{"id":105822,"date":"2025-12-17T11:35:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/?p=105822"},"modified":"2025-12-19T09:25:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:25:12","slug":"holiday-photos-from-christmas-past-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/holiday-photos-from-christmas-past-part-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Photos from Christmas Past (part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry presents more photographs of past Christmases in America. Melissa is a genealogist who has a website, americana-archives.com<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s continue looking back at the many years of Christmas past in photos from GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, Library of Congress, and other collections. (For the first batch of Christmas photos, see Part 1<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

1910: Reynolds Family Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n

I begin with a Christmas photo of the Reynolds family taken in Paloma, California, in 1910. I am researching the family collection so please check back in the New Year for posts.<\/p>\n

In this photo we see, left to right: Samuel Reynolds III (1892-1977); his sister Elinora J. Reynolds (1900-1979); their mother Susan Baumgardner (Eberman) Reynolds (1868-1936); and their father Samuel Henry Reynolds II (1866-1935).<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: the Reynolds family Christmas, 1910. Credit: Quigley\/Reynolds Family Collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1916: A Christmas Tree and Sister Mamie Curtis, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine<\/strong><\/p>\n

This photo was taken in the Meeting Room of the Dwelling House, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Maine, at Christmastime.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village Christmas, 1916. Credit: Maine Memory Network.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the Sabbathday Lake Church Journal<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were gladdened this morning by the children singing Christmas carols all around the family before breakfast. Tonight, we have a beautiful Christmas Tree. The photographs and paintings are being given as Christmas presents. All day was one round of joyousness and every heart here was made glad and happy. Before the gifts were distributed the young people gave us another very lovely entertainment: marches, pantomimes, recitations and songs.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1920s: Indian Church<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a photo of Christmas celebration at the Mechoopdia Indian Church, Chico Rancheria, Chico, California.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Christmas celebration at the Mechoopdia Indian Church. Credit: Clifford Sanborn; Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1933: Christmas \u2013 It\u2019s All About the Kids<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1933 an Indiana newspaper shared some cherished photographs of children at Christmastime.<\/p>\n

Here is a photo of the gravy master.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), 24 December 1933, page 18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

Workers of the Volunteer Rescue Army who served scores of children a Christmas dinner Saturday learned that five-year-old Rolland Bradley knows his gravy. Here he is giving advice on how to mix it to Elizabeth Surface, left, and Mrs. Henry Durham, captain.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Santa came to a party for children of the unemployed during the Great Depression.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), 24 December 1933, page 18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

Six hundred children of the unemployed were guests at the annual Christmas party given Saturday afternoon by the civics and philanthropy department of the Progress Club in the clubhouse. Santa Claus seems to have been telling (left to right) Bobby Hoenn, Nila Wertz, and Kathryn Casey an interesting story when the photographer snapped them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Carol Broadwell\u2019s birthday is Christmas Day.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), 24 December 1933, page 18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

Nine-year-old Carol Broadwell observes her birthday on the same day as the Christ-child. She was born on Christmas day. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Broadwell, 407 West Lasalle Ave.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Beverly Gilman\u2019s fairy magic lit the Christmas tree.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), 24 December 1933, page 18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

Little Miss Beverly Gilman plays the part of the fairy about to light the Christmas tree with her magic wand in this picture taken during a Franklin School Christmas program. Others in the picture are Kathryn Rittinger, Leo Cunningham, and George F. Pfaff.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1954: Spanish-American War Vets Get Early Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1954 a Texas newspaper visited a veterans\u2019 home to cover the holiday and featured a photo of one vet who shared some colorful history.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas), 21 December 1954, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

William E. Gilreath, Spanish-American War veteran and former Texas Leaguer, and pretty Jean Eck, staff nurse, inspect a manger display in the Lisbon Veterans Administration Hospital main lobby \u2013 part of the trimmings prepared for the patients\u2019 Christmas. All patients there Thursday will receive gifts \u2013 and a big turkey dinner on Christmas Day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This article reports:<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s the belle of the ward \u2013 he\u2019s our pet patient,\u201d said pretty Jean Eck, 22, a staff nurse [about the 77-year-old William Gilreath].<\/p>\n

Gilreath\u2019s wrinkled face broke into a smile. \u201cI don\u2019t think these young nurses are flappers at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was born and raised around Cartersville, Ga., and was 21 when I began totin\u2019 a Springfield rifle in that war,\u201d said Gilreath. \u201cAfter the war I was a professional ball player<\/a>, a right-hand curveball pitcher. I had a curve ball they couldn\u2019t none of them do nothin\u2019 with.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gray-haired veteran peered sharply and said, \u201cI pitched in Dallas about nineteen-ought-four. You kin look it up.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sure enough, Texas League records show that Will Gilreath pitched for Corsicana in 1904 and Temple in 1905, when those towns were members of the Texas League, along with Dallas.<\/p>\n

Also mentioned in the write-up was Otto J. Wagner, 73, another veteran of the Spanish-American War who served in the 5th Cavalry.<\/p>\n

1970: Giving and Receiving Christmas Joy<\/strong><\/p>\n

The American Legion was giving Christmas joy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1970.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Chattanooga News-Free Press (Chattanooga, Tennessee), 25 December 1970, page 23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

Preparing to Give \u2013 American Legion Post No. 171 gave out food baskets this Christmas to various needy families in the city. Shown Thursday as the baskets were prepared are, left to right: Leonard Robinson, 3rd District adjutant; John Holmes, commander of the post; Levern Moore, first vice commander; Bobby Ward, adjutant; Frank Badley, assistant adjutant; and Raymond Bowden.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Christmas package drawing brought more joy to Chattanooga.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Chattanooga News-Free Press (Chattanooga, Tennessee), 25 December 1970, page 23<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The photo caption reads:<\/p>\n

Hackney\u2019s Christmas Package Drawing \u2013 A Christmas package drawing was held Wednesday at Hackney\u2019s at 309 N. Market St., with six prizes to be given away. Pictured at the drawing are, left to right: Mrs. Phil Bellenfant; Kim Bellenfant; and Shannon Arthur, who drew the winning numbers; and Phil Hackney<\/a> of Hackney\u2019s.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

1983: The Reagans\u2019 Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Naughty or nice? Mrs. Nancy Reagan sits on Santa Claus\u2019s (President Reagan) lap at a Christmas Eve party at the Wick residence in Washington, D.C., 24 December 1983.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: President and Mrs. Reagan, Christmas 1983. Credit: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Merry Christmas!!!<\/p>\n

Create a free account<\/a> at GenealogyBank for 7 days to start your journey and discover the stories your ancestors left behind.<\/p>\n

Note on the header image:<\/em><\/strong> Merry Christmas display. Credit: https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/home.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Article:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n