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The 1970s are often associated with Vietnam and Watergate, but there was also plenty of glamor between the wild fashion, TV stars like Farrah Fawcett, and the disco era.

So to get a better image of the decade, let's take a look at the aptly-titled Instagram account, 70s Archives. It shares photos that show not only how people looked in the period, but also what they were passionate about and how they spent their days.

After all, nothing paints a better picture of a place in time than those who inhabit it.

More info: Instagram

#1

Robin Williams As The First Male Cheerleader For The Denver Broncos, 1979

Robin Williams As The First Male Cheerleader For The Denver Broncos, 1979

70sarchives Report

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cheryll_veloria avatar
May light defeat the darkness
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I felt my heart ache when I came across this picture. Humanity needs beautiful people like Robin Williams.

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#2

“The Right Man For The Job May Be A Woman” - Ruth Gordon Schnapp, The First Woman To Be Licensed As A Structural Engineer In California, Late 1970s

“The Right Man For The Job May Be A Woman” - Ruth Gordon Schnapp, The First Woman To Be Licensed As A Structural Engineer In California, Late 1970s

70sarchives Report

In some ways, the 1970s was a continuation of the 1960s: marginalized people continued their fight for equality, and many Americans joined the protest against the ongoing war in Vietnam.

However, the decade was at the same time a repudiation of the 1960s: there was a mobilization to defend political conservatism and traditional family roles, and the behavior of President Richard Nixon undermined many people's faith in the good intentions of the federal government.

By the end of the decade, these divisions and disappointments had set a tone for public life that many would argue still remains with us today.

#3

Dolly Parton In 1976

Dolly Parton In 1976

70sarchives Report

#4

A Young Boy’s Reaction To Meeting André The Giant, 1970s

A Young Boy’s Reaction To Meeting André The Giant, 1970s

70sarchives Report

#5

Tim Curry As Dr. Frank-N-Furter In The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Tim Curry As Dr. Frank-N-Furter In The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

70sarchives Report

Many Americans, particularly working class and middle class whites, responded to the turbulence of the late 1960s along with its urban riots and counterculture by embracing a new kind of conservative populism.

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Sick and tired of what they interpreted as spoiled hippies and whining protestors, and an interfering government that, in their eyes, coddled poor people and black people at taxpayer expense, these individuals formed what political strategists called a "silent majority."

#6

Thomas Carey At San Diego's Gay Pride Day, 1978

Thomas Carey At San Diego's Gay Pride Day, 1978

70sarchives Report

#7

Freddie Mercury Of Queen In 1977. Photographed By Neal Preston

Freddie Mercury Of Queen In 1977. Photographed By Neal Preston

70sarchives Report

#8

Cher In A Photoshoot For Her 1974 Album “Dark Lady” (By Richard Avedon)

Cher In A Photoshoot For Her 1974 Album “Dark Lady” (By Richard Avedon)

70sarchives Report

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This silent majority swept President Richard Nixon into office in 1968, and almost immediately, Nixon began to dismantle the welfare state that had fostered such resentment.

He abolished as many parts of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty as he could, and made a show of his resistance to mandatory school desegregation plans such as busing.

However, some of Nixon’s domestic policies sound remarkably liberal even today.

#9

Harrison Ford In The Late 70s

Harrison Ford In The Late 70s

70sarchives Report

#10

David Bowie In Paris, 1977 (By Christian Simonpietri)

David Bowie In Paris, 1977 (By Christian Simonpietri)

70sarchives Report

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For example, he proposed a Family Assistance Plan that would have guaranteed every American family an income of $1,600 a year (about $10,000 in today's money), and he urged Congress to pass a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan that would have guaranteed affordable health care to all Americans.

In general, though, Nixon’s policies favored the interests of the middle class people who felt slighted by the Great Society of the 1960s.

#12

Lynda Carter As Wonder Woman 1975

Lynda Carter As Wonder Woman 1975

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#13

Jamie Lee Curtis Recreating The Iconic Shower Scene From The Movie “Psycho” (1960) That Starred Her Mother, Janet Leigh

Jamie Lee Curtis Recreating The Iconic Shower Scene From The Movie “Psycho” (1960) That Starred Her Mother, Janet Leigh

70sarchives Report

#14

Freddie Mercury Of Queen Wearing A Crown Backstage At Slane Castle, Ireland, 1986 (Photographed By Denis O’regan)

Freddie Mercury Of Queen Wearing A Crown Backstage At Slane Castle, Ireland, 1986 (Photographed By Denis O’regan)

70sarchives Report

#15

Lisa & Louise Burns, Aka The Grady Twins From The Shining (1980), Posing In Their Costumes Outside The Wardrobe Department On Set

Lisa & Louise Burns, Aka The Grady Twins From The Shining (1980), Posing In Their Costumes Outside The Wardrobe Department On Set

70sarchives Report

As the 1970s carried on, some of these people helped shape a new political movement known as the 'New Right.'

This movement, rooted in the suburban Sun Belt, celebrated the free market and lamented the decline of "traditional" social values and roles, resisting what they saw as government meddling.

For instance, they fought against high taxes, environmental regulations, highway speed limits, national park policies in the West (the so-called “Sagebrush Rebellion”), and affirmative action and school desegregation plans. 

#16

Behind The Scenes From “Jaws” (1975)

Behind The Scenes From “Jaws” (1975)

70sarchives Report

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kafexep407 avatar
Toolkit
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just kidding around in a shark mouth. No big deal.

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#18

A Wedding Party In Harlem, New York City, 1983 (By Thomas Hoepker)

A Wedding Party In Harlem, New York City, 1983 (By Thomas Hoepker)

70sarchives Report

#19

Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants In The 70s

Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants In The 70s

70sarchives Report

But during the 1970s, many Americans continued to fight for expanded social and political rights. In 1972, after years of feminist campaigns, Congress approved the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution, which says: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

At first, it seemed that the Amendment would pass easily as 22 of the necessary 38 states ratified it right away. The remaining states seemed close behind, however, the ERA alarmed many conservative activists, who feared that it would undermine traditional gender roles. So these activists mobilized against the Amendment and managed to defeat it—in 1977, Indiana became the 35th–and last–state to ratify the ERA.

Such disappointments encouraged many activists to turn away from politics. They began to build feminist communities and organizations of their own: art galleries and bookstores, consciousness-raising groups, daycare and women’s health collectives (such as the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, which published “Our Bodies, Ourselves” in 1973), and abortion clinics.

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#21

Young Princess Diana, 1970s

Young Princess Diana, 1970s

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kafexep407 avatar
Toolkit
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's princess Diana?! Unrecognizable... but like always so awesome ♥

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#22

New York City, 1975 (By Joel Meyerowitz)

New York City, 1975 (By Joel Meyerowitz)

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#23

Paul, Mary, & Heather Mccartney In Scotland, 1970 (Photographed By Linda Mccartney)

Paul, Mary, & Heather Mccartney In Scotland, 1970 (Photographed By Linda Mccartney)

70sarchives Report

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patriciaorourke29 avatar
Irishwoman abroad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now those are more like the everyday clothes people wore! What a nice, happy photo of Paul.

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Fashion in the 1970s was a reflection of social life, and focused heavily on individuality. In fact, it was so varied and experimental that Vogue famously proclaimed, "There are no rules in the fashion game now."

From flares and bell sleeves to shearling coats and miniskirts, the era gave birth to an eclectic style that also helped the rise of disco.

#24

Robin Williams, 1977

Robin Williams, 1977

70sarchives Report

#25

Liza Minnelli And Carrie Fisher At Studio 54 In New York (1970s)

Liza Minnelli And Carrie Fisher At Studio 54 In New York (1970s)

70sarchives Report

#27

Susan Sarandon In The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Susan Sarandon In The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

70sarchives Report

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#29

Anjelica Huston Modeling At Halston's Fall Ready-To-Wear Collection In 1972

Anjelica Huston Modeling At Halston's Fall Ready-To-Wear Collection In 1972

70sarchives Report

#31

David Bowie And Elizabeth Taylor In 1975 (By Terry O’neill)

David Bowie And Elizabeth Taylor In 1975 (By Terry O’neill)

70sarchives Report

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debbiebarnes66 avatar
Debbie Barnes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this photo and never knew that Elizabeth Taylor had met Bowie, never mind had a photo took together... Love this! :)

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#32

Lombard Street In San Francisco, California, 1975

Lombard Street In San Francisco, California, 1975

70sarchives Report

#33

High School Fashion, 1969 (By Arthur Schatz)

High School Fashion, 1969 (By Arthur Schatz)

70sarchives Report

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sae84 avatar
Bored Retsuko
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Friendly reminder: downvotes are NOT dislike buttons. Downvoting a comment just because you don't agree = not cool. If a comment gets downvoted, its author will get banned from the site. So please downvote only in case of obvious spam ("how to make cash") or if someone is literally harrassing a fellow panda

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#34

Jessica Lange, 1970s

Jessica Lange, 1970s

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was incredibly talented, but I think was handled all wrong by her agent. Then again, that always was—-and often still is—-the case for women in that industry.

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#35

Jamie Lee Curtis At Home With Her Mother, Janet Leigh, In 1978

Jamie Lee Curtis At Home With Her Mother, Janet Leigh, In 1978

70sarchives Report

#36

“A Day Without Lesbians Is Like A Day Without Sunshine.” Gay Freedom Day Parade, San Francisco, 1979

“A Day Without Lesbians Is Like A Day Without Sunshine.” Gay Freedom Day Parade, San Francisco, 1979

70sarchives Report

#37

Billie Perkins, Jodie Foster, & Robert De Niro On The Set Of Taxi Driver In 1975

Billie Perkins, Jodie Foster, & Robert De Niro On The Set Of Taxi Driver In 1975

70sarchives Report

#38

Elton John Posing After Having A Star Dedicated To Him On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame, 1975 (By Jeff Robbins)

Elton John Posing After Having A Star Dedicated To Him On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame, 1975 (By Jeff Robbins)

70sarchives Report

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#39

Kate Bush Dressed As A Bat, 1978

Kate Bush Dressed As A Bat, 1978

70sarchives Report

#40

Bill Clinton & Hillary Rodham At Yale Law School In New Haven, Ct In 1971

Bill Clinton & Hillary Rodham At Yale Law School In New Haven, Ct In 1971

70sarchives Report

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nicolaroberts avatar
Nicola Roberts
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This feels like I'm looking a picture of my parents. In other words it's hard to believe they were ever that young.

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#41

A Woman At A Rolling Stones Concert In Hyde Park, London, 1969 (Photo By Ian Harris)

A Woman At A Rolling Stones Concert In Hyde Park, London, 1969 (Photo By Ian Harris)

70sarchives Report

#42

Dolly Parton Performing At Wbap's Country Gold Anniversary Event In Texas, 1974

Dolly Parton Performing At Wbap's Country Gold Anniversary Event In Texas, 1974

70sarchives Report

#43

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta At The Grease Premiere Party, 1978 (By Brad Elterman)

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta At The Grease Premiere Party, 1978 (By Brad Elterman)

70sarchives Report

#44

Woman Covering Her Husband’s Eyes At Sight Of Young Woman Taking Off Her Top On The Beach In France, 1974

Woman Covering Her Husband’s Eyes At Sight Of Young Woman Taking Off Her Top On The Beach In France, 1974

70sarchives Report

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Fred Van Der Zee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Boredpanda Covering Their Readers' Eyes At Sight Of Photo of Young Woman Taking Off Her Top On The Beach In France, 2022"

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#45

“Women Enjoy The Benefits Of A Heated Whirlpool In Saint Petersburg, Florida, 1973.” (Photographed By Jonathan Blair For National Geographic)

“Women Enjoy The Benefits Of A Heated Whirlpool In Saint Petersburg, Florida, 1973.” (Photographed By Jonathan Blair For National Geographic)

70sarchives Report

#46

VW Beetles On A New York Port Authority Parking Lot, 1973 (Photo By Jp Laffont)

VW Beetles On A New York Port Authority Parking Lot, 1973 (Photo By Jp Laffont)

70sarchives Report

#47

Audrey Hepburn At Her Rented Beach House In Tuscany, 1972 (Luca Dotti)

Audrey Hepburn At Her Rented Beach House In Tuscany, 1972 (Luca Dotti)

70sarchives Report

#48

The Crowd At A LED Zeppelin Concert In Oakland, California, 1977 (By Kevin C. Goff)

The Crowd At A LED Zeppelin Concert In Oakland, California, 1977 (By Kevin C. Goff)

70sarchives Report

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#49

Some Of Andy Warhol’s Polaroid Pictures From The 70s 80s

Some Of Andy Warhol’s Polaroid Pictures From The 70s 80s

70sarchives Report

#50

Pink Floyd's “Wish You Were Here” Album Cover Outtakes, 1975

Pink Floyd's “Wish You Were Here” Album Cover Outtakes, 1975

70sarchives Report

Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.