Alan Mays' photos

Photographer's name and locations on cabinet card: "Smith, Lykens and Williamstown." A group of quilters from a cabinet card photo by W. W. Smith (1834-Jan. 22, 1892), a photographer who had studios in Lykens and Williamstown , both of which are towns located in northern Dauphin County , Pennsylvania. How do we know that these women are quilters ? They're all holding quilting squares (or blocks) , and many of them have scissors (mouse over image above for a close-up view ). Some of them are also pretending to sew their squares with needles and thread.

For more information, see the full version of this photo:

"Am on a flying trip. Will see you soon, G.S."

Or is it? I'm hanging on here at Ipernity until the bitter end, which I hope won't be bitter. 8-)

A vintage luggage label from the Hotel Astoria in Vienna, Austria.

"Social Party. Yourself and lady are respectfully invited to attend a social party at the Lansingville Hotel, Friday evening, February 22, 1884 . Music by Jacob's Full Band. Bill, $1.50. W. DeCamp, proprietor."

"Boy Scout Troop No. 11 of Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church, Simpson, Pa., presents Dead Man's Eyes , with Lon Chaney, Jr., and Jean Parker, at the Neutral Theatre, Simpson, Tuesday evening, March 20th, 1945. Shows at 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock. Admission (tax incl.), 30c." Ticket for a showing of Dead Man's Eyes , a 1944 film noir mystery, to benefit a Boy Scout troop.

Class of '84. Blanche Wilhelm, Mamie Moss, Minnie I. Wright, Maggie M. Waltman, Mame E. Jones, Omie Tilton, Joseph A. Cameron, Joseph N. Wright, Albert E. May. Mundus ante nos est [the world is before us].

"In memories oft' I close my lids, pleading that you be good and let me hold your kids."

A lines/stripes photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Gerald. Taking two at a time." I wish we could compare this photo with the one that Gerald was taking, but at least we have this single one of the two photos that were evidently being snapped at the same exact time. I like how the lines formed by the rails of the tracks converge to a vanishing point in the distance, and then the three legs of the tripod, of course, similarly converge upon the camera.

For a similar membership card parody published as a postcard, see Independent Order of Hot Air Dispensers Membership Card (below). Buzzer's Hot Air Club and Grand Order of Windjammers This is to certify that Mr. ________ has been elected member of Buzzer's Hot Air Club and is allowed to expound his hot air at any time with police protection. A. Airmerchant. president.

A tables photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. More than twenty tables were available for diners amid the rustic wood and stone construction in the dining room of the Bear Mountain Inn when this photo was taken sometime in the 1920s. The inn was built in 1915 and is located in Bear Mountain State Park in Rockland County, New York. A posting on the New York History Blog includes this same photo and reports that the inn was extensively renovated a few years ago. See Bear Mountain Inn Reopening Saturday [February 18, 2012] After Renovations .