Vintage Photos

22 Colorized Photos That Open A Window Into 1922

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Split image: On the left, a sad boy sits on a curb with his face in his hands, comforted by a dog. On the right, an early 1900s car with purple highlights is crashed and tilted on a city street.

Black and white history can feel distant, like something sealed off in a textbook, but color has a way of bringing the past to life. Suddenly, the people of 1922 don’t seem like figures from another era. They feel real and surprisingly familiar.

These colorized photos offer a rare glimpse into everyday life from a world that was different and quickly changing. From city streets to quiet home scenes, each image opens a window into the way people dressed and acted before modern life took shape. Let’s dive into 22 colorized photos that open a window into 1922.

1. Working hard on a Radium clock, 1922

A woman in a light blue lab coat carefully paints numbers onto a clock face at a long workbench, surrounded by other women and numerous clock parts in a well-lit workshop.
angelina_retro/VIA Reddit.com

2. Irish revolutionary Michael Collins, 1922

Historical photograph showing a man in a suit speaking passionately to a large crowd; the left half is black and white, and the right half is colorized.
tomasthemossy/VIA Reddit.com

3. Annie Oakley, about to show off her sharpshooting

A smiling woman in a dark dress, boots, and hat stands on a muddy path holding a shotgun. The background shows blurred people, horses, and green fields.
chickentorch/VIA Reddit.com

4. Capt. Kopper and “Cootie” at the White House, 1922

A young man sits in a vintage yellow race car labeled "THE COOTIE" and number 7, parked on a street with the White House visible in the background behind an iron fence and trees.
tocholin/VIA Reddit.com

5. Children walking to school in North London, 1922

A group of young children in coats, led by a man in a trench coat and hat, cross a wet city street in front of old brick buildings and shops on a rainy day.
memorylanepr/VIA Reddit.com

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6. The IRA 3rd Batalion of the Dublin Brigade walking down Grafton Street during the Irish Civil War, 1922

A group of armed men in coats and hats walk down a wet, empty city street lined with old buildings under a cloudy sky. Some carry rifles and wear sashes; a clock hangs on a lamppost in the background.
userdeleted/VIA Reddit.com

7. Making the most out of the Knickerbocker Storm, 1922

Two people wearing winter clothes and hats stand smiling in a snow-covered city street, surrounded by deep snow and falling snowflakes. Buildings and a distant figure are visible in the blurry background.
oneiricroad/VIA Reddit.com

8. Margaret Gorman, the first Miss America, 1922

A young woman with wavy brown hair wears a large blue hat, a blue dress with a white sash that reads "MISS," and a medal pinned to her chest, smiling outdoors on a sunny day.
tlcolors/VIA Reddit.com

9. This officer is sporting his new Henderson, August 1922

A police officer in uniform stands behind a vintage blue motorcycle on a cobblestone street, with a wooden dresser and a sign reading "American Base Ball Club" visible in the background.
meltalaustrian/VIA Reddit.com

10. The first example of portable radio, May 1922

A young man stands outside a shop window, wearing early headphones and holding a hat with a radio receiver inside. He is dressed in a period suit and stands in front of a restaurant sign.
wildyaks/VIA Reddit.com

11. New York Yankee Lou Gherig when he played fullback for the Columbia University football team, 1922

A young man with curly hair wearing a worn, light-colored sweatshirt stands outdoors, possibly on a sports field, with trees and greenery in the blurry background. His face and neck appear smudged with dirt.
morganmonroe81/VIA Reddit.com

12. Margaret Gorman in her Miss America sash, 1922

A woman stands on grass wearing a straw hat, light blouse, pleated skirt, and white shoes. She has a sash reading "Miss America." A large building and trees appear in the background under a clear sky.
hungry-two-380/VIA Reddit.com

13. Pauline Floyd, the youngest female attorney in the U.S. at the time, 1922

A woman in a dark suit sits at a desk with papers, a telephone, and a box. She looks at the camera, and soft light streams through large windows behind her.
anamnesiss/VIA Reddit.com

14. This train was run off the tracks, 1922

A large group of people, including adults and children, stand and walk near colorful train cars on a dirt field, with patterned farmland and trees on a hill in the background.
mentalaustrian/VIA Reddit.com

15. This car has seen better days, 1922

A vintage purple car with a broken front axle is stuck in a streetcar track on a city street, its front wheels splayed apart. People and old cars are visible in the background.
gameaddikt/VIA Reddit.com

16. H.G. Corcoran, using the wire springs of his bed as an aerial for his radio, 1922

A man in a brown suit sits at a small desk in a bedroom, wearing headphones and operating early radio equipment. A metal bed frame, dresser with bottles, and wall pictures are visible in the background.
userdeleted/VIA Reddit.com

17. Gloria Swanson, 1922

A woman in a dramatic headpiece and long earrings poses in front of a circular, window-like background. She wears dark makeup, a bare-shouldered gown, and gazes directly at the camera with a mysterious expression.
userdeleted/VIA Reddit.com

18. A boy and his best friend, 1922

A young boy sits on a cobblestone street next to a brick wall, looking sad with his head down, while a black dog stands beside him, gently nuzzling his face in comfort.
xander-lionheart/VIA Reddit.com

19. This shoe repair promotional car could actually be driven, 1922

A man in a suit and hat stands beside a vintage black car with “Peters Bros.” and addresses painted on the side, parked in front of a brick building covered with ivy.
jecinci/VIA Reddit.com

20. King George VI riding a merry-go-round, 1922

A man in a gray suit and hat rides a decorated carousel horse at an amusement park. Other men in suits are seen riding nearby. The atmosphere feels vintage, and the scene is lively and colorful.
jecinci/VIA Reddit.com

21. A crowd gathers outside King Tut’s tomb, the Valley of the Kings, Egypt, 1922

A group of people, including men in traditional clothing and pith helmets, gather at the entrance of an ancient stone tomb set in a rocky, desert landscape. Some guards stand nearby, and the area appears historical and archaeological.
zuzahin/VIA Reddit.com

22. Memorial Day at Arlington Cemetery, 1922

A man lays a wreath on a large white tomb as uniformed soldiers and civilians stand nearby. An American flag is held in the foreground. The scene takes place outside a white stone building.
klassixx/VIA Reddit.com

Want to see more colorized photos?

Check out 26 Colorized Vintage Photos From 1899, or take a look at 20 Colorized Photos That Make 100 Years Ago Feel Like Yesterday. Finally, if you want to see the first year of the 20th century in color, check out 20 Colorized Photos From The First Year of the 20th Century (1901).

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Meet the Writer


Patrick Nichols

Patrick is a writer based in upstate New York, where he grew up and still calls home. Over the past year, he’s been diving deep into storytelling, especially tales rooted in history, the Wild West, lost treasures, and ancient artifacts. He’s also drawn to unsolved mysteries and whatever the internet can’t stop talking about.

Whether it’s a centuries-old legend or a bizarre internet rabbit hole, Patrick is always chasing the threads of a compelling story. When he’s not chasing stories, Pat’s probably hiking mountain trails with his dog, exploring new corners of the U.S., or doom-scrolling between hangouts with friends and family. He finds inspiration in nature, forgotten places, and random conversations—anything that sparks curiosity. Whether it’s city streets or backcountry paths, Patrick’s always on the lookout for the next great story.



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