In 1919, the First World War had just ended, and ordinary folks were left to pick up the pieces as soldiers returned home with deep scars (both visible and invisible). Across cities and countrysides, people tried to rebuild as they grappled with loss and uncertainty.
But amid the turmoil, a new age of jazz and rebellion was beginning to take root — one that would soon define the Roaring Twenties. From protesters demanding better working conditions in factories to the first glimpses of flappers shaking up social norms, here are 32 vintage photos that capture the faces and emotions of a pivotal year in history.
1. A Soldier Returns Home From War Surrounded by His Loved Ones
2. ‘My Great-Grandfather and Friend’
3. An American Veteran Confronts a Member of the State Militia During the Chicago Race Riot, July 27, 1919
4. ‘My Grandpa as a Toddler in 1919’
5. Just Some Future Flappers Having a Girls Day
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6. ‘Group Photo of the Anti-Saloon League in 1919’
7. ‘A German Street Performer Balances a Seated Soldier on His Chin in Berlin’
8. US Soldiers Return Home From France
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9. ‘My Grandpa and His Brother in Chicago, Illinois’
10. Hundreds of Protesters Join Forces To Topple a Streetcar During the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919
11. A Mother and Daughter Share a Tender Moment
12. Kathryn, Theresa, and Elizabeth Shafer Defy Norms of the Time by Posing in Men’s Clothing
13. ‘My Great-Great Grandparents and Their Children Around 1919’
14. A Portrait of Albert I of Belgium, Known as the ‘Soldier King,’ Who Led His Nation and Army During World War I
15. ‘A Father and Child Pose for a Photo To Celebrate Father’s Day’
16. Colorized Image of the ‘Harlem Hellfighters From WWI Wearing the Cross of War Medals’
17. T.E. Lawrence, Better Known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ in Traditional Arab Dress During the Arab Revolt
18. A Colonial Soldier Poses for a Portrait With Two German Women
19. ‘Vera Kholodnaya, Known as the Queen of Silent Cinema, in Ukraine/Russian Empire’
20. A Young Charlie Chaplin Looking Stoic
21. ‘My Mother’s Brother in 1919. He Died in 1966’
22. Students of Hothfield School Pose for a Class Photo During ‘Peace Year,’ Marking the End of WWI
23. ‘My Grandpa’s Grandparents, 1919’
24. ‘My Great-Grandfather (Center) Atop a 45 Cal. Gun on the USS Oklahoma’
25. One of the Earliest-Known Photo Bombs: ‘My Hilarious Grandpa and His Little Sister in Trumann, Arkansas’
26. ‘My Great-Grandmother Wearing Her Father’s Glasses’
27. Droves of Overly-Dressed People Enjoying New Year’s Day at the Surf in Australia
28. Colorized Image of Henry Ford at His Michigan Estate
29. ‘My Great-Grandfather, Grandmother, and Aunt in 1919’
30. Mechanics for the 94th Aero Squadron Flash a Smile During a Group Picture
31. ‘Car Mechanic at Work in 1919’
32. People Take to the Streets to Celebrate the End of WWI During a Victory Festival in Paris, July 14, 1919
Want more 1900s content?
- These Colorized Photos Reveal What Life Looked Like in the 1900s — These photos from the 1900s transport us back in time to help us better visualize what life was like 125 years ago.
- 34 Fascinating Photos That Show What Life Was Really Like in the 1900s — These photos depict America before it was riddled with the sounds and technologies of the future.
- 21 Photos That Capture the Women’s Suffrage Movement — Whether marching through the streets of Washington, D.C., or sitting behind bars in rural county jails, these women embodied the courage and conviction that powered a revolution and changed history.
