Unusual Vintage Images of American Groups Before the 1950s

Here are 11 unusual vintage images of American crowds, rallies, assemblies, teams, organizations... from W. M. Hunt's private collection “Hunt’s Three Ring Circus: American Groups Before 1950,” all made before the 1950s.

Over the years, Hunt has collected hundreds of group photos. He finds some of them on eBay or through dealers. Others come to him from friends, who will snap a picture of a photo for sale at a flea market and ask him if he wants it.

E. J. Kelty, Century Photographers, Hunt’s Three Ring Circus, Northport, Long Island, New York, June 26, 1931.

Unidentified Photographer, Ramona, Rebekah Lodge, No. 83, I. O.O.F., late 19th–early 20th century.

The Press Department, Bell Telephone Department, New York World’s Fair, 1939.

Unidentified Photographer, Buy V Bonds, 1940s.

Fred Hess & Son, Miss America Pageant—Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sept. 7–12, 1953.

Fred Hess and Son, Central Studios, Inter City Beauties, Showmen’s Variety Jubilee, Steel Pier, Atlantic City, Sept. 3–8, 1935.

Falk Photo, A Picnic on Goodavage Farm, Venango, Pennsylvania, Decoration Day, May 1924.

E.V.N. Hitchcock Studio, Phillips Academy Baseball Team, late 19th century.

Knickerbocker Pictures, SMILING, Testimonial Dinner to Thomas E. Croake, by X22 Shop Laborers, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Hotel St. George, July 31, 1943.

Elmer Chickering, Living flag and parade, 1904.

Mile High Photo Co., Walther League Party—Tour No. 1 En Route to San Francisco Convention, “Looking Pleasant” on Denver Mountain Parks Drive, July 22, 1925.

(Photos courtesy of W. M. Hunt / Collection Blind Pirate, New York and the International Center of Photography, via Slate)