June 30, 2008

Adolf Hitler Watching a Weapons Demonstration

logibear64 uploaded this photo of Adolf Hitler and some cronies watching a weapons demonstration:
Adolf Hitler and Others Watch a Weapons Demonstration

And this one of a 6 January 1942 meeting between Hitler and Indian nationalist leader Chandra Bose:
Indian nationalist leader Chandra Bose meets with Adolf Hitler

The Gouge Family of North Carolina circa 1898

June 26, 2008

1905 Newspaper Ad for a Cure for Drunkeness

Drunkards Cured Secretly (Ad)

Bank Robbery Gone Wrong

Senora1890 put together this terrific story page about a bank robbery on August 9th, 1923 in Ketchum, Oklahoma.

She's included nice details about the event, photos and historical records of the people involved and newspaper clippings.

Here's a picture of the teller area of the bank:

June 25, 2008

WW 2 picture of Jimmy Stewart Recieving a Medal

President Roosevelt Goes Hunting

In April of 1905, President Teddy Roosevelt went hunting in Colorado. He is reported to have killed a bear and a bobcat and said, "It was bully sport, and I hope it keeps up."


June 24, 2008

German Crown Prince Frederick William

On August 12, 1914 the Atalanta Constitution ran an image on the front page of German Crown Prince Frederick William and talked about him heading off to fight in Belgium:
German Crown Prince Frederick William Fights in Belgium

Seven days later, on August 19, they were reporting that he had been seriously wounded.
German Crown Prince Seriously Wounded - August 1914

June 1914 - Archduke Ferdinand Assasinated

This Saturday marks the 94th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg. The assassination was a catalyst for World War 1.

On June 29, 1914, the front page of the Atlanta Constitution carried the story:
The Atlanta Constitution Marks the Death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

For a few days after the assasination, the front page included stories about their deaths and the funeral that followed, then the topic left the front page for nearly a month.

On July 25, the front page picked up the action with this story:
WWI develops in Europe as Reported By the Atalanta Constitution

The next day the front page carried this headline:
July 1914 - Europe Trembles on Brink of Titanic War

And by the 30th of July:
July 30, 1914 - Atlanta Constitution Reports the Beginning of World War 1

For weeks following, the war dominated the front page.

June 20, 2008

Babe Ruth in in the National Guard

Bill Russell needs "tutoring to cope with the professional style of play"

The Boston Celtics won their first championship in 1957. Here's a clip from an article in which Red Auerbach discusses the Celtics prospects for the 1956-1957 season including his hope that Bill Russell will come to play for the Celtics. Also mentions Tom Heinshon in a list of "good-looking first year men."

Bill Russell needs "tutoring to cope with the professional style of play"

June 18, 2008

The Promise of Footnote

When the idea of Footnote was first conceived there were several things that we wanted to do, or do differently, but the main motivation was to provide a place where everyone can interact with original source information about history. The idea was that together we can tell a richer story about the people, places and events of the past.

Each of us has information in a shoebox of old photos, a journal, in our memories or in research we've done that sheds new light and clarity on the lives of individuals and on the major events that shape history.

Here's a good example of the kind of thing that we hoped would happen:
This birth certificate included an error when it was created, but SBuntyn discovered the problem and posted a comment on the image and now, anyone who searches Footnote for Josiah Franklin Buntyn can find this certificate.

Workmen on the Alaska Highway 1943-1944

This photo is one of several wonderful old pictures of Alaska that were uploaded to Footnote by califkaren you can see the others from her profile page or using the filmstrip in the viewer once you get to this photo.

Workmen: Alaska Highway 1943-44

Photo of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire

Here are some pictures of San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906.

san-francisco-fire-sacramento-street-1906-04-18.jpg
Sacramento Street

492.city_hall_ba_fire.jpg
City Hall Before and After

San_Francisco_earthquake.jpg
Click to see the full-sized image

SF in Ruins.jpg
Click to see the full-sized image

June 17, 2008

Cycling into Singapore in World War II

Here's a photo from a collection of Japanese images captured during World War 2.



You can see the rest of the photos here using the filmstrip at the bottom of the page.

Investigating Singer's Midgets

Here's a page from a great case file from the BOI (Bureau of Investigation - precursor to the FBI).

During World War I the BOI investigated people who were accused of pro-German sentiments. In this case, the leader of a Vaudeville troop called Singer's Midgets was reported, but the folks who reported him may have had an ulterior motive--his act was more popular than theirs.

Singer

You can read the full case file starting here and using the filmstrip at the bottom of the page to get to the rest of the images and here's a link to some additional pages from the investigation (see the images connected to this one by clicking the "Connect" button at the top of the viewer).

[update] According to IMDB and Wikipedia, Singer's Midgets featured prominently as Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz

June 16, 2008

Brady Photos of Walt Whitman

Here are a few pictures of Walt Whitman from the Mathew Brady Collection of Civil War photos.

Picture of Walt Whitman from Mathew Brady Collection

Walt Whitman photo from Matthew Brady Collection

Walt Whitman photo by Mathew Brady