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A Look Back

Most of us enjoy taking pictures of family and friends. Our photos hold special memories, and document day-to-day activities as well as once-in-a-lifetime moments. Each image tells a story and captures a bit of our history. As part of our mission, The History Museum collects and preserves images, both print and digital. Our archival collection numbers over 25,000 photographs. Enjoy these and let us know if you have more information about any that you see. Stay tuned, because we will be adding to this page. We love sharing history with you in this way!

1870s
Horse-drawn milk delivery cart outside a wooden building in 19th-century rural America.
Lakeville Creamery

Get your milk and ice cream!

1878 baseball team portrait, vintage black and white photo at The History Museum, showcasing early South Bend baseball players.
Green-
stockings

Play Ball!

Antique telescope and scientists in historical museum discovery scene, 19th-century science exploration.
Notre Dame Astronomy Lab

I see Mars!

Old steam locomotive from the early 20th century at The History Museum, showcasing transportation history.
Grand Trunk Railroad

All Aboard!

1878 baseball team portrait, vintage black and white photo at The History Museum, showcasing early South Bend baseball players.
Green-
stockings

Play Ball!

Antique telescope and scientists in historical museum discovery scene, 19th-century science exploration.
Notre Dame Astronomy Lab

I see Mars!

1880s
Crowd at a vintage parade with elephants, early 20th-century city street scene, historic event, community gathering, The History Museum.
The Circus

The day the circus came to South Bend

Old man with vintage suitcase and walking cane, historical photograph from the 19th century.
Simon Pokagon

Well-known Potawatomi writer.

Family portrait of a man, woman, and a baby, vintage photograph.
Roman Luzny and Pauline Zach

Newly married

Horse-drawn carriage with people in historic clothing outside a house, vintage photo.
4th of July 1889

No fireworks in sight

1890s
Tiny historical guardhouse in snow, Northern Indiana Historical Society.
Winter Scene

Brrrr!

Horse-drawn fire wagon and firefighters in historical downtown Indianapolis, early 20th century.
Buffalo Bill Cody

…and his Old West carnival show

Horse-drawn carriage with people in vintage clothing, historic urban street scene, early 20th century.
William Jennings Bryan

Vote for me!

Industrial town with factories and smokestacks along a river in a historic black and white photograph.
The West Race - Birdsell

What the heck is a clover huller?

Winding wheel bicycle and young man outside wooden building, historical photo from Northern Indiana Historical Society, vintage outdoor scene.
Bicycle

Watch out for the velocipede

Horse-drawn carriage with people in historic clothing outside a house, vintage photo.
4th of July 1889

No fireworks in sight

1900s
Older black and white photo of doctors treating a patient in a vintage medical office or clinic setting.
Barber Shop

Inside the Oliver Hotel

Vintage classroom with women working on early telecommunications at The History Museum.
Telephone Operators

Number please…

People gathering for a historical event in a park, early 1900s, black and white photograph.
Turnverein Club

A local German club

Women in early 20th century fashion standing in front of a vintage car outside the History Museum.
3 Ladies and a Car

Waiting on a train

Kids outdoor dinner event in a park, early 1900s, black and white photo, historical school or community gathering.
South Bend Tribune

Don’t forget the hot dogs!

Horse-drawn carriage on a historic city street with storefronts and pedestrians, circa early 1900s.
Fire Wagon

Get Out of the Way!

1910s
Faded black and white photo of a historic building with bicycles and two boys standing outside, early 20th century scene, The History Museum.
Albright's Bicycle Store

Established in 1914

Prohibition

Bottoms up!

Vintage farming team with horse-drawn wagons and early 20th-century equipment in rural field.
LeMert Telephone

Hello?

Elephants walking down a city street with city buildings and a sign for Indiana Film Picture Theater in background.
Ringling Bros Circus Parade

The circus is in town…

Black and white historical photo of Stevenson Underwear Mills building and workers by a frozen river.
East Race - Stephenson Underwear Mill

Woolen Underwear Manufacturers

Vintage photo of women enjoying an outdoor gathering at The History Museum.
Lady Owls

Auxiliary to the Order of Owls

Manhattan Building History Museum, Chicago skyline and historic architecture, downtown Chicago skyline and cityscape, modern urban infrastructure.
Rene Simon

Look! Up in the sky…

Black and white historical photo of Stevenson Underwear Mills building and workers by a frozen river.
East Race - Stephenson Underwear Mill

Woolen Underwear Manufacturers

Vintage photo of women enjoying an outdoor gathering at The History Museum.
Lady Owls

Auxiliary to the Order of Owls

1920s
Horse-drawn streetcar with passengers and street vendors in front, vintage transportation history.
1920s Pop Stand

Drive up convenience

Fire damages the auditorium building, smoke billows from the top during an intense blaze in this historical black-and-white image.
S.S. Kresge

FIRE!

Golfers at a historic golf tournament, early 20th century.
Erskine Golf Course

FOUR!

Northern Indiana Historical Society building rooftop historic photo, early 20th-century industrial scene.
Odd Fellows Building

Hard hats required

Women in early 20th-century bathing costumes at the lake, representing historical fashion and leisure activities.
Adele Studebaker

Watch for sharks!

Group of people waiting at a train station in early 20th century, historical transportation scene.
Notre Dame Football Team

Notre Dame, Our Mother

Childhood outdoor playing with woman and kids in backyard, vintage black and white photo.
Wheelbarrow

Weeeee!

Parking lot with vintage cars in front of The History Museum, Northern Indiana Historic Society historic site, early 20th-century architecture.
Bendix

Put your foot down with confidence

Group of people waiting at a train station in early 20th century, historical transportation scene.
Notre Dame Football Team

Notre Dame, Our Mother

1930s
Historical museum exhibit of a man with a megaphone speaking to a crowd, reflecting American history and cultural preservation.
Bendix Sit-down Strike

Occurred in 1936

Historic photograph of distinguished guests and officials seated in a courtroom or council chamber, showcasing mid-20th century formal attire.
Grand Jury

Convened September 1935

Wyman Department Store decorated with festive holiday lights on a night street scene.
Wyman's Department Store

50 mile delivery

Vintage aircraft and two women standing in front, black and white photo from History Museum archives.
Amelia Earhart

Landed in South Bend in 1936

Black and white portrait of a woman, dressed in vintage attire, showcasing historical fashion.
Josephine Curtis

A local arts heroine

Vintage black and white photo of two men on a motorcycle outside The History Museum, snowy city streets, early 20th century urban scene, historical transportation.
Western Union

Our ancestors’ email

North of Ireland Historical Society group photo in vintage costumes at The History Museum.
Associates Investment Halloween Party

BOOO!

Aerial view of The History Museum and surrounding historic town in Northern Indiana.
Notre Dame Stadium

Home of the Fightin’ Irish

Vintage black and white photo of two men on a motorcycle outside The History Museum, snowy city streets, early 20th century urban scene, historical transportation.
Western Union

Our ancestors’ email

1940s
Kids in vintage baseball uniforms performing a formation drill on the field during a game.
Cheerleaders

From Mishawaka High School

Historic African American school children group photo outside brick building.
First A.M.E. Church

Founded in 1907

Vintage pastry shop inside the history museum celebrating 39th anniversary black and white photo.
The Philadelphia

You scream, we scream for ice cream!

Crowd gathered outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre during the Hollywood Hollywood Stars Parade, late-night event at the historic cinema.
Rockne Premiere

Win one for the Gipper!

Female baseball catcher reaching for ball during game, vintage black and white photo.
AAGPBL "Bonnie" Baker

Take me out to the ball game

People celebrating at a historic event in a vintage setting, with men in tuxedos and women in elegant dresses.
Knute Rocke All-American

The day South Bend was Hollywood

Children eating ice cream in front of a fence, vintage black and white photo.
Children Eating Ice Cream

I’ll take two scoops

Female baseball catcher reaching for ball during game, vintage black and white photo.
AAGPBL "Bonnie" Baker

Take me out to the ball game

People celebrating at a historic event in a vintage setting, with men in tuxedos and women in elegant dresses.
Knute Rocke All-American

The day South Bend was Hollywood

1950s
Historic speech at The History Museum during a civil rights event. Black-and-white photo of diverse community leaders and activists outside a brick building.
Ike Visits South Bend

September 15, 1952

Children playing on a vintage playground slide, capturing historical moments of childhood recreation.
Hering House Playground

Gifted to South Bend in 1925

Children's choir dressed in white robes with black bows, standing in front of a church altar with a cross, from a historical church photo on the History Museum website.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

Swedish congregation founded in 1880

Women in 1950s office workspace discussing documents in a historic setting.
Mary Ann Club

For Studebaker’s female employees

History museum interior with a large, diverse group of visitors and children.
Hering House Halloween Party

BOO!

Vintage delivery truck advertising Arthur A. Fredrickson wholesale candy and Schrafft's chocolates in Indiana, black and white historic photo.
Fredrickson's Delivery Truck

Filled with candy and goodies

1950s vintage car exhibit at The History Museum in Northern Indiana, with a group of people admiring classic automobiles.
Junior Achievement

On the Studebaker assembly line

Vintage cinema theater marquee promoting "The Cain Mutiny" in black and white, showcasing historic movie theater architecture.
Colfax Theater

Get some popcorn!

Vintage delivery truck advertising Arthur A. Fredrickson wholesale candy and Schrafft's chocolates in Indiana, black and white historic photo.
Fredrickson's Delivery Truck

Filled with candy and goodies

1960s
Old downtown building with Main Hotel, radio station and storefronts, vintage cars, and pedestrians.
Main Hotel

Please sign the register book

Mother breastfeeding a young child outdoors, historic black and white photo, Navy Pier setting, Second World War era.
Mary Geraldine Hatt

South Bend resident and world volunteer

Swimming pool at The History Museum, a popular recreational spot for visitors and locals.
Potawatomi Park Pool

Splish and splash

Old black and white parade scene with members of the Emerald Knights marching on city street.
Thanksgiving Day Parade

Gobble, Gobble!

Bookmobile serving as South Bend Public Library outreach vehicle in front of a modern building.
Bookmobile

Get your library card ready

Colorful parade floats featuring cartoon characters on city street during celebration.
Thanksgiving Day Parade

Hope they throw some candy

1970s
1980s
Construction site in downtown Northern Indiana with historic buildings in background.
Coveleski Stadium

Play ball!

Crowd gathering at the Northern Indiana History Society festival in front of the State Theatre.
Ethnic Festival

Festiwal etniczny

1990s
2000s
Undated
Historic bakery staff preparing bread in early 20th-century bakery kitchen.
Bloch Bakery

An early bakery in Mishawaka

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