There is something very special about old photos, a reminder that the past isn’t just the contents of your history books, but was populated by very real people. While we might tend to think of stuffy old portraits and photographs, the truth is that our ancestors were also at times unhinged, human and often quite relatable.
“The Way We Were” is an online group dedicated to sharing interesting vintage photos from the past. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
This post may include affiliate links.
Triplets Celebrating Their 80th Birthday Together
I love this. How awesome that they are all alive to celebrate 80 years!
Wow 80 I would of guessed about 65 yo, they look happy and healthy in both pictures
The baby photo reminds me so much of one of my pop and his twin. Don't have a photo of them at 80 though, as his twin died as an infant from 'failure to thrive' (most likely cystic fibrosis).
The Dutch Secret Resistance Cheering When They Found Out Hitler Has Been K**led, 1945
These days more than ever, truth and details matter. He was not K-i-l-l-e-d, he took himself out with a g-u-n-s-h-o-t to the head. Please don't censor or rewrite the truth.
Hey, killing Hitler was the best thing he ever did!
Load More Replies...Hitler ended his own life with a gunshot to the head. No one assassinated him. He took his own life with his own hand. Stop posting totally false information.
Yeah he killed himself so thus was killed why does everyone have their panties in a bunch over this?
Load More Replies...If headline had read they found out Hitler had died, that would have been true.
Mainstream history says he committed s*****e. Be careful, you might be considered conspiracist
hey, bp censor-put some one else in charge, and get the f--k back to choir practice ...where you belong!
My Grandmother On Her Wedding Day, 1931
Standing o a box so her Cathedral length veil can be seen properly, looked stunning going up the isle I bet
That was my first thought too. She’s obviously standing on a box or platform but the way this was taken makes her look about ten feet tall!🤣
Load More Replies...Vintage photos hold a special allure, enchanting people with a mix of nostalgia, mystery, and artistic charm. There's something incredibly captivating about peering into these old images, a visual time machine that transports you to eras long past, where every faded hue and grainy texture tells its own story.
Whether it's a candid snapshot from a family picnic decades ago or a meticulously posed portrait that exudes a formal elegance, these images have a way of stirring the imagination and evoking a sense of wonder at lives once lived.
My Grandfather And Great Grandmother, Mothers' Day 1946
This would have been the first Mother's Day after World War II. Imagine how joyous that must have been for so many. And the beginning of an awful yearly reminder for others. This right here is what joy looks like. Wonderful.
i can't really see them clearly, but i'm pretty sure i LOVE her shoes!
Unknown Lady Walking Down The Street In Harlem, NY, Late 1940s. A Men Stops And Looks At Her,
He's thinking, "She so fine!." He's pretty fine himself.
Load More Replies...They both look amazing. I'm telling you, Black people know how to look good!
Exactly. No one proofreads these days, or else they are too ignorant to know the difference.
Load More Replies...My Grandma In 1962, Eight Years Old
In those days (and I speak from experience) little girls still wore cute dresses.
One reason vintage photos are so beloved is that they offer a tangible connection to history. In an age where life is increasingly digital and fleeting, a tangible photograph serves as a personal relic of moments that may otherwise be forgotten. Looking at these images, people can almost feel the echoes of laughter and the warmth of long-gone family gatherings. They remind us that every wrinkle and crease in the image is a testament to the passage of time and the enduring nature of memories.
100th Birthday
She went through the civil war, the first world war, the great depression and the second world War. She saw and went through alot.
Her names was Ella McGavoc. Born into slavery in 1848. Lived to the age of 101. 241914599_...94cb8.jpeg
My husband's aunt lived to the age of 104. It is astounding how much the world changed during that time. Miss Ella could have written a book about the events she experienced.
My Grandmother’s Modeling Photos 1940s-50s
THIS is modeling, not the rubbish we get today! How did we lose this art.
Princess Ileana Of Romania, Circa 1930
She has my texture hair. And yet she manages to look utterly exquisite- while I try not to look like a permed disentitled capybara!
The charm of vintage photos also lies in their artistic quality. Long before the era of high-definition cameras and digital editing, photographers had to rely on careful timing, natural light, and an innate sense of composition. The result is a style that feels authentic and unvarnished, a raw slice of reality that modern technology often smooths over.
Canada's First Nations People - 1910
Before we stole their lands and their children and put them in residential schools. I'm proud of my country but definitely not proud of how we treated our First Nations people.
Every country has been stolen by someone else at some point in history.
Load More Replies...I really love old pictures of the First Nations people. They and their culture have always fascinated me!
We Laid My Grandpa To Rest This Week At The Age Of 101. This Is One Of My Favorite Photos Of Him From His Time In The Navy
RIP sir, and thank you for your service. I have nothing but respect for veterans; I have nothing but disrespect for the politicians in charge of them.
My Grandparents On Their Wedding Night, October 1962
She looks excited and happy I think. He looks like a man about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime and a bit apprehensive about how well it is going to turn out.
The imperfections, from the subtle scratches on the photo paper to the slightly off-center framing, lend these images a character and authenticity that resonates deeply with those who appreciate the beauty of imperfection. Moreover, vintage photos inspire curiosity by inviting viewers to fill in the missing pieces of the story. Who were the people in these photos? What were their dreams, struggles, and joys?
My Great Grandad At 43 In The 1950s
Whelp, I'm happily married for almost 20 years, and I gotta say "WOWZA." What a dreamboat. Lordy. Hope he was as nice as he was handsome.
My Grandma With Me In My Swanky Panorama Pram, 1976
Snazzy! Great pic. 12 years earlier, my Mum and I were pretty stylin' in black and white. Rhonda-and...944493.jpg
Me in a baby carriage, pre-stroller days, with my mom. 1955 955-mom-me...00b733.jpg
With all the photos there are of prams etc I've never seen one like that before.
Load More Replies...My Grandmother Holding My Father In Mogadishu, Somalia 1971
I don't want to cause any GD controversy, but maybe try AI on the photo. Sorry in advance
Load More Replies...She is so pretty and he is a little darling! Her dress sis amazing!
The absence of context sparks endless speculation, turning every photo into a delightful puzzle waiting to be solved. It’s a bit like reading a mystery novel where the protagonist is lost to time, and the only clues are the expressions and settings captured on film. This sense of mystery, combined with the nostalgic pull, creates an irresistible attraction.
Cops Arresting A Drunk Dude In A Skeleton Costume 1950
The cops look like normal people rather than freakish, steroid enhanced bodybuilders.
My Great Grandma Took A Mirror Selfie (NYC, 1960s)
The more I look at this, the more I realize it's not really a mirror selfie (my pic, not the posting). But it is still a '70s selfie!
Load More Replies...My German Mother In 1938, Just Before Wwii
Things were already rough for many in Germany.
Load More Replies...1938 in Germany would have been a sad place, just like the US today.
Load More Replies...Socially, these photos forge connections across generations. They serve as bridges between grandparents, parents, and children, linking the past with the present. When you see a vintage photo of your own family, it’s as if you can momentarily step into the lives of those who came before you.
July 1973: A Mother Cooking Out In Toronto, Ontario, Canada
My Great-Great-Great Grandmother. Born 1840
Surprised OP didn't mention her name: Angelina Mary Jacques Dubay (Reverse image search) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50019871/angelina-mary-dubay
My Mother Turns 70 Monday. Got My Favorite Pictures Of Her Together For A Celebration
Even if you weren’t around to witness their world firsthand, you get a glimpse of how life was once lived, sometimes simpler, sometimes more challenging, but always rich with meaning and love. Ultimately, the love for vintage photos comes down to their ability to evoke both sentimental warmth and playful curiosity.
My Mother, 20, Posing In Her White Satin Gown On Her Wedding Day. 1947
Happy Birthday To My Sister Who Turns 29 For The 41st Time Today!1963 Virginia
My mom made it to her 29 and 600 month birthday. Never chose to celebrate turning 30.
My Mom turned 29 until I (youngest of 4) turned 29. So she started turning 39. When I hit 39, she was 70. Good enough to talk about her real age. 🤗
She looks a lot like my mum, who looked only a few years older in her wedding photos, though she was 18.
Woman Poses For Her Photo In A Very Fine Dress, During The Late 1890s. Love The Feather In Back Of Her Head
They are little treasures that remind us of who we once were, the eras we’ve passed through, and the enduring charm of a moment captured in time. In a fast-paced modern world, taking a moment to look at a vintage photograph feels like savoring a rare, precious bite of history, a reminder that life, with all its imperfections and fleeting moments, can be beautiful, nostalgic, and endlessly intriguing.
My Dad Fought Nazis From 1942-1945
My father was on a sabbatical from the seminary and drafted prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and finished his service after VJ Day. He was in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Southern France. Our family has a fierce hatred of Nazis, especially the homegrown variety.
My grandfathers fought N@zis too, and would be appalled that too many of their descendants decided to elect one. Fvck trump. Fvck vance. Fvck elon. Refuse, Resist.
America was of the "meh, it's over there" mindset before Pearl Harbor.
Load More Replies...Playing Dress-Up At Grandma’s House, 1960s
Hot Potato Vendor 1892
One of my fondest memories is of that in my youth on the beaches of Chile and the men on their refrigerator trikes, cruising up and down the beach calling out, "Elado!!! Elado!!!". I'd love to tell you about the fishermen.
Load More Replies...That is quite the sight! Kind of terrifying. I worked for a fast-food mall place called Potato Delight here in Scarborough (Ontario, Canada) in the '80s. Yup, nothing but freshly baked potatoes with dozens of topping choices. Delicious smell to work with all afternoon! Long gone now. We didn't know how good we had it.
This used to be a big thing. Potatoes were cheap, hot, and filling street food
He doesn't have dishes for the potatoes. I wonder how people took them away?
Another One Of My Grandmother, With My Dad’s Older Sister, Ca. 1934
My Mom, Born In 1928 And In This Pic Maybe She's 3 Or 4? Still Have Her Necklace
My Lolo And Lola During Their Wedding Day 1958 And I Picture I Took Of Them
Can anyone help? I'm assuming "lola" and "lolo" is aunt and uncle?
Lola and lolo mean grandmother and grandfather. Tita and tito are aunt and uncle :)
Load More Replies...Big Smile For The Photographer From This Smartly Dressed Woman. Was This A Fashion Look During Ww2? Certainly Is Mid 1940s
My Parents Wedding, September 1961, Tehran, Iran
Umm, congrats? I'm sure they were lovely folks, just not used to seeing both parties at a wedding look so darn scared, lol.
Notice that she's not covering her hair. Iran whent backwards.
Prince's Mother, Mattie Shaw, Stands By Prince At His Crib In October 1958, When He Was Four Months Old. Prince Kept This Photo In His Vault
Men's Catalog, 1970's
I love how they are unbuttoned to show off the masculine chest hair. Young people today can't believe that was considered s**y then. It always changes.
I had a pair of those high waisted trousers and the platform shoes as well. Thought I was the bees knees.
It's like any second kung-fu fighting will break out every where. (A little bit frightening.)
Dude on the left looks pretty angry. You'd think those pretty roses on his shirt would calm him down.
Men had to maintain their waistlines to wear these fashions. These models look very fine.
1962 My Mom’s Bridesmaids Carried Grapes
If real grapes, I'd be holding just the stem by the end of the ceremony, lol
For all we know the bridesmaid desses could be yellow or champagne or anything bright. The photo is black and white...
Load More Replies...The Faces Of 1870s Egypt
Belongs on one of those "accidental renaissance" posts
Load More Replies...My Grandma Enjoying Her Records In The 50s. Check Out Her Poodle Skirt!
Love it! My mom had a poodle skirt too, and made miniature versions for my sister and me.
My Grandma And My Mom, 1968. My Mom Was 10 And My Grandma Was 34
My Sweet Grandmother, Sylvia, Aged 3
My grandmother was also named Sylvia. This is her at about 3. Sylvia-Tur...3-jpeg.jpg
Merry Christmas Baby 1969
Texas Children Going To School During The Dust Bowl In 1936. Face Coverings Are To Prevent Sand Pneumonia
I'm currently reading a novel set in that era and it reads so like the beginning of the apocalypse I have to keep reminding myself what sort of book I'm reading.
Load More Replies...A friend told me his mother would tell him how terrible the Dust Bowl was in Amarillo. As a kid, he thought she was exaggerating. As he got older and read more about the subject, he realized she was actually downplaying the experience. She was listening to FDR speak from the back of a train when it began to rain and that was the beginning of the end.
My Father, At Left, With His Buddies, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Circa 1950
My Dad's School Report From 1957, Aged 7
As a teacher, I can say Richard was an artistic and playful boy. His writing and reading classes must have been horrible for him. Also, the teacher had beautiful handwriting...
Did they point out the teachers error in using to instead of too?
Looks like my school report card. I have AuDHD but only just found out at age 50.
When my mum died we found a school report of one of her much younger brothers from fifty odd years before. Oh my, his teachers didn't hold back. They absolutely tore his efforts apart, really quite nasty comments. I believe my mum may well have intercepted the report and kept it from my rather ferocious Grandfather, but I have no proof of that.
Wow! 🤯 I can't believe she said his progress will always be slow. How mean!
My Grandma And Grandpa Around 1977
My Grandmother At Twenty Years Old In 1926
My Mom In The Mid 1970s
My Grandparents During Their Wedding, 1947
Some of the women look like they're dressed for a funeral not a wedding.
Maybe the bridesmaids wore brighter colours, and the mothers of the brides wore darker? Or they were widows and in mourning? Just absolute random guesses but would be interested to know the actual reason, looks very formal and expensive so the clothes would have been very important
Load More Replies...Giles Edmund Newsom, Photographed On October 23, 1912
Giles was injured while working in sanders spinning mill in North Carolina. A piece of machinery fell on his foot, mashing his toe. This caused him to fall onto a spinning machine crushing and tearing out two fingers.
Poor lad. And to consider that spinning mills were considered "adequate" workplaces for boys under 1912 laws.
Horrific. He looks to still be in shock and probably lots of pain. Other than morphine, pain relievers weren't a thing back then.
And now the GOP is making noises about bringing child labor back. Project 2025
You can read about him and other child workers photographed by Lewis Hine at https://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/12/29/giles-newsom/
This is what the gop wants to bring back. Children working in factories. Texas and Florida already passed bills allowing children to work even on school days, on night shifts.
He looks like he is in a great deal of pain. Pictures of children working in mills and mines always make me sad. Thank goodness our kids don't have to go to work so young anymore!
If the GOP gets its way kids will be working like this again.
Load More Replies...And Arkansas, Florida and other states of the old confederacy want to bring child labour back.
they are trying to make up for not being able to have slaves
Load More Replies...My Grandma & Grandad Married On 9/11/49. This Is On Their Honeymoon
I perceive that they may not have wanted their picture taken at that moment. They seem like they were in the middle of a conversation and caught off guard by the camera if not averse to having their photo taken at that moment.
Load More Replies...21 To 79
Is this supposed to say, "21 in '79"? That hair just doesn't gel with my memories of that era.
Coal Miner With His Daughter. He Has Just Gotten Home From His Job As A Conveyor Belt Operator In A Non-Union Mine. West Virginia, 1970s
That’s an incredibly difficult and stressful job. My paternal grandfather’s father was a coal miner and did experience black lung shortly before he died for other reasons unrelated to black lung. I can only imagine what he had to go through that he didn’t recount to my great-grandmother or their children!
My Grandmother And Her 4 Daughters In 1942. My Grandfather Was A Pow Of The Japanese When This Photo Was Taken, And He Had Never Met The Baby, My Mother, B. May 1941
He did! And went on to live many years, there's more info from OP on reddit
Load More Replies...Just Some Friends Goofing Around In The 1890s
My Great Grandmother At Age 20. August 1920, San Francisco
Dear Nonna, I Will Miss You
My Paternal Grandmother During Her Flapper Stage
A Family Picture Of A Married Couple With 11 Children (1954)
My mom came from a family of 11 kids. It was obvious that they didn't have television!
It was apparent they didn't have birth control.
Load More Replies...At least they all look relatively cheerful, unlike most of the double figures family line ups
My Mom On Her Wedding Day. June 22, 1971
All The Women And Men I Descend From, Of Whom Photos Exist
The Old "Look" Of Pizza Hunt In The 1970s. Had A Very Rustic Interior
I love that typo. I would definitely go to a place called Pizza Hunt, lol! And what on earth is the girl eating while they're all admiring the garlic bread or whatever, a sandwich and chips?
My sister hated pizza as a kid. We would always send her with a sandwich.
Load More Replies...Such danger, serving hot pizza and everyone is drenched in polyester.
I don't know if I would call it "rustic." The decor was kind of dark. I can still see the dark red plastic cups. It was uniquely "pizza hut."
Portraits From A 50s-60s Family Stash, Egypt
These Are More Pics Of The Siblings In My Last Post. 70s-80s. Mostly Starring My Late Mother Margaret
I remember those cushions too. Did we grow up together?
Load More Replies...Two Of My Grandmother’s Cousins: Isa And Reanna (Italy, 1950s)
Click on the name directly under the photo, it's a link and will show the other photo.
Load More Replies...Grandparents On Their Wedding Day
My Grandma's High School Graduation Photos. 1944
My Great Grandmother On Her Wedding Day In 1945 & Today! (Age 98)
And here's the lovely lady at 98 just two months ago! Great-gran...216a0.jpeg
My Mom Had To Pose With All Four Of Us In One Passport Photo Since We Were Under Five Years Old (1965)
Neat! I had to pose with my Dad in 1968 when I was 4. Handsome dude, eh? He was a musician. Can't you just hear that shirt? 1968-Dad-a...8875d6.jpg
My Favorite Pictures Of My Great-Grandpa
My Great Grandparents In 1924
A Us Soldier And His Girlfriend Waiting For A Train At Chicago Union Station In February, 1943
Two Photos Of My Great-Aunt Africa González About Five Years Apart, Ca. 1900-1905
Click the link to see the first photo of this lady and her hat!
And here she is! That is an outstanding hat, didn't want folks to miss it. Africa-Gon...ede61.jpeg
Me With My Maternal Grandmother In 1945 In Fishkill, New York -- 80 Years Ago
1970’s. My Mom And Her 3 Siblings Had A Picture Book Made By Their Grandparents While Sitting For The Weekend
My Grandparents Back In The Day And At Their 50th Anniversary Party
Stylish! And here's the 50th anniversary party. Not sure how happy they were, but by golly, they lasted 50 darn years. Grandparen...b-jpeg.jpg
1940s Highschool Prom Photos. I Am Surprised With How Formal It Is, A Black Tie Event In Some
I hope they don't rent taxes but I think guys do still rent tuxedos.
Load More Replies...Getting real 'Shining' vibes w/ this one. I have 'moonlight with the stars and you' stuck in my head now!
me too - i was checking for Jack. he's always been the caretaker....
Load More Replies...And all the ladies are fully dressed! Today's prom dresses look like the wearers are strippers.
My Grandma On Her Wedding Day 1967
My 8th Birthday, January 1966
Bet that Beatles game in the background would be worth a pretty penny today.
Funny you should mention that 'cause here it is! Okay, probably not the same guy, but here's one that showed up on P**n Stars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNc-qheM46k
Load More Replies...My 8th birthday was in 1966. I had that jumper too. And a brother. Still got one of them...😂
Venice Beach California During The Late 1970s Roller Skate Craze. Still Has Some 70s Vibe But You Can Feel The 80s Coming
Chrismas Shots Of Women With Their Trees Circa Late 1950s Early 1960
Ted Bundy Lineup Murray Utah (With My Grandpa!)
Wild! Ted Bundy's the second from the right. Grandpa (aka Officer Elray James Dow) is third from the left. Family colourized the original when they found out about the story in 2011.
Lots of fun! I just wish we didn't have to dig for the other pictures on the posts with more than one ("Here's my Granny as a baby and 100!"). I filled in some gaps with the ones I enjoyed seeing. Overall, loads of "new" old pics, so I won't be too choosy. Thank you!
My mom (who died almost 5 years ago) and dad (died 2000) at some Easter in the 60's. I wish you all could have known her. 20201010_1...4a8ced.jpg
Well, we've met her now and she looks like a delight! I shall keep her and this magnificent hat in my memory forever. Your handsome Dad looks pretty smitten too.
Load More Replies...This is my grandmother when she graduated from her deportment class, in the 40s. I've always loved this picture. Sylvie-dep...e44b42.jpg
Deportment class, nice. Boy, could we use those again, eh? The hair, the gloves, the turned-out toes, just perfect.
Load More Replies...Lots of fun! I just wish we didn't have to dig for the other pictures on the posts with more than one ("Here's my Granny as a baby and 100!"). I filled in some gaps with the ones I enjoyed seeing. Overall, loads of "new" old pics, so I won't be too choosy. Thank you!
My mom (who died almost 5 years ago) and dad (died 2000) at some Easter in the 60's. I wish you all could have known her. 20201010_1...4a8ced.jpg
Well, we've met her now and she looks like a delight! I shall keep her and this magnificent hat in my memory forever. Your handsome Dad looks pretty smitten too.
Load More Replies...This is my grandmother when she graduated from her deportment class, in the 40s. I've always loved this picture. Sylvie-dep...e44b42.jpg
Deportment class, nice. Boy, could we use those again, eh? The hair, the gloves, the turned-out toes, just perfect.
Load More Replies...
