Alan Mays' photos

A photo of umbrellas or parasols for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Strunk's Studio, 730 Penn St., Reading, Pa." A young girl poses with a parasol in J. D. Strunk's photo studio in Reading, Pennsylvania. For earlier cabinet photos by Strunk, see Twin Boys with Bows, Reading, Pa., 1890s and Roy Peiffer on Strunk's Studio Horse, Reading, Pennsylvania .

In this real photo postcard, a minister of a church (location and date unknown) stands in the midst of fruits and vegetables that decorate the altar in preparation for a Harvest Home service. "Harvest Home" is a religious celebration that's still held today at some Lutheran, Reformed, and other churches in Pennsylvania and elsewhere during the late summer or early fall. As seen here, the observance typically involves a display of tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, cornstalks, flowers, etc. For additional examples, see Harvest Service, Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1907 , and Harvest Home Greetings, Methodist Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1909 . In this photo, the inscription at the bottom of the stained glass window on the right-hand side says, "Donated by Robert, Ella, & Sallie Wise." The signboard hanging on the wall on the left-hand side of the photo provides the following information about the church: Register - Attendance & Offering Number on the roll - 200 Attendance today - 114 Attendance a year ago today - 81 Offering today - 236 Offering a year ago today - 104

"Harvest Service, 1907. Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Pa." For other photos that show church altars decorated for a Harvest Service (also called Harvest Home), see Harvest Home Display with Minister and Harvest Home Greetings, Methodist Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1909 .

"Harvest Home Greetings. Methodist Church, Strasburg, Pa." Addressed on the other side to Mr. Roy D. Mowrer, Strasburg, Pa., and postmarked Iva, Pa., Oct. 20, 1909. Message: "The musical is to be held in the Hall. You know. A.B.D." For other real photo postcards of Harvest Home celebrations, see Harvest Home Display with Minister and Harvest Service, Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1907 .

For the Vintage Photos Theme Park, a photo of people photographed in bushes or plants (not beside them but in them--as seen in the Vintage Floraflage group on Flickr) . An early twentieth-century real photo postcard of people dallying in the daisies. For some similar photos, see my Floraflage album.

"W. R. Cheney, Carriage Builder. Repairing and repainting done promptly. 26 North Christian St., Lancaster, Pa." William R. Cheney (1859-1932) was a blacksmith and carriage builder in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For similar business cards from the same job printer ( Pluck Print ), see Chas. O. Ursprung, Horse Collar Manufacturer, Lancaster, Pa. and William C. Myers, Practical Artesian Well Contractor, Salunga, Pa. For a card from another carriage maker, see Bardens Carriage Company, Horseshoers and Wagonmakers, West Orange, New Jersey .

Your favorite dog photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Seated on fire engine no. 13, these proud Dalmatian parents watch over their seven pups, who are trying to squirm their way out of firefighter's footwear. I haven't been able to determine the origin of this snapshot. I spent quite some time squinting at the hood of the engine in an attempt to figure out the name of the fire company. It's possible that the letters "aniley" are in part of the name above "[fi]re co." but I wouldn't bet any money on it. In any case, this is currently my favorite dog photo.

"What time is it down there?" "Just eleven." "It's twelve up here—you know eleven and twelve make 23." Handwritten: "Did this ever occur to you?" So what does the mother mean by yelling "eleven and twelve make 23" down at the couple hanging out on the hammock in the front yard at midnight? To understand the humor of this postcard from 1909, it helps to know that a fad about the meaning of the number "23" became wildly popular in the United States in the early twentieth century. Beginning around 1906 or 1907, "23"—along with "23 skidoo"—came to be used as a shorthand way of telling someone to "scram," "beat it," or "get lost," usually with a humorous or joking connotation. Referring to "23" in unexpected ways—as on this postcard or on a valentine —and even placing "23" in surprising places (like on the front of a painted automobile prop in a novelty photo) was a humorous way to let others in on the joke. So it's obvious that mom is keeping tabs on her daughter as she watches the couple from the second-floor window. And her reference to "23" makes it clear (to those in the know, at least) that she wants the guy to skedaddle. Postmark, address, and handwritten note on the other side of this postcard: Omaha & Ogden R.P.O. [ railway post office ], Apr 1, 1909. Miss Hazle Hainline, Grand Island, Neb., 222 W. 6th St. Hello Girlie, wish I could have had the pleasure to set and hear you sing and play tonight. How is mama and dad. Tonight is the first I have eaten since I left your place. Haven't been hungry. Mora. 113 Pub. by Keller Bros., Portland, Or.

"College of Physicians and Surgeons. 18th Annual Commencement, Academy of Music, Tuesday, March 18, 1890, 12 M. Admit bearer." For a similar ticket, see Commencement Exercises Ticket, June 18, 1886 .

The Cosmopolitan Club was the precursor to the International Students Organization at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Springfield College Digital Collections contains additional Cosmopolitan Club photos from various years.

A photo of a school or college group for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Young schoolchildren pose in front of a Christmas tree in their classroom. Take a closer look at the decorations on the tree and the children on the left and on the right.

A classroom Christmas tree adorned with paper chains, teddy bears with movable arms and legs, fireplaces with stockings, and other handmade decorations. See close-ups of the children on the left-hand side of the photo and those on the right-hand side.

Notice how the children are facing the front of the classroom, but many of them are looking over at the photographer. Only one of the kids--the girl behind the one with the bow--is smiling. A length of paper chain is lying on one of the wooden school desks.

Some of the kids on this side of the room are also looking at the photographer, and there are more paper chains on the desks.

Postcard addressed on the other side to: "Prof. H. C. Klinger, Liverpool, Pa., R.F.D. #1." Partial transcription of the message (no year and no postmark): "Sept. 17th, 9 a.m. At Grange Park C. H. in remembrance of the hunting . . . J. J. Jordan." The Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair --usually just called the "Grange Fair"--has been held annually in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, since 1874. For another postcard with the same ears-of-corn border, see Memorial Day .

A photo of fields, crops, pastures for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten note on the back of the photo: "Here is a picture, and it does not look as if Nebraska was a tee-total failure in 1926. But 50% was a failure on the corn crop for 1926. Mr. H. G. Bolz." Rubberstamped on back: "Van Doran Photo Shop, 1406 O St., Lincoln, Neb." Prohibition was in effect and alcoholic beverages were banned in the U.S. when this photo was taken in 1926, so perhaps teetotalism was on the writer's mind when he said that the corn crop wasn't a "tee-total" failure.

A ticket or invitation for a "Social Hop" (dance) held at the Washington House hotel in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, on June 30, 1870. "A Social Hop will be held at the Washington House, in Mount Joy, Pa., Thursday, June 30th, 1870. Your company is respectfully solicited. Managers, Harry Sholl, Martin M. Brubacher, Albert Culp. Floor manager, Mart. Hildebrand."

A snapshot of three kids, two with accordions and one with a trumpet. Looks like the smiling boys in front are enjoying themselves, but I'm not sure whether the girl in back is having any fun. Notice the toy cannon that's situated near the edge of the porch on the left and the interesting design of the curtain or whatever it is that's hanging on the inside of the window on the right. See also a close-up of the kids .