Woman Standing on a Street Holding a Sign Reading “OUR BOSS OWNS 77 HOUSES — WE CAN’T PAY RENT”

This powerful photograph, taken in Richmond, Virginia, in October 1938, captures a striking moment of protest during the Great Depression. The woman in the image, whose identity is generally unknown, was one of many tobacco workers picketing for higher wages and fair labor conditions.

The image was captured during a period of significant labor activism, where African American women in the tobacco industry were leading strikes to fight for better pay and working conditions.

The woman's sign reads: “Our boss owns 77 houses • We can’t pay rent.” This stark statement highlighted the immense economic disparity between the wealthy employers who were accumulating vast property and the workers who struggled to afford basic necessities like housing, despite their labor fueling the industry.

The photograph was taken on the 900 block of N. Lombardy St. in Richmond, where the buildings visible in the background, including the “Wingo Co” building, are reportedly still standing. The original image is held in the Library of Congress collection as part of the NAACP records.

40 Fascinating Photos Capture People With Christmas Gifts From the Mid-20th Century

Christmas morning in the mid-20th century presented a distinctly charming scene, largely shaped by the post-war economic boom and the rise of mass-market consumerism.

Children’s excitement was palpable as they tore open paper to find classic toys that defined the era. Boys often unwrapped Matchbox cars, Erector Sets, or, later in the period, the first G.I. Joe action figures. Girls’ eyes would light up at the sight of a new Barbie doll (introduced in 1959), a Chatty Cathy doll, or a miniature Easy-Bake Oven. The simplicity of toys like Silly Putty, Play-Doh, or an Etch A Sketch often provided hours of entertainment, reflecting a time when imagination was as important as technology.

For adults, gifts often balanced utility and emerging luxury. Women might receive labor-saving kitchen appliances like a new toaster, blender, or electric mixer, reflecting the idealized role of the mid-century housewife. More personal gifts included fine jewelry or luxurious perfumes. Men's gifts often centered on hobbies or status, such as a new smoking pipe, a sophisticated mantel clock, or matching family pajamas to be worn for the holiday photo.

The atmosphere was one of joyful domesticity, with the gifts under the tinsel-heavy tree symbolizing prosperity, family connection, and the embracing of modern, comfortable living. These fascinating photos capture people with their Christmas gifts in the 1950s and 1960s.

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Historical Photos of Wooden Water Pipelines From the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Wooden water pipelines, made from hollowed-out logs or wooden staves, were a common and effective infrastructure solution used by ancient civilizations and in urban centers across Europe and North America from the 16th to the early 20th centuries.

The earliest form of wooden pipes were single logs, typically from elm or oak, with a hole bored or carved through the center using an auger. The ends were often tapered (male end) and reamed (female or “bell” end) to fit together, forming a seal that became watertight as the wood swelled when soaked with water.

Later, especially for larger diameter pipes in the American West, pipelines were constructed from numerous wooden staves (planks) held together by metal bands or hoops. This method allowed for the construction of continuous, large-diameter pipes. Joints were often reinforced with metal collars or bands and sealed with natural materials like pitch or clay to prevent leaks. Rot-resistant woods such as redwood, cedar, fir, elm, and oak were preferred to ensure longevity.

Wooden pipes were widely used in Europe and became the primary water main material in North American cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Montreal in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were a practical and abundant alternative to cast iron, which was not always readily available.

Wooden pipelines, particularly the large stave type, were a common and effective solution for transporting water over long distances for agriculture, industry, and burgeoning settlements in the American West and Pacific Northwest.

As industrialization made cast iron pipes more economical and reliable, wooden pipes were phased out, though some systems remained in use well into the mid-20th century.

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This “Screaming Spirit” Photo Was Taken Moments After 16-Year-Old John Boulware Was Killed in a Car Crash in 1984

On December 27, 1984, John Boulware was a passenger in a car with three friends, heading to a Prince concert. The driver lost control, and the car crashed head-on into a tree by the southeast corner of Highland Park Golf Course, in St. Paul, Minnesota. John was killed instantly, while the other three teenagers sustained only minor injuries.

As standard procedure, police officer Brian Coyle took photographs of the scene using a 35mm film camera. When the film was developed, one specific photo revealed a blurred, distorted face with its mouth wide open in a silent scream, hovering above the open driver's side door.

The face in the photo bore an uncanny resemblance to John. The image, quickly dubbed “The Screaming Spirit” or “The Screaming Soul,” baffled experts. No technical faults were found with the camera or the negative, and no physical object at the scene could explain the anomaly.

In episode one of Casefiles Unknown (Conrad 2015), Officer Coyle described these strange anomalies: “There were some images on the pictures that definitely weren’t there when I was taking the pictures. There were streaks of light, both red and white, that ran through the pictures. Some of them coming from the images, some of them just passing through the pictures.”

Lines like these, which often appear in alleged paranormal photos, are often attributed to ghostly “energy” because reasons. Actually, it comes down to a lack of understanding of basic photography, specifically the way light interacts with film and sensors which leads to such unfounded conclusions.

Officer Coyle continued to describe the photo, the one that would eventually become known as the “Screaming Spirit” image: “On the side picture of the vehicle, facing the driver’s door, above the vehicle, about even with where the front seat passenger would be sitting, there was a clear image of a face. It appeared to be in agony ... a scream. It had distinctive hair and a distinct profile.”

The photo has sparked decades of debate. Paranormal believers claim the image shows John's soul caught in the shock and confusion of sudden death, attempting to transition to the afterlife. Skeptics argue it is likely a photographic anomaly, such as a double exposure, a trick of light and reflection, or pareidolia (the human tendency to see faces in random patterns).

In October 1958, the Funeral for Pope Pius XII Was Ruined by a Botched Embalming

Pope Pius XII’s funeral in October 1958 was a macabre event due to a botched experimental embalming that caused his body to rapidly decompose, swell, emit a foul odor, and eventually rupture during the procession.

The Pope’s personal physician, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lisi, an ophthalmologist with no forensic experience, decided to use an experimental preservation technique that involved soaking the body in aromatic oils and wrapping it in cellophane, rather than the standard practice of removing internal organs. Pius XII had requested that his organs not be removed, in a departure from the usual procedure at the time.

The combination of the warm October weather, the lack of refrigeration, and the flawed method accelerated anaerobic decomposition. Within hours, the body began to bloat and turn a greenish-black color, emitting such an intense stench that members of the Swiss Guard fainted and had to be rotated every 15 minutes during the public viewing.

The body continued to bloat, and reports indicate his nose and fingers detached. A wax mask was eventually used to cover his face. During the funeral procession from Castel Gandolfo to Rome, built-up internal gases and heat reportedly caused his chest cavity to “explode” or “rupture” with a loud sound in front of shocked mourners and pallbearers.

The incident made global headlines and led to swift consequences. Galeazzi-Lisi was banned from practicing medicine by the Italian Medical Council, dismissed by the newly elected Pope John XXIII, and banned from Vatican City for life. In the wake of this disaster, the Vatican implemented strict new protocols for papal funerals to ensure that standard, professional embalming practices were followed in the future.

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Impressive Fashion Photography by Arik Népo in the Early 1950s

Arik Népo (1913–1961) was a prominent photographer whose work significantly contributed to the visual language of fashion and portraiture in the mid-20th century.

Born in Moscow, Népo became an active figure in the Parisian and New York photography scenes, capturing the elegance of high fashion from the 1930s through the 1950s. His images frequently appeared in prestigious publications like Vogue, featuring designs from renowned houses such as Maggy Rouff, Lucien Lelong, and Hermès.

Népo was known for his sophisticated style, which often focused on dramatic poses and precise composition to highlight the texture of the garments and the refined beauty of his subjects. His black and white gelatin silver prints are valued today as a stylistic record of post-war haute couture and the glamour of the era.

Bettina Graziani wearing a coat in Bianchini Lorganza over a tulle dress by Jean Patou, photo by Arik Nepo at the Serres de la Ville, Paris, Vogue, Paris, July/August 1950

Model wearing a natural mink cape by Lanvin-Castillo, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, Paris, November 1950

Model wearing a nightgown and robe by Schiaparelli, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, Paris, July/August 1950

Bettina Graziani wearing a beautiful white organdy dress with a multitude of braided balls that trim the tiered pleated frills by Carven, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, Paris, May 1950

Bettina Graziani wearing a charming dress in pink shantung embroidered with sparkling stars, her loose coat is in taffeta in the same shade, by Molyneux, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, Paris, May 1950

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Jean-Jacques Grandville: The Master of Anthropomorphic Satire

Jean-Jacques Grandville (born Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard, 1803–1847) was a highly influential French illustrator and caricaturist renowned for his elaborate, often surreal, and politically charged drawings during the Romantic era.

Grandville is best known for his mastery of anthropomorphism, depicting animals, objects, and even plants with human characteristics and poses. His work was frequently published in satirical journals of the time, such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, where he used his fantastical imagery to lampoon social mores and political figures under the July Monarchy. His most celebrated works include the illustrations for La Fontaine’s Fables and his original graphic novels, like Scènes de la vie privée et publique des animaux (Scenes from the Private and Public Life of Animals).

Grandville’s imaginative fusion of the human and animal worlds made him a precursor to Surrealism and cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in 19th-century graphic art.

Combat de deux raffinés, Un Autre Monde, 1844

La Concurrence, Un Autre Monde, 1844

La Mode, Un Autre Monde, 1844

Pérégrinations d'une Comète, Un Autre Monde, 1844

Sol, Un Autre Monde, 1844

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