Alan Mays' photos

A law and order photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. For similar novelty photos, see Steel Pier Jail, Atlantic City, N.J., 1954 and New Orleans Jail (below).

Posted on the day after the U.S. presidential election as a reminder that Santa Claus isn't always who he seems to be, and he may not bring the presents we expect to receive. Here are a couple of other Santa masks, along with a masked Santa:

"Heed youth's call--vote as you think but vote! November 6, 1956. Use your freedom to vote. Boys Scouts of America. Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge." The printed text on the other side of this doorknob hanger includes the title "The American Way of Life," a list of "political and economic rights which protect the dignity and freedom of the individual," and another reminder to "Keep your freedom—vote!" According to "Boy Scouts to Leave Vote Pleas at 35,000,000 Homes," an article in the Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, Pa.), Oct. 25, 1956, p. 1, Scouts planned to distribute 35 million Liberty Bell hangers prior to the presidential election on November 6: "The nation's 4,175,134 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, and adult leaders will climax their nationwide Get-Out-the-Vote campaign beginning Saturday, November 3. On that day and on Monday, November 5, they will call on a total of 35,000,000 homes and leave on front doorknobs a Liberty Bell hanger urging citizens to vote. "They have been conducting a nonpartisan campaign, without reference to any candidate or party. It has been sponsored jointly with Freedom Foundations, Inc., of Valley Forge." After all the votes were tallied on November 6, it turned out that incumbent Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower had won re-election and defeated his Democratic opponent Adlai Stevenson.

"For county treasurer. 1893. E. H. Hershey, of Gordonville, Leacock Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. Subject to Republican rules." A selection of political candidate cards for men aspiring to local offices in Pennsylvania in the 1880s and 1890s.

"For County Commissioner (Lower End), Henry Gill, of Northampton Township. Subject to Democratic rules."

"For sheriff: D. K. Burkholder of Lancaster City, 1887. Subject to Republican rules."

"For state senator, 1888: John H. Landis, of Manor Township. Subject to Republican rules. 'A fraud in the count is the destruction of Republican government.'--James G. Blaine." John H. Landis, from Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, used this card when he ran for state senator in 1888. He quoted James G. Blaine , a Republican party leader who was the unsuccessful presidential nominee in 1884. Blaine was nicknamed the "Plumed Knight," and it's likely that the feather, or "plume," on the card was a reference to Blaine. Interestingly, commentary on the front page of the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer , March 19, 1888 , specifically mentioned this card: "Candidate Landis got a good bit of cheap advertising as the prosecutor of the Indiantown and Sixth Ward election boards and the discussion of the cases has caused him to be known in every household of the county as the champion of a fair election and honest return. His campaign card bears on it a white plume and this extract from one of Blaine's speeches, 'A fraud in the count is the destruction of Republican government.'... If Landis gets the vote in this city his friends look for, he will pull through." Landis lost the election to the incumbent, State Senator Amos H. Mylin.

Albert Charles Leonard also was the author and publisher of The Boys in Blue of 1861-1865: A Condensed History Worth Preserving (Lancaster, Pa.: A. C. Leonard, 1904). Compliments of Chaplain A. C. Leonard, Lancaster City Who as a candidate for Clerk of Orphans' Court in 1893 received almost 3,000 complimentary votes, and respectfully asks your kind consideration fot the same office at the Republican primary election in 1896. Four years a soldier and ten months a prisoner of war in Belle Isle and Andersonville prison pens where 14,000 of his companions died from privation and exposure. Andersonville prison pen.

Lewis S. Harman, Lancaster City. For Prothonotary, 1890 He entered the army as a private soldier, carried a musket for three years in the 1st Reg't, Penn'a Reservers, and was severely wounded, May 30, 1864, at the battle of Bethesda Church, in front of Richmond, on the day his three years' term of service expired. Your assistance respectfully solicited. Subject to Republican rules. Election, May 3, 1890. Blanket roll and knapsack: "U.S. Co. B, 1st Reg;'t. P.R.V."

"The White House, Washington. Thank you for writing to me. I am honored to be your 'First Cat.' Socks." An oversized postcard postmarked Washington, D.C., Sept. 28, 1993. When Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001), Hillary was the First Lady and Socks was the First Cat. I wrote to Socks after he became First Cat, and he graciously acknowledged my letter by sending me this postcard. I guess we'll learn who will become the next First Pet on Election Day tomorrow.

With Hillary Clinton as a U.S. presidential candidate in 2016, it's incredible to think that not all women in the United States had the right to vote until the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1920. This postcard was published by the Pennsylvania Woman's Christian Temperance Union around 1915. Four Million Women Vote Why Not the Women of Pennsylvania? They are as intelligent as any in the world. They are as interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the Home and the State. They should be given the Right and it is their Duty to take part in the Government which is responsible for the Welfare of the People. The state needs the help of the women. Let the Women Vote. Pennsylvania W.C.T.U. Union Label. Allied Printing Trades Council, Philadelphia. 18. Printed on the back: "Penna. W.C.T.U. Supply Office, Beaver Falls, Pa."

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park on the topic of children standing on chairs . Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Christine Nonemaker Shutt." From what I've been able to determine, little Christine Nonemaker grew up in York County, Pennsylvania, married a William R. Shutt, and thereafter went by the name Christine A. Shutt (1913-1985). Does anyone know why there are so many studio portraits of children standing on chairs? Was there some practical reason for this, or was it just a way for the photographer to show off his stylish furniture? For more photos of kids vertically positioned on seats, see my Children Standing on Chairs album.

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Bertha."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Eugene Myers." Printed on the verso: "The Wilson Studio. No. 225-227 W. Market St., York, Pa. No. 420 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Cindy, 2 years old."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Grace Reber."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Erma Herr." Embossed in lower right-hand corner: "Wolf, Lancaster, Pa."

There's no date or identifying information on this real photo postcard of a young girl who's posing for a picture as she stands on a chair in front of distinctively patterned wallpaper.