Alan Mays' photos

Select the thumbnail image below to see the full photo.

It's hard to imagine a time when Victrolas, radios, and electric irons were banned in student housing, but here's the evidence! Although my copy doesn't bear any indication of its origin, these dormitory rules were apparently used at some time in the past at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., according to an article, "It's After Midnight--Turn Down The Victrola!" , by J. L. Garner, that originally appeared in the April 16, 2001, issue of The College Reporter , an "independent student newspaper." Special Requirements for Students in the Dormitory 1. No student is allowed to have in his room animal pets of any kind, Victrola, radio, or electric iron. 2. Students must observe the regulation restricting unnecessary noise during the study period. 3. Students must not drive tacks or nails or use paste on the walls or woodwork of rooms and must not put up curtains at windows. Use picture rail hooks. 4. Observe good care of the dormitory with all its furnishings, and avoid clogging drains in lavatories. 5. Do not place lighted matches, cigars, or cigarettes on the furniture, as it is readily damaged. Use an ash tray. 6. Trunks ought to be stored in trunk room provided for the purpose. 7. Women are not allowed in the dormitory under any circumstances. 8. Students who are guilty of ungentlemanly conduct or disorder may be summarily removed and will be required to forfeit the room in the dormitory. 9. Students are not allowed to keep anything for sale in a dormitory room.

Spelling Bee to be held at the West Terre Hill School, Friday eve., April 3, 1925. There will be three classes: 1st--Spelling, open to pupils 14 years and under. 2nd--Spelling, open to all. 3rd--General information class. Three prizes given each class. A special program will be rendered, consisting of recitations, dialogues, and singing. Admission, 15c. Everybody invited. Doors open 7:00. Bee to buzz, 7:30. Helena Becker, teacher. Times Print, Terre Hill, Pa.

A real photo postcard, date and location unknown.

"Erasers for Technical Men. Draftsmen, designers, architects, artists, engineers. Made in U.S.A. A. W. Faber, Newark, N.J." What, no erasers for women!?

"Quality Courts United, Inc. Free guide, 1950. Travel first class." Cover illustration from a small booklet listing the motels affliiated with Quality Courts United.

This real photo postcard doesn't bear a stamp, postmark, or date but was addressed to: "Mrs. Daniel Ohlinger. From Mrs. Edwin Ohlinger." Handwritten message on back: "Dear Mother, We are all well at present, hoping this card will find you all the same. Earl is as naughty as he can be. Try and come down. I must close--the mailman is coming." As far as I can determine from searching the Web, it was Earl's mother--Mrs. Edwin Ohlinger--who wrote the message, and she and her son lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania. I'm not certain, however, who the baby might be (Earl's brother or sister, perhaps?), what band Earl might have played in, or where Earl's grandmother--Mrs. Daniel Ohlinger--lived.

A real photo postcard showing two guys, two dolls, and a donkey.

As you can see from this real photo postcard, I'm afraid that I'm feeling a bit woozy. Can anyone give me a ride home from the pub? Printed on the back: "Rotary 'Grotesque' Series. Printed in Britain."

Recreation of a wall destroyed by a Civil War-era artillery shell at the Jennie Wade House Museum in 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pa. To see the The Type of Shell That Knocked Out the Wall , mouse over the center of the photo above, or click on the thumbnail image below.

"This is the type shell that came through the roof & knocked out the wall you just came through." A fake Civil War-era artillery shell lodged in the wall is intended to illustrate some of the damage that occurred at the Jennie Wade House Museum in 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pa. Jennie Wade , the only civilian killed during the battle, was kneading dough on the first floor of this house when she was struck by a bullet. To see the knocked-out "wall you just came through," mouse over the sign in the image above or see The Wall That Was Knocked Out by the Shell (thumbnail image below).

Oh, how awkward! Looks like Elmer's making a spectacle of himself again! He's perched on top of a bear pull toy, leaning over a container of flowers, and holding a stuffed bunny rabbit and a bear. Lord knows what he has draped over his head. Please, Elmer, leave the kids' toys alone and just grow up! (Awkwardly posted to the Vintage Photos Theme Park for the week of August 19-25, 2013.)

The Kissmobile in front of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, Pa. See it in action! Take a look at A Close Encounter of the Kissmobile Kind (Video) .

Exterior of the Jennie Wade House Museum in Gettysburg, Pa.

Authentically original wavy glass at the Jennie Wade House Museum in Gettysburg, Pa.

An armless mannequin in a Soap Box Derby car at the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, Pa.

Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "A study in hand bags." I thought at first that this might be Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, but I haven't been able to confirm it. Unfortunately, I can't make out any of the inscription on the plaque that's bolted to the side of the brickwork. Does anyone recognize the location? Can anyone identify the type of fortification structure or the kinds of artillery?

Bells for the ABC Group (4/13/2017). A real photo postcard showing the "Bells of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Ont. Thony's Photo Post Card" (the description at the bottom of the photo is difficult to make out). According to St. Paul's Presbyterian Church 's Web site, "The Bells of St. Paul’s were installed at a cost of $4,000 and were used first on Sunday, November 11, 1906. Eleven bells [nine of which are fully visible here] make up the chimes, the largest one weighing 2100 pounds (955 k) and the smallest one 300 pounds (136 k). The total weight is 9873 pounds (4488 k). The bells are played every Sunday morning calling worshippers to church and on other special occasions." The bells were manufactured by the now-closed Meneely & Co. ("the Old Meneely Bell Foundry ") of Watervliet (formerly West Troy), New York. Some sort of label or tag is affixed to each of the bells in the photo. If you're interested in knowing more about the bells and their installation in the church, check out the following two documents available in the Internet Archive: Programme of the Inauguration of the Chimes Placed in the Tower of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, Ont., 1906 and Souvenir Relating to the Installation of Chimes in St. Paul's Steeple, Hamilton, Ontario, November, 1906 .