Photograph by Jens Jensen. More information here.




Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Halloween Frogs in Harlem

Posted by jdg | 1:43 PM

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.


Information about this photo is a bit cryptic; apparently it was taken on July 7, 1926 after Congress failed to appropriate any money for the public swimming pools in Washington DC and the overheated urchins started swimming in the public water fountains and reflecting pools. Photographer unknown. 

Photo  
 
Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Don't let the teacher ruin it!

Posted by jdg | 9:06 AM


Street urchin schoolhouse fight, circa 1902. Unless he knows some wicked judo move, I say the kid on the right is about to get clocked.

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Images from J.T., by Gordon Parks (1969)

Posted by jdg | 10:05 AM


Two of my favorite images from the great Gordon Parks' 1969 storybook (written by Jane Wagner) J.T.

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.


Those are 1955 Bowman baseball cards in their hands. I believe with all my heart that the 1955 Bowman was the greatest baseball card design ever. Each player's photo appeared as though it was on a classic wood-grained television set. In hand-painted color! The best part of the 1955 Bowman series was that it included the umpires. Umpires with baseball cards! My dad used to drag me to auto swap meets all over the midwest, and while he looked for the car parts and whatever else he was after I scoured the endless rows of greasy metal for dealers who set out their old baseball cards (this was right at the beginning of the 1987-1991 bubble). One time we were down in Indianapolis and one of the dealers put out a whole box of 1955 Bowmans. I bought them all, and have them still. It's too bad they were printed on such lousy cardboard.

William Klein (b. 1928) is mostly known for his fashion photography, but he captured some great New York urchins in his Life is Good and Good for You, for which he won the Prix Nadar award.I suspect I'll be sharing some more of his work here soon.

Photo  

  Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.


Opening Day is almost here. Go team. [photograph by Lewis Hine]
Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Can you imagine the walks Helen Levitt and Walker Evans must have taken in Manhattan back in 1938?  See previously.

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Orpheus and the Urchins

Posted by jdg | 11:26 AM


I knew he was cool, I just didn't realize how cool until I saw this [via Hi Happy Panda]. Fact #1: none of them knew who he was. Fact #2: the photographer tracked down all the kids and recreated this in 2007 (sans Dylan).


One more:


For me this is kind of like that moment in PCU when the kid who's spent the entire year on the couch trying to prove the Caine-Hackman theory sees A Bridge Too Far.

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Sonny & Pete, Newsboys (1913)

Posted by jdg | 7:38 PM |


"One is six years old. They began at 6:00 A.M. Location: San Antonio, Texas." Photographer: Lewis Wickes Hine. 

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.

Street Urchin Zamboni

Posted by jdg | 8:26 AM


As if ice skating in little jackets and ties weren't enough, these urchins had to go and use an awesome jury-rigged three-man shovel to remove the snow from their pond. I salute you, urchins.

Nearly all of these urchins were discovered in the photography archives of the Library of Congress (and available without copyright restrictions online). Otherwise, urchin photos will be credited to the appropriate photographer with a link to its source (unless they come from my own collection of photographs from unknown photographers). If there is ever a copyright concern, do not hesitate to contact me.