Happy Father’s Day!
FATHER WITH LITTLE GIRL ON A CRABBING EXPEDITION ON THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL, 09/1973
Blair Pittman, Photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA series.
Looking for a fun Father’s Day outing? Check out the current exhibit at the National Archives: “Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Project”!
It’s Flashback Friday, when we feature a 1970s photo in honor of our current exhibit “Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Project.” And it’s also National Donut Day!
What’s your favorite donut?
Image: Jim Tillman of Tillman’s Bakery in New Ulm, Minnesota, taken in October of 1974 (DOCUMERICA series, ARC 558360)
The first drive-in movie theater opened in 80 years ago in Camden, New Jersey on June 6, 1933.
DRIVE-IN MOVIE AT FIELDS POINT, 03/1973
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
What could be better than a drive-in movie on a Saturday night?
Source: http://go.usa.gov/T3kW
YOUNG GIRL SITS ON THE PORCH STEPS DAYDREAMING WHILE HER CAT SNIFFS FLOWERS. HER HOME IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE AUTO EMISSION INSPECTION STATION IN NORWOOD, OHIO. NORWOOD AND CINCINNATI BEGAN TESTING IN JANUARY, 1975, FOR CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS. SOME 250,000 VEHICLES ARE REGISTERED IN THE TWO CITIES OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THAT 185,000 WILL BE TESTED BY THE END OF 1975 VEHICLES MUST BE CHECKED ANNUALLY BY AN EXHAUST ANALYZER, 09/1975
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
It’s National Hug Your Cat Day! Find a furry feline and give it a nice squeeze.
Source: http://go.usa.gov/2Aaz
Yikes! Not sure how we missed National Hug Your Cat Day — but maybe June 5 is National Walk Your Cat Day?
THE SUN RISES OVER CLEVELAND’S SMOG-OBSCURED SKYLINE, 06/1973
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
A beautiful sunrise, but unfortunately over a smog-filled city.
Source: http://go.usa.gov/2wDh
Some of our DOCUMERICA photographs are featured in “Hurricane Sandy: Record, Remember, Rebuild,” the new project over at Historypin.
Using maps, you can see images of the area affected by the hurricane. Our DOCUMERICA images show the shoreline before Sandy. Other archives and libraries have added photographs taken during and after the storm.
They would like contributions from individuals and institutions, so take a look and add your own!
HAMBURGER STAND OFFERS CUSTOMERS A QUICK BITE WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR SUBWAY TRAIN ON THE 42ND STREET STATION OPERATED BY THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY… 07/1974
Pickerell, Jim, 1936-, Photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA series.
Hop off at your local subway hamburger stand for National Hamburger Day!
The Sierra Club, one of the oldest environmentalist groups in the United States, was founded by Scottish-American conservationist John Muir on May 28, 1892 in San Francisco.
Sierra Club Nature Hike, 05/1972
Dick Rowan, photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA series.
(Be sure to see the 1893 map & petition from the group protesting a potential reduction of Yosemite National Park.)
Happy 130th to the Brooklyn Bridge!
When it opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Designed and built by German-born John A. Roebling and his son, Washington A. Roebling, the bridge connected New York and Brooklyn. The remarkable design used Roebling’s patented system of steel wire cable construction. Its graceful limestone and granite towers, pictured here, took 5 years to build.
- Photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge Across the East River, 04/1974. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA Series
- Plan of One Tower for the East River Bridge, 1867
- Pedestrians on the upper deck promenade of Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, ca. 1910
JIM WALTER, NATURALIST WITH EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK COUNTS LOGGERHEAD TURTLE EGGS AND RE-SETS THE NEST, 08/1972
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
Today is World Sea Turtle Day! Along the seashore, it’s lights out at night during the months of May to September to protect the nesting sea turtles.
Source: http://go.usa.gov/2weJ
A vintage 1970s Levi’s display, courtesy of #Documerica, on the anniversary of their patent for an “improvement in fastening pocket openings.”
LEVI JEANS DISPLAY CASE
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
Today is the 140th anniversary of the Levi’s jeans patent! Keeping their enduring popularity as a blue jeans company from their establishment through today.
It’s Bike to Work Day! For today’s Flashback Friday post in honor of our exhibit “Searching for the Seventies” we found this DOCUMERICA photo of a bike in El Paso, Texas, in 1972.
“El Paso’s Second Ward, a Chicano Neighborhood, 06/1972”
Danny Lyon, Photographer.Did you have a bike in the 1970s? Did it have a banana seat? Streamers flowing from the handlebars?
“My chrome is shining just like an icicle
I ride around town on my lowrider bicycle…”
(possibly gratuitous but almost certainly requisite Beastie Boys quote)
It’s bike to work day!
ARIZONA, 05/1972
Terry Eiler, photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA series.
(More items from DOCUMERICA are currently on exhibit at the National Archives: “Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project”)
Unfortunately the caption doesn’t tell us much, but we know this smart cyclist remembered his helmet!
Did you bike to work? Tandem? Recumbent? Bikeshare?
VIRGINIA SHEA, LEFT, AND SHARON CARDILLO, ON DOORSTEP OF HOUSE ON NEPTUNE ROAD. THIS IS THE COMMUNITY CLOSEST TO LOGAN AIRPORT, AND RESIDENTS FACE A COMPLEX OF PROBLEMS, FROM AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION TO DWINDLING PROPERTY VALUES. MANY HOUSE EXTERIORS SHOW LACK OF MAINTENANCE. PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO PAY MONEY TO KEEP UP STRUCTURES THEY MAY SOON BE FORCED TO VACATE, 05/1973
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
These ladies exude Seventies style in their bell-bottom jeans.
Source: http://go.usa.gov/2wpH
AFTER A COLD MORNING OF PATROL DUTY POLICE OFFICER SHEARER AND CHIEF ALLEC ENJOY HOT COFFEE AT MAC’S CAFE, 01/1973
From the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency (12/02/1970-)
Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day, also known as Police Week. Take the opportunity to thank law enforcement officers today!
Source: http://go.usa.gov/2wGV
