Most of us have hundreds (or thousands) of photos tucked away in our phone galleries, from random street sights to endless selfies. These days, capturing a moment is as easy as tapping a screen. But back in the day, snapping a photo wasn’t quite so simple. Still, our ancestors managed to capture some truly candid and surprisingly relatable moments.
One place that celebrates this beautifully is The Way We Were, an online group dedicated to sharing captivating vintage photos that offer a glimpse into the past. Most of today’s collection comes from personal family archives, filled with charm, quirks, and a delightful touch of chaos. So, scroll on to discover these captivating glimpses, and don’t forget to drop your thoughts in the comments.
#1 My Mom Linda — Then: The First Black Woman To Complete Delaware’s Army National Guard Ocs (1977). Now: Reading Your Reddit Comments, 46 Years Later. She Finally Feels Seen
Image source: Jim_Leggett89
#2 Young Girl & Her Ride In 1947 NYC
Image source: OtherwiseTackle5219
#3 Little Girl Loves Her New Puppy 1950
Image source: OtherwiseTackle5219
#4 1920 Alaskan King Island Inuit Mom & Child
Image source: OtherwiseTackle5219
#5 A Photo/Message My Grandma Sent To My Grandpa While He Was Overseas In WWII
He was stationed on a boat in the Philippines and kept this the whole time. Saved it until his death a few years ago.
Image source: Ivantroffe
#6 Young Lady Show Off Her Long Thick Hair By Letting It Lose, Circa 1880s-90s
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#7 A Woman Working In The Rail Road Yard In The 1940s During The War Time. Marcella Hart, Mother Of 3 Working To Support Her Children, Clinton, Iowa, April 1943
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#8 My Mother During Army Kitchen Duty, Late 1970s
Image source: whitesock
#9 My Great Great Grandmother In 1910
Image source: taviaevon
#10 My Grandparents In 1983. Both Passed Within A Year Of Each Other. This Picture Always Felt Like A Sitcom Still
Image source: AutumnXtravaganza
#11 My Grandmother Was Stunning
Image source: Haveybabby
#12 A Woman Showing Off Her Cat’s Belly, C. 1910, From Ross J. Kelbaugh’s “Catographics” Collection
Image source: nipplequeefs
#13 Couple Of Ladies From Zanzibar, Tanzania Pose For A Portrait In Bright Smiles, 1900s
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#14 Grandpa Made A Nice Haystack In 1929
Image source: 60andwaiting
#15 African American Woman Poses For Her Solo Photo In The Late 1890s
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#16 My Mom Sr. Year Of High School. She Made Her Outfit
Image source: WerkitMom
#17 2 Girls From Krakow, Polonia Smile For The Camera Dressed On Their Traditional Clothes, 1983. Kodachrome Shot
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#18 My Grandma And Her Twin Next To My Grandpa And His Twin On Their Wedding Day. Early 1950s
Image source: 50north14east
#19 My Great-Great-Grandmother, Early 1970s, Papua New Guinea
Image source: ladyweirwood
#20 My Parents Encountering A Rice Barrage After Leaving Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church On Their Wedding Day In 1949. Married 60 Years Until Dad Passed And Mom Will Be 100 In A Few Months
Image source: MyDogGoldi
#21 A Young Woman And Her Dog At A Park (C. 1950s)
Image source: animator1123
#22 Ladies Enjoy The Atlantic City Beach, 1960s. Note: Apparently This Was The “Chicken Bone Beach”
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#23 Easter 1964.. I Would Always Get A New Outfit. That’s Me In Yellow,mom, Younger Brother, Older Brother And My Cousin
Image source: crazypaintinglady
#24 Dangerous Playground Of The 1970s – Photos That Prove Safety Wasn’t A Priority
Image source: unl0veable
#25 My Older Sister In 1970. She Was The Best Older Sister You Could Ask For. I Miss Her
Image source: CaterpillarMission46
#26 My Great Grandma C. 1942
Image source: Apprehensive_Sky5078
#27 1900s, Little Girl Walking Her Cat In Cleveland
Image source: OtherwiseTackle5219
#28 Photo From My Grandmother’s Time Working At Continental Bank In Chicago In The Early 80’s
Image source: OkAd1688
#29 My Boyfriend And I, NJ, 1983
Image source: Slow-moving-sloth
#30 Turning 104 This Year!
Image source: Efficient-Ticket-271
#31 1984: My Mom As A Baby Being Held By Her Mom And Aunt. I Love How Happy And Full Of Life And Love This Moment Feels!
Image source: Kovrenn
#32 Thanksgiving, 1958
Image source: Les_Turbangs
#33 Me, 1959, With Wagon And Duck
Image source: DanDi58
#34 My Parents, Siblings, And Me. 1973, 1975, And 1983. Time Flies
Image source: CaterpillarMission46
#35 More Of My Adorable Grandmother In The 1960s
Image source: mais03_
#36 A Kiss After The Chaos. Christmas Morning 1961. Love The Aluminum Tree
Image source: MyDogGoldi
#37 My Grandparents Moving Into Their First Apartment
Image source: stayyyfree
#38 My Mom 1958. She Worked For A Company That Developed Film. They Asked Her If She Would Mind If They Took Her Picture
Image source: crazypaintinglady
#39 My Grandpa Living His Best Life. Late 1960s I Believe
Image source: zsepthenne
#40 Mom Serving Homemade Appetizers At My Folks’ Annual Neighborhood Christmas Party, 1963
Image source: dittidot
#41 Dec.1943. An Italian Family Sits Down To Dinner In Tarrytown, New York As Documented By Eliot Elisofon A Life Magazine Contributor. The Photo On The Wall Is Of A Son Kia During The Invasion Of Sicily
Image source: CryptographerKey2847
#42 Inspired By Other Post – My Great Grandmother 1910 Or So, Early 20s
Image source: KnowOneHere
#43 My Parents Up To Their Usual Shenanigans In 1983
Image source: CaterpillarMission46
#44 Summer In Amsterdam 1965, My Mother Sunbathing On A Balcony
Image source: Background_Citron801
#45 Before And After, Circa 1905
Image source: Slow-moving-sloth
#46 My Great Grandparents’ Wedding, Rural Pennsylvania, 1943. She Was 15, He Was 19
Image source: Cool-Most9910
#47 Giving My Mom A Big Smile, 1954
Image source: dittidot
#48 1898-My Great Grandma (The Toddler Being Held) And Her Family
Image source: 0nesandzer0es
#49 Random Shot Of Spring Breakers In Florida During The Mid ‘80s
Image source: UrbanAchievers6371
#50 Father And Me 1946. Upon His Return From WWII. He Left When I Was Six Weeks Old
Image source: Zealousideal-Row419
#51 My Brother Passed Away Yesterday Unexpectedly (Age 57). Here We Are With Our Dad When We Were Small (Brother Is On The Right). He Was The Best Brother!
Image source: peaceluvbooks
#52 Friends Celebrate The Birthday Party Of A Young Lady (Green Dress), Circa Mid 1950s, Kodachrome Shot
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#53 Smiling For Dad In Front Of The Grand Canyon, 1960
Image source: dittidot
#54 1950s Alaska, Near Skwentna
Image source: wormmurmur
#55 Over A Thousand European Woman Traveled To America To Find Husbands In 1907
In the early 1900s, rumors had been circulating in Europe that American men couldn’t find wives. With this in mind, just over 1000 maids booked passage on a New York bound ship that arrived on September 27, 1907.
“When the White Star liner Baltic tied up at the foot of West Eleventh Street yesterday morning 1,002 young women tripped down the gangplank and looked about them for husbands,” wrote The New York Times. “Purser H.B. Palmer of the Baltic when asked about his cargo said: ‘They’re here all right. We took on a bunch of them at Liverpool and gathered in over 700 more when we reached Queenstown. You ought to have seen them come up the side of the ship. They did it just as if they expected to find husbands awaiting them on the steerage deck.’”
The Washington Post covered the story too, noting that “each one of the fair consignment was handsome, and study and buxum. . , , They were all sizes and ages and complexions, but each knew her mind.” According to the Times, the girls were aiming higher than steerage. Some said they hoped to marry a railroad engineer, skyscraper builder, or “a Pittsburgh millionaire.”
Image source: CryptographerKey2847
#56 This Young Lady Grew Up To Become My Lovely Wife. This Is She In 1957
Image source: Dhorlin
#57 Photos From My Great-Grandmother’s 1920-1925 Scrapbook (Wisconsin And Minnesota)
Image source: jetpackblues_
#58 Photos From My Great-Grandmother’s 1920-1925 Scrapbook (Wisconsin And Minnesota)
Image source: jetpackblues_
#59 Photos From My Great-Grandmother’s 1920-1925 Scrapbook (Wisconsin And Minnesota)
Image source: jetpackblues_
#60 Me On First Grade Picture Day, 1958
Image source: dittidot
#61 Photos From My Great-Grandmother’s 1920-1925 Scrapbook (Wisconsin And Minnesota)
Image source: jetpackblues_
#62 My Grandfather In The Early 1920s In Nephi, Utah
Image source: im-just-meh
#63 Me 1981.. I Sure Enjoyed My Legs!!
Image source: crazypaintinglady
#64 Photos From My 3rd Birthday Party In 1973. I’m The One In The Black And White Striped Outfit
Image source: ecobot
#65 Grandma & Mom, 1972 (Burger King Birthday)
Image source: karmicnegotiations
#66 My Dad In The Early Seventies
Image source: SelfSpangler
#67 June 1944 In NYC
Image source: TwilitMoods
#68 I Can’t Get Enough Of This Wonderful 1933 Portrait Of My Dad’s Parents And Sisters
Image source: AerieSignal1001
#69 Still Married Since 1966
Image source: Nepenthaceae1
#70 Kirk B., 16, In His Bedroom In Seattle, 1984
Image source: Naurgul
#71 My Grandparents Celebrating On Their Wedding Day, [1963]
Image source: WitchPillow
#72 5 Friends Posing At The Park, Girls Dressed In What Today Looks Like Crop Tops, August Of 1948, Kodachrome Slide
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#73 4 Gals Enjoy A Night At A Restaurant With Some Wine And Beer, 1960s. I Was Surprise When I Spooted The Bag Of Cheetos. Kodachrome Shot
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#74 Mom Cleans A Spill From The Coffe Maker While Baby Sits On The Counter, 1 Of September 1960, Kodachrome Shot
Image source: Electrical-Aspect-13
#75 Chicago 1941. Walking Down Michigan Ave Crossing Ontario Street. The Man Appears To Be Blind And Is Being Assisted By The Lady. A 35mm Negative By John Vachon Restored By Shorpy
Image source: MyDogGoldi
#76 Everyone Is Always In The Kitchen At Parties
Image source: Single_Neck_1757
#77 A Man On The Beach Is Fined For Indecent Clothing, Heemskerk, Netherlands, 1931
Image source: -_Redan_-
#78 Pvt. John D. Parmenter, Co G, 67th Pa Volunteers, Wounded April 6th 1865, He Had To Have His Foot Amputated. He Died In Shortly This Photo Was Taken
Image source: Ok_Being_2003
#79 My Grandma In The Late 1950s
Image source: Few-Long2567
#80 1940 Pic Of Everyone Enjoying A Moment In The Sun At A Boston Tenement
Image source: OtherwiseTackle5219
#81 My Grandmother, Approximately 1980-81
Image source: Spx75
#82 My Mom Swinging On A Swing, With My Granddad In The Back Pushing Her, 1973
Image source: WorldofJedi727
#83 Christmas Couple 1960’s
Image source: Single_Neck_1757
#84 My French Mom At The Beach In The Netherlands, 1959
Image source: CaterpillarMission46
#85 My Great Uncle With His First Wife, 1920’s Arkansas
Image source: Sir_Cartierrr
#86 My Parents’ Wedding Day – 1954
Image source: Dork31
#87 Maternal Great Grandparents’ Wedding Day, 1903. 13 Years Later, He Would Go Into Town On An Errand And Never Return
Image source: OliverGunzitwuntz
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