The “Vintage Daily” Instagram Account Posts Old Photos You Rarely See In History Books, And Here Are 50 Really Memorable Ones
We explore the past to understand the present. And pictures can help us tremendously. However, even though textbooks and other sources use images to illustrate the history they're talking about, we often focus on the written content instead.
Now don't take this as a critique of the practice, but let's switch things up a bit and take a look at the Instagram account 'Vintage Daily.'
It shares lesser-known visuals to shed new light on people and events from earlier times, providing a sneak peek into moments that might've been forgotten had it not been for photographers who decided to immortalize them.
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Mother And Daughter In New York City, 1970
Afro! 😍😍 I used to have hair as thick as the mum's (okay, not as long, but longer than the girl's) and I would just comb out and go, feeling like a goddess. Now, I have dreadlocks and gee, am I slaying it. Enjoyed the Afro, now enjoying the dreadlocks.
The Beauty Of A Woman
But why bother with history in the first place? Well, Peter N. Stearns, a professor at George Mason University, said that it's vital to our lives even though we like to live in the present and plan for the future.
"In the first place, history offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave," Stearns wrote. "Understanding the operations of people and societies is difficult, though a number of disciplines make the attempt. An exclusive reliance on current data would needlessly handicap our efforts. How can we evaluate war if the nation is at peace—unless we use historical materials? How can we understand genius, the influence of technological innovation, or the role that beliefs play in shaping family life, if we don't use what we know about experiences in the past?"
Paris, Circa 1951
“I Showed Freddie A Picture Of Marlene Dietrich From Shanghai Express And He Loved It.” – Mick Rock (Freddie Mercury And Queen Photographed By Mick Rock, London, 1974)
I Love Audrey So Much. Seeing Her Smile Literally Brightens Up My Day
The professor highlighted that some social scientists attempt to formulate laws or theories about human behavior but even these recourses depend on historical information, except for in limited, often artificial cases in which experiments can be devised to determine how people act.
"Major aspects of a society's operation, like mass elections, missionary activities, or military alliances, cannot be set up as precise experiments. Consequently, history must serve, however imperfectly, as our laboratory, and data from the past must serve as our most vital evidence in the unavoidable quest to figure out why our complex species behaves as it does in societal settings."
This, fundamentally, is why we can not stay away from history, Stearns said. "It offers the only extensive evidential base for the contemplation and analysis of how societies function, and people need to have some sense of how societies function simply to run their own lives."
RuPaul And Nirvana Backstage At The Mtv Music Awards, 1993
Protest
Us conservatives decided that they have the power to control wombs. How we love the sweet smell of American freedom....
Audrey Hepburn And Her Dog Mr. Famous Photographed By Sid Avery, 1957
The second reason history is inescapable as a subject of serious study stems from the first. "The past causes the present, and so the future," Stearns said. "Any time we try to know why something happened—whether a shift in political party dominance in the American Congress, a major change in the teenage suicide rate, or a war in the Balkans or the Middle East—we have to look for factors that took shape earlier."
Sometimes fairly recent history will suffice to explain a major development, but we often need to backtrack more to identify the causes of change.
"Only through studying history can we grasp how things change; only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors that cause change; and only through history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society persist despite change."
Marilyn Monroe And Jane Russell On Set Of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953
Sophia Loren Photographed By Ormond Gigli, Circa 1955
Queen On The Set Of The “I Want To Break Free” Music Video, 1984
Highschool Photos Of Meryl Streep!
History well told — either through text, pictures, or any other medium — is beautiful. Many historians know the importance of dramatic and skillful writing (as well as of accuracy). They understand that with proper form they can transform a seemingly "dry" unappealing story to something that deeply moves the general public.
"Biography and military history appeal in part because of the tales they contain," Stearns said. "History as art and entertainment serves a real purpose, on aesthetic grounds but also on the level of human understanding. Stories well done are stories that reveal how people and societies have actually functioned, and they prompt thoughts about the human experience in other times and places."
"The same aesthetic and humanistic goals inspire people to immerse themselves in efforts to reconstruct quite remote pasts, far removed from immediate, present-day utility," the historian explained.
A Crow Lighting The Cigarette Of Tippi Hedren On The Set Of “The Birds” (Dir. By Alfred Hitchcock), 1963
Marlene Dietrich Kissing A Soldier Returning From Wwii, 1945
I wonder if the soldiers holding her up from below are even happier than the guy getting kissed? Yes, I'm a dirty old man
Young Slash
Hedy Lamarr In Ziegfeld Girl, 1941 directed By Robert Z. Leonard
History also provides a bridge to moral contemplation. Studying the stories of individuals and situations they've been in the past, whether we're talking about the Queen or Heath Ledger, allows us to test our own moral sense, to hone it against some of the real complexities people have faced in difficult settings.
"People who have weathered adversity not just in some work of fiction, but in real, historical circumstances can provide inspiration. 'History teaching by example' is one phrase that describes this use of a study of the past—a study not only of certifiable heroes, the great men and women of history who successfully worked through moral dilemmas, but also of more ordinary people who provide lessons in courage, diligence, or constructive protest."
Capri, Italy, 1949
Young Heath Ledger
The Man Who Fell To Earth, 1976
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (Lady Gaga), 1998
History also helps people to find their identity, and this is actually one of the reasons why modern nations continue to encourage its teaching in some form.
"Historical data include evidence about how families, groups, institutions, and whole countries were formed and about how they have evolved while retaining cohesion. For many Americans, studying the history of one's own family is the most obvious use of history, for it provides facts about genealogy and (at a slightly more complex level) a basis for understanding how the family has interacted with larger historical change," Stearns said.
Johnny Depp And Kate Moss Photographed By Annie Leibovitz, 1994
Susan Sarandon At Cannes, 1978
Mott Haven, New York City, 1979 photographed By David Gonzalez
Cher, Elton John And Diana Ross At The Rock Music Awards At The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1975
Even if we take a step back and look at institutions, businesses, and other social units, such as ethnic groups, we can see that they also use history for similar purposes.
"Merely defining the group in the present pales against the possibility of forming an identity based on a rich past," Stearns explained. "And of course, nations use identity history as well ... Histories that tell the national story, emphasizing distinctive features of the national experience, are meant to drive home an understanding of national values and a commitment to national loyalty."
So if you find yourself unable to stop scrolling through this list, don't worry. You're not wasting your time. You're growing in more ways than you might think!
Amy Winehouse For The Sunday Telegraph Magazine In 2004
Benicio Del Toro And Parker Posey Photographed By Mark Seliger, 1995
Sharon Tate Photographed By Shahrokh Hatami, 1968
Freddie Mercury At The Nagoya Castle, Japan, 1975
Casting Polaroid Of Salma Hayek, Circa 1995
And lip envy, and boob envy, shall I go on! Beautiful.
Load More Replies...Have a rhinoplasty and breast enhancement then come see me. Oh welcome to Hollywood.
Have a little lobotomy, then think again. smh, what's wrong with you? O.ô
Load More Replies...High School Fashion In 1969
Leonardo Dicaprio With His Parents In 1976
David Bowie Photographed By Steve Schapiro, 1975
Brittany Murphy, 1998
May she rest in peace. She was a wonderful actress. I feel she is often overlooked when people look back at great artists we lost.
Teenagers At An Elvis Presley Concert At The Philadelphia Arena, 1957!
Polaroids Of The Cast Of Clueless Taken By Alan Friedman, 1995
Paul Rudd hasn't aged. And it's still so gutting that Brittany Murphy died. Rolling with her homies up high.
Two Women Sitting Outside On The Fire Escape In Harlem, NYC, 1978
South Korea, 1990s
Debra Jo Fondren, 1979
Roller Skating At Venice Beach, 1979
I wish roller skating was still considered a cool way to get around. It’s fun, easy and seems safer than dorky rollerblades (also out of vogue).
Jessica Lange In New York, 1975
Saint Petersburg, Florida, 1973
Looks like they're having fun.. I feel like a lot of people don't look like they're having fun these days.
Santa Monica, California, 1955 photographed By Elliott Erwitt
Claudia Schiffer (And Christy Turlington) At Versace After Party In Paris, 1994
Jayne Mansfield Posing With Miss Hollywood Of 1957
Kiss By The Hotel De Ville Photographed By Robert Doisneau, 1950
I made a comment on this last year and I'll make it again. No one noticed as he sucked the soul out of her with a simple kiss. No one, but the woman in a trench coat, who had just kissed the man behind her. Now a void behind his glasses..."
Michelle Pfeiffer As Elvira Hancock In Scarface, 1983 directed By Brian De Palma
Kellie Everts, 1979
“Men Don’t Protect You Anymore” Nirvana In Manhattan, 1993
“55 DSL” Dazed, March 2004 Photographed By Jamie Brunskill
Happy Birthday David. Thank You For Encouraging Me To Be The Person I Am Today
Bram Stoker’s Dracula, 1992 directed By Francis Ford Coppola
Girls Applying For A Model Casting In Lithuania, 1992
Twiggy
Meet Queen!
Ellen O’neal, 1976
San Francisco Streetstyle, 1971 photographed By Nick Dewolf
A Teenager With A Broken Arm At An Allman Brothers Concert, Watkins Glen, 1973
New York City, 1988 Photographed By Helen Levitt
Jerry Hall, 1976
Marilyn Monroe Photographed By Mischa Pelz, 1953
Did you know that Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth were born in the same year. 1926.
David Bowie’s Mugshots From 1976. He Was Arrested In Rochester For Pot Possession
LOL people used to be arrested for pot. Oh wait they still do.
Claudia Schiffer For Vogue Us, 1989 Photographed By Ellen Von Unwerth
Sophia Loren And Jayne Mansfield At Romanoff’s In Beverly Hills, 1957
Here’s what Sophia Loren said about the famous last picture: “Paramount had organized a party for me. All of cinema was there, it was incredible. And then comes in Jayne Mansfield, the last one to come. For me, that was when it got amazing.... She came right for my table. She knew everyone was watching. She sat down. And now, she was barely... Listen. Look at the picture. Where are my eyes? I’m staring at her nipples because I am afraid they are about to come onto my plate. In my face you can see the fear. I’m so frightened that everything in her dress is going to blow — BOOM! — and spill all over the table.”
Audrey Hepburn On Set Of “The Nun’s Story” In The Belgian Congo Photographed By Leo Fuchs, 1958
Brooke Shields Photographed By Albert Watson, Paris, 1984
Hair Straightening With A Real Iron In New York City, 1964
When i was younger this is exactly the vision I had whenever I thought about hair straightening
18 Year Old Madonna At The Art Worlds Institute Of Creative Arts In Ann Arbor In Michigan, 1977photographed By Cecil L. Taylor
I genuinely think that any woman in the public eye is expected to just curl up and die when they hit a certain age. You are deemed too old or too irrelevant by the media which is pretty sad. Madonna is 64 this year and has I think earned her right to whatever she wants with her money. Yeah she doesn't look great, but most importantly she isn't hurting anyone.
Audrey Hepburn On Set Of Breakfast At Tiffany’s, 1961 directed By Blake Edwards
Capote said he had Marylin Monroe in mind when he was writing the book.
Paris, 1955 By Henri Cartier-Bresson
I got really drunk at that exact location the night before my final exams. Not a good idea, but loads of fun.
London, 1960s
Kisses For Paul Mccartney
Pub In London, 1967
Sweden, 1970s
Andy Warhol Drawing A Butterfly On Actress Leigh Taylor-Young, 1967
Sharon Tate Photographed By Jean Claude Deutsch In Paris, 1968
One year later she was slaughtered by some crazy women out of adoration for a sadistic murderous psychopath.
High School Fashion Photographed By Arthur Schatz For Life Magazine, 1969
These young ladies, like me, are now approaching or have just passed their 70th birthday. Where have all the years gone?
Capri, Italy, 1980 photographed By Slim Aarons
Michael Jackson And Naomi Campbell On Set Of “In The Closet”
Storyville Club In Copenhagen, 1952 By Helmer Lund Hansen
Paris, 1968
War And Peace, 1956 Directed By King Vidor
The New York Subway Captured By Swiss Photographer Willy Spiller
Lain Delon, Marianne Faithfull And Mick Jagger In Paris, 1967
Shakira In The 1990s
Tim Burton And Lisa Marie At The Book Premiere Of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, 1993 photographed By Barry King
Jean Shrimpton Photographed By Bert Stern For Vogue, 1965
Young Julia Roberts
Audrey Hepburn Photographed In Bolgheri, Tuscany, 1972
Bianca Jagger At A Rolling Stones Concert, 1975
A Young Couple At Times Square, New York City, 1957
Julia Roberts In Pretty Woman, 1990
I don't think this is the rare sight you think it is, Bored Panda. It is an actual still of one of the most watched movies ever...
Ina Balke Photographed By Ted Russell, 1964
Bob Dylan And Suze Rotolo Photographed At Their Apartment In Greenwich Village, 1962
Shakira, Ca. 1992
Vikki Dougan Photographed By Ralph Crane, 1957
Miss Universe Contestants In 1968.miss Brazil (Martha Vasconcellos) Won
You Can Only Pick 3: Who Would You Like To See Live?
That Nirvana ticket is dated four days before Kurt was found at his home in Seattle. R.I.P.
Studio 54, 1977
Rest In Peace, George Mendonsa! The Time Square In NYC, August 14, 1945
Inspo
Michael Jackson And Madonna Together At The 1991 Academy Awards
On Set Of Taxi Driver, 1976
Portofino, Italy, 1977
Montmartre, Paris, 1970 Photographed By Patrice Molinard
Al Pacino As Michael Corleone And Diane Keaton As Kay Adams On Set Of The Godfather, Part II, 1974directed By Francis Ford Coppola
Joan Baez And Bob Dylan Photographed By Daniel Kramer In 1964
San Francisco, California, CA. 1962
1 Br $125/mo apartments. If that was too much, find some friends and rehab an old painted lady.
Brooke Shields In The Blue Lagoon, 1980 directed By Randal Kleiser
Ennifer Lawrence Photographed By Alasdair Mclellan For Vogue UK, November 2012
Carla Bruni At The Save The Rainforest Gala Dinner In London, 1992
It took till 2014 before there was an agreement to end deforestation of the rainforest. As a result the deforestation increased in the period between 2014 and 2020. In 2021 a new agreement was made....
Rio De Janeiro, 1978
Milk
Saturday Night Mood
Two Lovers In Washington Square Park, New York City, 1962 photographed By André Kertész
Jennifer Lopez In Selena, 1997
Angelina Jolie In Gia, 1998
Alain Delon And Romy Schneider, 1959
Grease, 1978 Directed By Randal Kleiser
Saint-Germain-Des-Prés, Paris, 1962 Photographed By Ed Van Der Elsken
Two Young Teen Girls Smoking Cigarettes In The Grass. Photographed By Henk Hilterman In 1969
Anthony Kiedis Smoking Pot For The First Time At The Age Of 11, 1973photographed By His Father
His father was cool with that? How can somebody smoke pot at that age?
Kate Hudson As Penny Lane In Almost Famous
Madonna: Truth Or Dare, 1991
Jerry Hall And Antonio Lopez In Paris, 1976
The Godfather, 1972 directed By Francis Ford Coppola
Simonetta Stefanelli is 68 yrs old now but was only 16 when they started filming The Godfather!
Photograph By Harri Peccinotti For Pirelli Calendar, 1969
Princess Fatemeh Khanum "Esmat Al-Dowleh" Was The Princess Of Persia, Modern-Day Iran
She was the daughter of the Persian King who ruled from 1848 to 1896.
Back then, it was normal for Qajar women to sport a thin moustache as a sign of beauty. She had over 150 suitors and she was considered as the ultimate symbol of beauty
in Persia during the early 1900s.
"So much in fact, a total of 13 men [took their own lives] themselves because she rejected their love."
Esmat was given the responsibility of serving as the host for female foreign guests to the court. She also learned to play the piano and went on to become a photographer with her
very own private studio in her home. Her half-sister, Zahra, would hold literary salons at her house every week and helped establish The Society of Women's Freedom, an
organization that has been championing Iranian women's
rights since 1910.
Wow.... Amazing. Made me wish I lived back in the 60s or 70s. The world was so much simpler and uncomplicated.
Considering the title, why would any of these be in a history book?
Wow.... Amazing. Made me wish I lived back in the 60s or 70s. The world was so much simpler and uncomplicated.
Considering the title, why would any of these be in a history book?