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Topic

1930s

John Vachon’s portraits, row houses and the waterfront bring everyday Baltimore into view. City maps and transportation photographs add to the record of the 1930s.

31 stories
Man with a pipe holding a small dog on the front steps of a Baltimore row house.
A Man, a Pipe and a Small Dog in Baltimore, 19381 min read

John Vachon’s 1938 portrait catches a Baltimore row-house resident on his front steps, with a pipe in his mouth and a small dog on his lap.

B&W photograph of the tip-off to a basketball game played as part of National Youth Administration recreation program, Baltimore, ca. 1935.
A Baltimore Basketball Tip-Off Around 19351 min read

Young men prepare for a basketball tip-off in a National Youth Administration recreation program around 1935.

The Auditorium and Stanley Theatres on Howard Street1 min read

A theater photograph and a March 1933 advertisement for 42nd Street offer clues to the scene’s date.

Baltimore, Maryland. Looking toward Logan Field and Sparrow Point.
Baltimore From Above on June 18, 19351 min read

This aerial photograph looks toward Logan Field and Sparrows Point in June 1935.

Camels advertisement
An Old Camel Cigarette Advertisement1 min read

This cigarette advertisement promoted Camel’s claimed mildness.

municipal baths - July, 1938
Baltimore’s Municipal Baths in July 19381 min read

An old photograph shows municipal bath buildings in Baltimore in July 1938.

October 24th, 1938 classifieds
Baltimore Apartment Listings From October 19381 min read

The Baltimore Sun’s October 24, 1938, classifieds show apartments for rent and the prices landlords advertised.

Baltimore row houses
Baltimore Row Houses in an Undated Photograph1 min read

An undated photograph from the New York Public Library shows Baltimore row houses.

Baltimore Amoco gas station between Howard and Centre
A Baltimore Amoco Station in the 1930s1 min read

An old photograph shows a downtown Baltimore Amoco gas station in the 1930s.

Historic American Buildings Survey E. H. Pickering, Photographer July 1936 VIEW FROM STREET - 1621 Thames Street (House), Fell's Point, Baltimore, Independent City, MD
1621 Thames Street in July 19361 min read

E. H. Pickering photographed this house on Thames Street in Fell’s Point during the Great Depression.

Historic American Buildings Survey E. H. Pickering, Photographer September 1936 - Lee & South Charles Street (Brick Row Houses), Baltimore
Brick Row Houses at Lee and South Charles Streets, 19361 min read

E. H. Pickering photographed these brick row houses for the Historic American Buildings Survey in September 1936.

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