37 Photos From 100 Years Ago That Put Time in Perspective

For any of you who have been reading The Scroller, we’re absolutely obsessed with time. And particularly, the passage of time. I was born in the early 80s, which means that my birthday is as close to the late 1930s as it is to today. That rattles my brain a little bit.

So today, we’re looking at photos from right around 100 years ago, give or take a couple of years. So jump in our time machine because we’re setting our destination a century in the past.

1. The Charlie Birger gang that was famous for their bootlegging and chasing the Ku Klux Klan out of William County. (1925)

A group of sixteen people pose on and around a tractor in front of a house. They hold musical instruments, including a guitar and a fiddle. The black and white image has a vintage, rustic feel. A small dog is visible to the left. — userdeleted

I bet they threw some crazy parties.

2. Testing a bulletproof vest in 1923.

A vintage photo shows a man testing a bulletproof vest by firing a gun at another man wearing the vest. Smoke is visible from the gun discharge. Several observers, including policemen, watch from a distance. Trees and power lines are in the background. — TotesMagotes376

You couldn’t pay me a million dollars to do this. Especially back then.

3. Miss Philadelphia Ruth Malcomson who went on to be Miss America the same year in 1924.

A woman with long curly hair sits on a chair, wearing a blue dress with lace sleeves and a pearl necklace. She has a sash reading "Miss Philadelphia." The background is a soft lavender color.

That hairstyle had been in style since the mid-1910s. Curly, messy hairy was suggestive and very en vogue.

4. Babe Ruth looking like a gangster during a visit to the White House in 1921.

Four men in early 20th-century attire stand on steps in front of a building. They wear long coats and hats. One man holds a cane. The group appears formal and well-dressed. — langator

He’s looking like the leader of the Bambino Crime Family.

5. 18-year-old inventor H. Day, wearing headphones attached to a wireless radio in his hat (1922).

A young man stands outside a shop wearing headphones connected to a radio inside his hat. He is dressed in a vintage suit and tie, gazing slightly to the side. The shop window displays various items and signs.

While this seems like a photoshop, the first modern headphones were introduced in 1910.

6. Moonshining women that were arrested by federal agents during prohibition in 1921.

Two people in work attire stand in front of shelves filled with bottles and jars. They are holding tools and wearing caps and overalls, suggesting a workshop or industrial setting. The image has a vintage, worn appearance.

Those smiles tell you everything you need to know about these troublemakers.

7. Office Christmas Party 1925

A large group of men and women in 1920s attire posing in an office around a decorated Christmas tree. Some are seated, while others stand, and a few hold drinks. The setting has vintage office furniture and a festive atmosphere. — Trigmillion

I wish i knew what this company did. I think the oil can on the floor might be a clue.

8. A rare look inside the original Harley-Davidson Motorcycle factory in 1924.

A sepia-toned image shows several workers assembling motorcycles in a row inside a factory. Each worker focuses on a motorcycle, with tools and parts visible on tables. Large windows provide natural light to the spacious workshop. — brolbo

This is definitely one of those images that I wish had sound.

9. Men protesting prohibition in 1925.

A historical black-and-white photo of a crowd of men marching at night, holding signs that read "WE WANT BEER." The men are dressed in suits and hats, and the protest reflects the Prohibition era. — roseprints

Every movement needs a strong, clear message.

10. Two flappers in the SF Bay Area standing on the bumper of a Peerless Touring Car in 1923.

Two women in 1920s swimsuits stand on the bumper of a vintage convertible car parked on a dirt road. One stands with hands on her head, and the other holds a small towel, with a distant structure visible in the background. — michaelconfoy

Kind of getting a “suns coming up” vibe from this photo, if you know what I mean.

11. Detectives in Vancouver, BC in 1924.

A historical photograph of six men in long coats and hats standing together. The group includes two men holding guns, and one in a police uniform. The background shows a building under construction. The image is colorized. — enygma9 / colorized by Frank Hellsten

It looks like the detective in the center is holding a 1920s version of a Freddy Krueger glove.

12. Helen, a native American in 1925, working as a telephone and switchboard operator.

upside_down1983

The official name of this photo is “Helen of Many Glacier Hotel,” and it was taken at the Many Glacier Hotel in Mabb, Montana. It’s believed that it may have been a publicity shot for the Great Northern Railway.

13. Howard Carter looking through the doors of Tutankhamun’s second shrine in January of 1924.

A man carefully examines an ancient Egyptian wall carving illuminated by a spotlight. He crouches, intently studying the intricate hieroglyphic details and figures etched into the stone. — Xamrock4

I always imagine how incredible it must have felt to witness the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb, especially laying eyes on everything exactly as it was left thousands of years ago.

14. Car Crash in 1921.

A vintage car with a damaged wheel is parked on the side of a wet, tree-lined street. Five men stand around, wearing hats and coats, observing the scene. Buildings in the background suggest an urban neighborhood. — CulhwchKnut

15. A retired 75-year-old Wyatt Earp in Los Angeles in 1923.

An elderly man with a bald head and mustache sits in a wooden rocking chair, wearing a light-colored shirt and trousers. He is indoors, with patterned wallpaper and a curtain visible behind him. The photo is in black and white.

16. A man taking his hippo carriage for a spin in 1924.

A historical black-and-white photo shows a man in a suit and hat riding a two-wheeled cart pulled by a hippopotamus. The scene takes place in front of a wooden structure. — Captstnk

This seems like one of those things that you only get to do once.

17. Citroen automobile designed by Sonia Delaunay, 1925, Paris, France.

Two women dressed in 1920s attire stand beside and in a vintage car with a checkered pattern. The background features a textured building with geometric design elements. — jaaproglleman

18. Three employees of the Cleveland Trust Bank Co. training on how to defend the bank vault in 1924.

Three women with bobbed hairstyles and 1920s attire hold guns while standing in a large, open bank vault door. Each woman strikes a dynamic pose, one crouching in front, two standing behind her. The scene is black and white. — Edelweisses

19. Sgt. Stubby served in 18 battles during WWI and was known as the greatest war dog in our nation’s history. (1925)

A black and white photo of a dog wearing a vest adorned with various military patches and medals, standing on grass. The dog looks to the side with an alert expression. — LegallyHeap12

While it’s really hard to think of dogs (or anyone for that matter) being involved in the chaos of war, it’s worth pointing out what a good boy he is.

20. Babe Ruth lying unconscious after running into a wall chasing a fly ball in 1924. He regained consciousness after 5 minutes and went on to get two more hits that game.

A group of baseball players and onlookers surround an injured player lying on the ground beside a fence. People in hats lean over the fence, watching the scene. Several men crouch and attend to the injured player. — vienna95

21. The Marx Brothers in 1924.

Four men in tuxedos stand side by side against a painted backdrop with floral and abstract patterns. They have slicked-back hair and formal poses, reminiscent of early 20th-century fashion. — userdeleted

22. Albert Einstein lecturing on the theory of relativity in 1922.

A man in a suit stands by a blackboard covered with complex equations and diagrams, addressing a seated audience in a lecture hall. The room is filled with attentive listeners, and additional charts are pinned above the board. — Cosmiccreature

23. Woman riding an Ostrich in 1925.

A woman wearing a hat and gloves rides an ostrich with a fluffy saddle. A man in a suit and flat cap stands beside them, holding the ostrich's head. Trees and a pathway are visible in the background. — HankScorpio2020

24. Three boys in Ohio goofing around in their car in 1924.

Three men are riding an early 20th-century open-top car on a dirt road. The car has wooden wheels and a blue body. The driver and one passenger wear suits, while the man in the back is in casual attire. A house is visible in the background. — AKnight

25. A family in 1925 remembering their late father/husband.

A solemn black and white photo shows a woman and a young boy standing beside a military coat hanging on a hanger. The boy wears a uniform, including a cap, while the woman holds the coat. The background is plain, emphasizing the trio. — isProbablyLying4

26. Sharpshooter Annie Oakley in 1922 with the gun that Buffalo Bill gave her.

A woman in a long dress and hat stands outdoors holding a shotgun. She is smiling, and the background shows a grassy area with another person slightly blurred in the distance. — mechrec

27. An incredible mugshot from 1925.

A vintage mugshot features two images of a man. On the left, he faces the camera in a suit and tie. On the right, he stands in a relaxed pose, leaning against a chair while holding a cigarette, wearing a suit and a fedora. Text is visible on the left.

This looks like it could be in the opening of an HBO show.

28. Ernest Hemingway’s passport photo from 1923.

Black and white passport photo of a man in a suit and tie, centered within a patterned border. The image includes visible text and a seal. The photo has a vintage appearance. — Elite_Luci

29. Immigrant family at Ellis Island looking at the New York skyline in 1925.

A black and white photo of a family standing by a waterfront with luggage, gazing at the distant skyline of New York City shrouded in fog. The family includes a man, a woman, and three children. — eaglemaxie

30. Four prize winners in the 1922 beauty show at Washington Bathing Beach, Washington, D.C.

Four women in vintage swimsuits pose with trophies. They stand against a textured wall, each showcasing distinct fashion styles from the early 20th century, with one woman holding a parasol. — TommyAdagio

31. The “Congress of Freaks,” Ringling Brothers, and Barnum Baily Circus in 1924.

A vintage black-and-white photo of a circus sideshow group. Various performers, including those with unique physical traits, are posed in rows. The backdrop features a marquee with circus banners and flags. — daviddefinitely

32. Two fashionable women looking out over LA from a steam shovel bucket above the Hollywood sign in 1924.

Two women sit on the arm of a large construction crane, high above the hills, wearing dresses and cloche hats, with one woman waving. The scene is vintage, in black and white, with distant hills in the background. — my_interests

33. Beatrice Kyle, in her high-diving outfit, dove into 8-foot-deep tanks of water from over 100 feet in 1924.

A woman in a vintage bathing suit poses with one hand on her hip and the other holding an ax, standing in front of an old steam-powered fire engine. Bare trees are visible in the background. — eaglemaxie

34. 19-year-old Greta Garbo terrified of the new MGM mascot, Leo, in 1924.

A woman in 1920s attire sits on a wooden chair, looking to the side. A lion stands on a log nearby. The background is a fenced area, suggesting a zoo or animal enclosure. The photo is black and white, with a vintage feel.

35. Girls of the Moulin Rouge in the dressing room in 1924.

A vintage photo shows several women seated at a long dressing table, applying makeup in front of mirrors. They are dressed in ornate gowns, and a woman stands in the background. The setting appears lively, with various beauty items scattered around. — userdeleted

Tags: history photography