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35 Vintage Photos Of The Late 1910s

Vintage Photos History June 9, 2025

Last Updated on June 9, 2025 by Matt Staff

The late 1910s were a time of rapid change. As World War I came to a close, people worldwide were busily grappling with its aftermath and trying to rebuild their lives. This collection of 35 vintage photos from the late 1910s aims to tell a bit of the story from that period.

1. A young soldier with his mother just before he left for WWI

A young man in a military uniform sits beside an older woman in a white dress; they sit closely on ornate chairs, with the woman looking at the man against a plain studio backdrop.
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2. That’s one lucky soldier, 1917

A smiling World War I soldier with a bandaged head holds his helmet aloft in one hand and carries a rifle and gear on his back, standing outdoors on a dirt path.
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3. Vladimir Lenin during the October Revolution, 1917

A man in a suit stands on a platform, raising his hat to a large crowd gathered in front of an ornate building. The people are dressed in early 20th-century clothing and appear to be listening intently.
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4. Big Nims of the 3rd Battalion, 366th Infantry, 1917

A Black man in a military flight suit sits outdoors, grinning widely and holding an oxygen mask. The background is blurry, and the photo conveys a joyful, candid moment.
oldsoul8789

5. Someone’s great-grandfather on active service in Egypt, 1917

Four people in pith helmets sit on camels in front of the Sphinx and pyramids in Egypt, with one person standing and another kneeling beside the camels in a desert setting.
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6. Suffragette posing with an American flag on a broom handle, 1917

A woman in early 20th-century clothing holds a U.S. flag over her shoulder and a broom in her other hand, standing against a plain background and looking toward the camera.
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7. Someone’s grandfather and his dog in his new 1917 Ford

A black-and-white photo of a person sitting in an old-fashioned open car with a dog beside them, parked on grass near a wooden barn and split-rail fence, with trees and hills in the background.
mks113

8. An Allied soldier patching up the paw of a Red Cross working dog, 1917

A man in a helmet and uniform kneels and gives a note to a dog wearing a medical vest, outside a stone building with an open door and a small window.
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9. Old-school Zamboni, 1917

A black-and-white photo shows a woman driving an early ice resurfacer machine on an indoor ice rink, while a man walks behind, guiding an attached device across the ice.
justchuck1070

10. People observing a fountain that froze solid in Detroit in 1917

A towering ice formation resembling a frozen fountain stands in a snowy park surrounded by bare trees, with two people in winter coats nearby and buildings visible in the background.
onepersononeidea

11. Theda Bara on the set of Cleopatra, 1917

A woman in a dramatic costume with an ornate headdress featuring a large disk and horns, wearing bold eye makeup and a sequined outfit, poses in front of a plain stone wall.
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12. An American soldier returning home to his family, 1917

A smiling soldier hugs a woman and lifts a child in his arms at a train station, while other people, including soldiers and a woman in black, look on. Passengers are visible through the train windows in the background.
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13. A gauntlet dagger from WWI

A man in a military uniform wears a cap, an eye patch, and has a metal prosthetic arm with a blade attachment, against a dark background.
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14. Women delivering ice, 1918

Two women in overalls use metal tongs to lift a large block of ice from the street, with more ice blocks and a horse-drawn wagon in the background.
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15. American soldiers paying tribute to the eight million horses, donkeys, and mules that died during WWI

A large group of people, mostly men in uniform, stand arranged in a formation that forms the shape of a human face in profile, viewed from above. The image is sepia-toned, giving it a vintage look.
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16. Helen Keller meeting Charlie Haplin, 1918

A woman gently touches the face of a man holding a hat, standing together on a dirt pathway between buildings, both dressed in early 20th-century clothing.
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17. A pyramid of captured German helmets in New York, 1918

A large crowd gathers in a city square around a tall pyramid made of stacked objects, flanked by decorated columns, with cannons and flags visible, suggesting a public event or celebration.
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18. An American and German soldier shaking each other’s hands, 1918

Two soldiers, one in a U.S. uniform and one in a German uniform, shake hands outdoors; several other men stand in the background, some blurred, in a grassy area. The photo appears to be historical, possibly from World War I.
harvickfan4life

19. People in California during the influenza pandemic, 1918

A black-and-white photo of seven people wearing coats, hats, and face masks, standing outdoors. One person holds a sign that reads "Wear a mask or go to jail." The scene appears historical and somber.
lumiaglow

20. Annie Oakley teaching women how to shoot, 1918

A group of women and children, dressed in early 20th-century clothing, stand and sit on the porch of a rustic log cabin. Two women at the front are aiming rifles, while others watch or chat nearby.
sdmf98

21. Charlie Chaplin selling war bonds on Wall Street, 1918

A large crowd fills a city street in front of tall buildings and waving flags. A man stands on a platform, raising his hat and arm, as the crowd cheers and waves back. The scene appears to be from an early 20th-century event.
archiguru

22. American troops holding a boxing match on the way home from France, 1918

A large group of soldiers in uniform gathers on the deck of a ship, closely watching two men boxing in the center as others look on from the upper level. The scene appears to be from a historical military context.
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23. Women sharpening an axe, 1918

Two women outdoors use a grinding wheel to sharpen a tool. One operates the wheel by turning the handle while the other holds a blade against the stone. Logs and trees are visible in the background.
jocke75

24. Underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, 1918

Black and white photo of horse-drawn carts on a dirt road beneath a large bridge, with buildings and smoky, foggy air in a cityscape, evoking an early 20th-century urban scene.
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25. Leola King, America’s first female traffic cop, 1918

A woman in a vintage police uniform and cap stands on a city street, extending one arm to direct traffic. She wears gloves, a badge, and boots, with a blurred building and pedestrians in the background.
brolbo

26. Baseball players during the 1918 flu epidemic

A vintage black-and-white photo of a baseball game with players wearing face masks. The batter stands ready, the catcher crouches behind the plate, and the umpire observes, all while wearing old-fashioned uniforms and protective gear.
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27. NYC Women’s machine gun police squad, 1918

Three women in vintage military uniforms ride a motorcycle with a sidecar; one drives, while another sits in the sidecar aiming a large machine gun skyward. The third woman sits behind the driver, outdoors on a sunny day.
othais

28. The U.S. Army Jazz Band, 1918

Four men in military uniforms play instruments, including piano and drums, in a wooden hall. One man sits on a piano, smiling and gesturing energetically. Empty chairs are arranged nearby, and a drum with "Jazz Band" is visible.
ryansmith

29. Soldiers from WWI, wearing Cross of War medals, 1919

Nine African American World War I soldiers pose in uniform, wearing long brown coats and caps. Some have medals on their chests. They stand and kneel in two rows against a metal background.
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30. Australian nurses ready to battle the influenza epidemic, 1919

A group of people wearing white masks and protective clothing stand beside vintage cars and a motorcycle marked “SOS” on a city street, likely during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Buildings and trees are in the background.
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31. A food truck from 1919

Three women stand by an old-fashioned truck converted into a street food or produce stand, parked on a city street. The truck’s back is filled with bread and goods. Vintage cars and buildings are visible in the background.
brolbo

32. Henry Ford in 1919

An older man in a gray suit sits on the grass near a fence, surrounded by tall greenery, looking thoughtful and smiling slightly. The scene appears calm and natural.
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33. This is how mechanics worked on cars in 1919

A mechanic wearing overalls works underneath a vintage car elevated at an angle on wooden supports inside a large, industrial garage or workshop. The scene is black and white.
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34. Someone’s great-grandmother before parachuting out of this plane

A person in aviator attire stands in front of a vintage biplane marked "AVRO G-E", with two others near the aircraft. The scene is outdoors on grass, and the photo appears black and white, suggesting a historical era.
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35. Crowds gathered to show respect for the soldiers that were killed in the Great War, 1919

A massive crowd of people, mostly men in dark suits, fills a city street, stretching far into the distance. Tall buildings line the sides, and a streetlamp rises above the densely packed crowd.
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Check out more early 1900s content:

Check out these 20 Colorized Photos From The Early 1920s, or take a look at 20 Of The Best Cars From The 1930s. Finally, if you want to see what school looked like in 1930, take a look at 20 Vintage Photos Of What School Looked Like In The 1930s.

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