Alan Mays' photos

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

Note that this automobile has a tiller rather than a wheel for steering. For a similar photo, see Tintype of Three Women in an Early Automobile .

Notice how the young woman is holding a tiller rather than a wheel as she pretends to steer the automobile. For a similar photo, see Tintype of Two Women and a Man in an Early Automobile .

"The March, May 1914." A real photo postcard of a May Day march. A couple of guys with drums are leading the way, and a group of children are carrying a maypole rather than dancing around it. For a better view of the maypole marchers, mouse over the image above to see a cropped version .

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

A photo with X marks the spot (an X to indicate something or someone on the photo) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten on the back of this photo: "X - Another dandy. His mother laid 303 eggs in one yr."

"NCHS, Class of 1915, Photo by Seavy." The heads of 98 members of the class of 1915 at New Castle High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania, form the letters "NCHS" in this remarkable photographic montage by Edgar E. Seavy (for information about the photographer, see Seavy's Photo Studio - New Castle PA , a Lawrence County Memoirs article by Jeff Bales, Jr.). It must have been an exacting task to cut out and assemble the 98 portraits to form the letters and then re-photograph the whole thing in order to produce a real photo postcard like this one (mouse over the image to see enlargements of the left half , right half , and letter S ). Although the card is addressed on the back to "Miss Edna Wenger, Berlin, Pa.," there's no stamp or postmark, indicating that it was sent through the mail in an envelope rather than separately as a postcard. In addition to the address, the back of the card is filled with various notes, one of which says, "Here are the pictures of the class to be graduated this year. You will find me in the letter S [see the circled face]. We are all busy now getting ready for senior parties, junior-senior banquet, commencement, and class night. Agnes." Another note written later in a different hand identifies Agnes as "Papa's cousin, Agnes Conrad Allen. Head of state Rainbow Girls." So it was Agnes Conrad (her marriage to Charles E. Allen took place in 1920) whose photo appears in the S and who was busy getting ready for her high school graduation in 1915. As the note also suggested, she later served for over fifty years as a leader in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Pennsylvania. After high school, Agnes graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, taught elementary school, worked as a newspaper reporter, and participated in several other organizations besides the Rainbow Girls before she passed away in 1983 at the age of 86 ("Mrs. Agnes Allen," obituary, New Castle News , Jan. 7, 1983, p. 3). Here are the rest of the notes that Agnes wrote on the back of the card: "I hope to see you all next year and then I suppose I will be able to tell you everything that has been going on and make up for lost time." "Tell your mother that my mother will write to her some time again. She is so busy now with house-cleaning. She speaks of cousin Lydia so often and how much she would like to see her." "Clara has been sick with tonsillitis but is almost well again. If I keep on writing, this will be a letter."

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

Agnes Conrad circled her high school portrait (in the lower right-hand corner), which was part of a montage of 98 photos that formed the letters "NCHS" on a real photo postcard in 1915. For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

An unused postcard with no postmark or anything else to indic8 a d8. I do not hesist8 to st8 I'll see you at an early d8-- The day I can not indic8-- But even if the trains are l8, Or if they raise the railroad r8, Or I'm forced to go by fr8, I'll see you soon, as sure as f8.

A photo of hands on hips for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. (For an entire group devoted to this theme, see Just Put Your Hands On Your Hips .) This novelty photo features such detailed cowboy costumes--including hats, vests, bandanas, chaps, wrist cuffs, gun belts, and revolvers--that it must have taken these fellows a good while to suit up. The signs in the background of this real photo postcard are difficult to read. Two of them are: "Leave your horse outside, also the bull." "Safety first?"

An auctioneer's business card with a humorous explanation of "How a Man Can Be His Own Grandfather" on the other side. This same genealogical calculation was the basis for " I'm My Own Grandpa ," a 1947 novelty song by Lonzo and Oscar, but the idea of becoming one's own grandfather has been circulating in newspapers and elsewhere for more than 190 years . C. Fry, Auctineer. Burbanks, P.O. Box 100, Wayne Co., Ohio. How a Man Can Be His Own Grandfather I married a widow who had a daughter. My father visited our house frequently, fell in love, and married my stepdaughter. Thus my father became my son-in-law and my stepdaughter my mother, because she was my father's wife. My stepdaughter had also a son; he was of course my brother and at the same time my grandchild, for he was the son of my daughter. My wife was my grandmother, because she was my mother's mother. I was my wife's husband and grandchild at the same time; and as the husband of a person's grandmother is his grandfather, I was my own grandfather.

A unique acquaintance card. Albert W. Colter Way down in my heart I've got a feeling for you. May I see you home this evening. I don't smoke, chew, drink, tell lies, go with other girls, or break dates. I part my hair in the middle, crease my pants on the side, and shine my shoes in the front.

A photo of ruffles or frills for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A couple in colonial costumes with the customary ruffles and frills. I'm not sure when or where this photo was taken, but perhaps they're dressed up to celebrate George Washington's Birthday . Or maybe they're accompanying Master Nettleton (below) to his dance recital.

A box social was a fundraising event as well as a social occasion. In this case, I believe that the guys had to bid on one of the "carpet rag balls," which they'd then have to unwrap in order to discover whose name was inside. Once a fellow was able to determine which girl's name was inside the rag ball, he could dine with her and partake of the "box of eatables" she brought along. Of course, if a guy had a steady girlfriend, he had darn well better figure out ahead of time which rag ball to bid on! Box Social A Carpet Rag Box Social will be held at the Spring Hill House on Friday eve., Feb. 26, 1904. Proceeds for the benefit of the Spring House School. Every girl bring a carpet rag ball with her name in the center. Also a box of eatables. Similar events held at different times and places: "Monticello [located in Kansas] was well represented at the 'carpet-rag' box social at Round Prairie school house last Wednesday evening." -- Olathe Mirror (Olathe, Kansas), Jan. 20, 1898, p. 2. "Hallowe'en Rag Ball. A Hallowe'en Carpet-rag Ball will be held at the Trout Creek hall Saturday evening, November 3. Ladies should bring a carpet rag ball with name inside and a box supper for two. A price limit of $1.50 per ball has been set and the proceeds will be used for the purchase of playground apparatus for the Flat school." -- Sanders County Ledger (Thompson Falls, Montana), Oct. 25, 1917, p. 1.

The 1893 edition of Boyd's Directory of Harrisburg and Steelton , p. 29, lists a "Hope Steam Fire Engine Co., No 2," in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with an address on "2d [Street] bet[ween] State and North," and I believe that this is the same "Hope Fire Co. No. 2" described here, with a fire house located at "Second and North Streets." Although the fire company itself no longer exists, the "Hope Station" building is now the Fire House Restaurant . "Bazaar and fair, Hope Fire Co. No. 2, March 18 to 25 inclusive. We cordially invite you, your family, and friends to attend this bazaar and fair, which will be held in the parlor of fire house, Second and North Streets. Something doing every minute. Donations of cakes and candies will be appreciated. Admission free, everyone welcome. Raysor, printer."

An in the choir photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Caption: "The Methodist Church Choir Camp." A real photo postcard addressed to Miss C. V. Blackwell, The Marlborough, East Orange, N.J., and postmarked Princeton, N.J., August 12, 1908. Handwritten message on the other side: "Can you recognize any of the faces? Mabel." A group of women and girls--presumably members of a Methodist church choir on a camping excursion--are gathered around a table under a tent as they pose for the photographer. Mouse over the image above for a closer look at the campers and a better view of the sickle mower in the lower right-hand corner.