PS: I don't know why there aren't any photos. However I have a few theories.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
My Great, great, Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Hayden. I wish I had a date on the photo but she was born in 1833 and died in 1920 it was in that range. I would guess 1890s. She married Thomas Moss in 1849, after moving from England to Australia. Mary-Hayde...d-jpeg.jpg 
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
This is her daughter, F***y Moss (my great, great grandmother). I wonder if the two photos were taken at the same time, as age difference seems right. F***y married Alexander Hudson and was sewing mistress at the school he taught at in Traynor's Lagoon in Victoria, Australia. Two of many teachers in the family. Fanny-Moss...669ee.jpeg 
Ruby Dimont 4 years ago
I wonder why posts like this one get so few upvotes? I mean the challenges. I really enjoy them.
mario measor 3 years ago
where do they post these challenges at originally? I could have joined this one.
My grandfather's grandfather in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He was a Rough Rider. IMG_201912...0032d3.jpg
Jods 3 years ago
I used to collect old photo albums from flea markets. The only one that says where the photos were taken and who the sitters were is from a teacher training college in the UK from the early 1900s. All the others are obviously family albums but I have no idea who they are. All my albums date from the 1800s and up to about 1936. I also have lots of Daguerreotype, glass and tin. Even tiny tin ones in leather frames. I don’t want them to end up in a bin somewhere but what do I do with them?
Seb Moranova 3 years ago
I love looking at old photos especially if there's some story attached to them. But it also makes my heart ache. Because I'm searching for my ancestors and I have already found a lot of stuff (and some really cool stuff), yet I have no photos. All I have are photos of my maternal grandmother and grandfather or younger. So basically I know names and some details of lives of my greats and great-greats etc, but I'll never know their faces. PS: I don't know why there aren't any photos. However I have a few theories.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
My Great, great, Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Hayden. I wish I had a date on the photo but she was born in 1833 and died in 1920 it was in that range. I would guess 1890s. She married Thomas Moss in 1849, after moving from England to Australia. Mary-Hayde...d-jpeg.jpg
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
This is her daughter, F***y Moss (my great, great grandmother). I wonder if the two photos were taken at the same time, as age difference seems right. F***y married Alexander Hudson and was sewing mistress at the school he taught at in Traynor's Lagoon in Victoria, Australia. Two of many teachers in the family. Fanny-Moss...669ee.jpeg
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