The late 1910s were years when the world was emerging from the shadows of the First World War. Societies were shifting, and everyday life was being reshaped in real time. Most photos from that era were captured in black and white, freezing history in dark contrast. But through careful colorization, those same moments now feel more relatable. Suddenly, the past doesn’t seem so distant; it becomes relatable, tangible, and alive.
Whether it’s a soldier’s expression, a city street buzzing with activity, or quiet domestic moments, each image is a vivid reminder that history wasn’t lived in black and white. It was full of color, emotion, and life, just like today. Here are 25 colorized photos from the late 1910s.
1. Ottoman soldiers on the Galacien front, 1917
2. A British soldier on the Western Front, January 1917
3. Australian soldiers wearing gas masks in Ypres, 1917
4. Austro-Hungarian soldiers taking their horses for a swim, 1917
5. Having some lunch in Paris, 1917
Trending on The Scroller
6. A soldier at Passchendaele, 1917
7. A U.S. soldier saying goodbye to his family to fight in WWI, 1917
8. Refusing a passenger with no mask during the Spanish Flu, 1918
Sign up for our newsletter
9. Veterans in Toronto, 1918
10. Brewery workers in Cheshire, 1918
11. This photo was taken during the Spanish flu in California, 1918
12. Sergeant Stubby wearing his military decorations, 1918
13. Czech soldiers showing off the armoured train they captured from the Red Army, 1918
14. Recovering British soldiers playing basketball with W.A.A.C.s in France, 1918
15. Chalmers touring car in San Francisco, 1919
16. Shell service station in San Francisco, 1919
17. They built this man a prosthetic arm for welding, 1919
18. How mechanics worked on cars in 1919
19. A New York couple getting ready for a joyride, 1919
20. Viewing the British R33 airship in Yorkshire, 1919
21. 2-year-old JFK and his brother Joseph, 1919
22. Charlie Chaplin meeting Helen Keller, 1919
23. New Zealanders at the main entrance to the Cologne Cathedral, 1919
24. Driving through San Francisco, 1919
25. A German U-Boat that washed ashore, 1919
Want to see some more early 1900s content?
Check out 20 Colorized Photos From The Mid-1920s, or take a look at 20 Vintage Photos Of New York City from the 1920s. Finally, if you want to see what life was like in the beginning of the 20th century, check out 25 Colorized Photos of the Beginning of the 20th Century (1900-1905).
