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The easiest way for us to get a glimpse into the good old days is to open up our family's photo album. But what if we go through the images and instead of calming down our curiosity, they only fuel it? Easy. We open up the subreddit r/TheWayWeWere next.

It's a place where folks share pictures from 50, 100, and even more years ago to show what everyday life looked like in the past. Featuring old photos, scanned documents, articles, and personal anecdotes, this subreddit has become one of the biggest vintage archives online.

Continue scrolling and check out why 528K people subscribe to r/TheWayWeWere.

#1

Mary Wallace: First Female Bus Driver For Chicago Transit Authority (1974)

Mary Wallace: First Female Bus Driver For Chicago Transit Authority (1974)

AxlCobainVedder Report

#2

My Ridiculously Attractive Grandparents Sitting For A Portrait In The Early 1940s

My Ridiculously Attractive Grandparents Sitting For A Portrait In The Early 1940s

reddit.com Report

The last 100 years have produced profound changes in human history.

Wars, technological developments, progress in civil rights, and breakthroughs in science and medicine, the old world has been swept away. Whether it's for better or worse.

Centuries-old empires crumbled as new ideologies – like communism and fascism – took over in many parts of the world. Wars in the early part of the 20th century put an end to the colonial world and gave birth to new nations. However, these wars also cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars.

#3

My Mom On Her Wedding Day November 1951

My Mom On Her Wedding Day November 1951

YCVick Report

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Tacocat
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow that gown is gorgeous! The person's mom looks amazing in it, and so happy.

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#4

Cats Blackie & Brownie Catching Squirts Of Milk During Milking At Arch Badertscher's Dairy Farm In Fresno, California, 1954

Cats Blackie & Brownie Catching Squirts Of Milk During Milking At Arch Badertscher's Dairy Farm In Fresno, California, 1954

SamoF82M4 Report

Throughout the past century, technological innovations have transformed our lives in ways we never dreamed of. Progressive ideas emerged and changed the world as women, African Americans, and the LGBTQ community demanded, and often won, equal rights; from the ratification of the 19th Amendment in the United States to the legalization of same-sex marriage in many countries. But recent civil rights conflicts tell us the fight for equality is not over.

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#5

A Native American Girl Of The Kiowa Tribe, Oklahoma, 1894

A Native American Girl Of The Kiowa Tribe, Oklahoma, 1894

froggysaysno Report

#6

My Great-Great-Grandmother Sometime In The 1890s

My Great-Great-Grandmother Sometime In The 1890s

hey123456789123 Report

The pandemic that began ravaging the world in 2020 reminds us that even though we can buy a ticket to go to space, we're still vulnerable to viruses that can shut down economies and disrupt society.

People are hoping science can save Earth from the devastating changes to the climate that continue to imperil the ecosystems of our planet. In the coming years, natural disasters may have an increasingly impactful role in the course of history. Who knows where we will end up in another 100.

#7

Protesting The High School Dress Code That Banned Slacks For Girls, Brooklyn C.1940

Protesting The High School Dress Code That Banned Slacks For Girls, Brooklyn C.1940

closecaxton Report

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#9

Gay Men Pose For A Photo While Being Detained At A Police Station For Being Homosexuals In Mexico, 1935

Gay Men Pose For A Photo While Being Detained At A Police Station For Being Homosexuals In Mexico, 1935

monderigon Report

#10

1945: The Day Daddy Came Home. Gunner Hector Murdoch Had Been Gone Over Four Years, Most Of It As A Prisoner Of War In Singapore. His Wife Rosina And Son John Hadn't Known If He Was Dead Or Alive. He Got Home On His Birthday

1945: The Day Daddy Came Home. Gunner Hector Murdoch Had Been Gone Over Four Years, Most Of It As A Prisoner Of War In Singapore. His Wife Rosina And Son John Hadn't Known If He Was Dead Or Alive. He Got Home On His Birthday

GaGator43 Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aaaaaw. Sweet homecoming. POW Singapore must have been a nightmare. Changi was brutal.

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#11

Dad Showing Off His Skill To The Surprise Of His Little Daughter In Melbourne, Australia, Ca. 1940s

Dad Showing Off His Skill To The Surprise Of His Little Daughter In Melbourne, Australia, Ca. 1940s

TynShouldHaveLived Report

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#12

London's First Black Police Officer, PC Norwell Roberts, On Point Duty Near Charing Cross Station, 1968

London's First Black Police Officer, PC Norwell Roberts, On Point Duty Near Charing Cross Station, 1968

Manipulatrix Report

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Stephen Branley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's definitely on point duty. That's a fantastic point he's got there.

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#13

This 1955 Photo Is One Of Walter Chandoha’s Most Famous Shots. “My Daughter Paula And The Kitten Both ‘Smiled’ For The Camera At The Same Time. …but The Cat’s Not Smiling, He’s Meowing”

This 1955 Photo Is One Of Walter Chandoha’s Most Famous Shots. “My Daughter Paula And The Kitten Both ‘Smiled’ For The Camera At The Same Time. …but The Cat’s Not Smiling, He’s Meowing”

panuchazo Report

#15

My Great Grandmother In The Early 1900’s. Thought She Looked Too Awesome Not To Share

My Great Grandmother In The Early 1900’s. Thought She Looked Too Awesome Not To Share

allerena85 Report

#16

My Parents’ Wedding Photo, Okinawa, 1964

My Parents’ Wedding Photo, Okinawa, 1964

reed555 Report

#17

My Grandpa (Left) And His Best Friend Willie Hall During The Korean War. Those Smiles Say It All

My Grandpa (Left) And His Best Friend Willie Hall During The Korean War. Those Smiles Say It All

lowrider4488 Report

#18

My Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Great-Great-Grandfather, And Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Ca 1918

My Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Great-Great-Grandfather, And Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Ca 1918

RckLbstr Report

#19

My Great-Grandfather That Was Too Poor To Afford A Suit In Sicily, So He Had To Pose In Front Of A Cardboard Cut-Out, 1930s~

My Great-Grandfather That Was Too Poor To Afford A Suit In Sicily, So He Had To Pose In Front Of A Cardboard Cut-Out, 1930s~

HappyyItalian Report

#21

My Grandmother And Mom Circa 1974. My Grandmother Took My Mother To National Parks Over The Course Of A Few Months, Just The Two Of Them

My Grandmother And Mom Circa 1974. My Grandmother Took My Mother To National Parks Over The Course Of A Few Months, Just The Two Of Them

mghobby68 Report

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#23

A Sailor "Meets" His Baby For The First Time After Fourteen Months At Sea, 1940s

A Sailor "Meets" His Baby For The First Time After Fourteen Months At Sea, 1940s

Anyoldcrap Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, some parenting lessons may be needed. Day One: How to Hold the Baby.

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#24

Grandma And Papa In 1937. She Passed Away Today At 100 Years Old

Grandma And Papa In 1937. She Passed Away Today At 100 Years Old

nosoup4me Report

#25

Last Picture Of My Great Uncle Kennith, Before He Drowned In The Buffalo River, 1940’s. He Gave His Life Saving My Grandpa

Last Picture Of My Great Uncle Kennith, Before He Drowned In The Buffalo River, 1940’s. He Gave His Life Saving My Grandpa

teenietina182 Report

#26

My Mother Made Us Matching Dresses For A Fancy Party Back In 1954

My Mother Made Us Matching Dresses For A Fancy Party Back In 1954

dittidot Report

#27

Saw This Photo Posted Here.. Noticed I Have The Photo The Grandmother Took That Day. (Bought At An Antique Shop Years Ago In Phx)

Saw This Photo Posted Here.. Noticed I Have The Photo The Grandmother Took That Day. (Bought At An Antique Shop Years Ago In Phx)

KSD4 Report

#28

A Parisian Woman With Her Cat In Her Cannabis Garden, 1910

A Parisian Woman With Her Cat In Her Cannabis Garden, 1910

FNaXQ Report

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Fish Boden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a cat. All I need now is the garden (and some law changes please).

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#29

This Is My Grandma Dorothy. She Was A Dress Designer In The 50s Which Always Made This Photo More Funny To Me. She Passed Away Today At Age 89. A Life Well Lived

This Is My Grandma Dorothy. She Was A Dress Designer In The 50s Which Always Made This Photo More Funny To Me. She Passed Away Today At Age 89. A Life Well Lived

crapidrawatwork Report

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NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of her more controversial designs! Needs shoulder straps...

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#30

Vintage Photo From A Family Album, Freeport, Il

Vintage Photo From A Family Album, Freeport, Il

Darkwater64 Report

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Alexandru Bucur
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides the obvious that he is a black man and she a white woman in the 1900s, when this required a lot of guts, I love the fact he's wearing puttees as part of civilian dress. This was pretty common before WW1. After the war... not so much.

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#31

Me And My Best Friend Rocky Watching TV, 1959

Me And My Best Friend Rocky Watching TV, 1959

marbleriver Report

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#33

A Mostly Happy Family Outing At Chicken Bone Beach, The Segregated Section Of Atlantic City's Beach Area, New Jersey, 1950s (Photographed By John W. Mosley)

A Mostly Happy Family Outing At Chicken Bone Beach, The Segregated Section Of Atlantic City's Beach Area, New Jersey, 1950s (Photographed By John W. Mosley)

Str33twise84 Report

#34

1976 vs. 2018; 42 Years And We're Still Going Strong

1976 vs. 2018; 42 Years And We're Still Going Strong

NoBallsNoBabies Report

#35

Young Oyster Shuckers, Port Royal, South Carolina, 1909

Young Oyster Shuckers, Port Royal, South Carolina, 1909

reddit.com Report

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Karl Baxter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crikey - the “thousand yard stare” at that young age. Life must have been tough for these girls.

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#36

Reddit Seems To Love My Taita (Grandma), So Here Is Another One Of Her From 1950’s Beirut

Reddit Seems To Love My Taita (Grandma), So Here Is Another One Of Her From 1950’s Beirut

afterlife121 Report

#37

The Wedding Rings Of My Ggm, Gggm, Ggggm, And Gggggm Oldest Dating Back To 1832!

The Wedding Rings Of My Ggm, Gggm, Ggggm, And Gggggm Oldest Dating Back To 1832!

FriendshipWaffles Report

#38

Police Officer Unaware Of The Imminent Danger, Chicago, 1959

Police Officer Unaware Of The Imminent Danger, Chicago, 1959

Slow-moving-sloth Report

#39

After Spending More Than Five Years In A North Vietnamese Camp, Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm Is Reunited With His Family At Travis Afb, March 13, 1973

After Spending More Than Five Years In A North Vietnamese Camp, Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm Is Reunited With His Family At Travis Afb, March 13, 1973

HellsJuggernaut Report

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Jo Morris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photo, called "Burst of Joy" won a Pulitzer prize. It has an unhappy ending though. According to Wikipedia "Despite outward appearances, the reunion was an unhappy one for Stirm. Three days before he arrived in the United States, the same day he was released from captivity, Stirm received a Dear John letter from his wife Loretta informing him that their marriage was over. Stirm later learned that Loretta had been with other men throughout his captivity, receiving marriage proposals from three of them. In 1974, the Stirms divorced and Loretta remarried, but Lieutenant Colonel Stirm was still ordered by the courts to provide her with 43% of his military retirement pay once he retired from the Air Force. Stirm was later promoted to full Colonel and retired from the Air Force in 1977."

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#40

My Grandpa’s Schoolhouse In Texas Ca. 1930’s. He Was Always Embarrassed Of This Picture Because He Was Too Poor To Afford Shoes

My Grandpa’s Schoolhouse In Texas Ca. 1930’s. He Was Always Embarrassed Of This Picture Because He Was Too Poor To Afford Shoes

thenewfrost Report

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Karl Baxter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad remembered going to school in Ireland in the early 1940s alongside kids with no shoes. Extreme poverty is more recent than you think.

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#41

Women Trainees Of The Lapd Practice Firing Their Newly Issued Revolvers, 1948

Women Trainees Of The Lapd Practice Firing Their Newly Issued Revolvers, 1948

WildeAquarius Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many woman had a job in WW2 but as soon as hubby came home they were sent back to being a housewife. I guess these women refused or are single.

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#42

Dublin, 1962

Dublin, 1962

notbob1959 Report

#44

Offerings To The Unknown Dead, Kyoto, Japan, 1963

Offerings To The Unknown Dead, Kyoto, Japan, 1963

deniscard Report

#45

The 70s Transition: My Parents In 1968 And Again In 1970

The 70s Transition: My Parents In 1968 And Again In 1970

Yoojay Report

#46

My American Grandmother Visiting Athens In The 1960s

My American Grandmother Visiting Athens In The 1960s

ferballz Report

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Sunshine Sunshine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such style in a lot of these pictures! Too bad nobody really dares to wear anymore

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#47

Listening To The Radio On The Beach, Circa 1940s

Listening To The Radio On The Beach, Circa 1940s

notbob1959 Report

#48

The Rolled-Stockings Trend Of The 1920's Brought On A Fad Of Hand-Painted Knees

The Rolled-Stockings Trend Of The 1920's Brought On A Fad Of Hand-Painted Knees

GaGator43 Report

#49

Class Divide In Britain, 1930's

Class Divide In Britain, 1930's

Noah_Fence-taken Report

#50

Me Ready For Friday Night Lights, 1969

Me Ready For Friday Night Lights, 1969

dittidot Report

Note: this post originally had 117 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.