Anyone know of any good websites that contain good photos of America in the 50’s? Not just railroad photos but pictures of streets, shop fronts, gas stations, businesses in small towns and big cities, etc? Any ideas guys?
Thanks
Barry
[8D]
A few that I have found helpful:
sca-roadside.com
signmuseum.com
roadsidepeek.com
oldgas.com
doowopusa.org
dinermuseum.org
neonmuseum.org
also check out the Smithsonian American History collection
chuck
You’re star chuck.
I have also gone into the Library of Congress which is good.
The problem I have is although I’ve been fortunate to have been to the States a huge number of times, not having lived there I have no historical memories. Photos of the 50’s will really help in building my latest 1953 -5 layout.
Cheers
Barry
Since you are in UK, this may not help.
My local library has bound volumes of old magazines from the 1950s.
Life and Look magazine, lots of pictures and ads relating to general life in US.
Business Week magazine, pictures, ads and info on industrial and commercial stuff.
One of the best 1940s-1950s color photo collections online is the Charles Cushman collection at Indiana University’s website:
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cushman/index.jsp
This collection is AMAZING, and doubly so since the photographer was an “amateur”. The contents of the photos will make anyone rethink their preconceived notions of what the 1950s really looked like.
There is a series of books featuring advertising from various decades – the 1970s, 60s, 50s, etc. They are a great source of photos from various eras.
There are also books of “stock” commercial photographs that you can sometimes find in used book stores.
Look and Life magazines are a good suggestion but don’t forget old postcards.
Dave Nelson
This site has Aladdin mail order “kit” home catalogs from 1908 through 1954. Aladdin homes and similar homes from other firms are common in many parts of the US.
Thanks for the great link, orsonroy. Though looking at the pics, I wonder if the “good 'ol days” were as good as we sometimes think!
Great links guys. I thought the photos of Charles Cushman were excellent. Especially as he was an amateur. Godd old days? Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be!
Anymore anyone?
Barry, Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be! But I thought that was the point of nostalgia.
Hey Ray… maybe it’s my british sense of humour!