Norfolk 1919 A Guide to the Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection MG 69

A Guide to the Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection MG 69

ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Peter Stewart and Janice Halecki

Repository

ODU Community Collections

Identification

MG 69

Title

Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection 1919 November Date acquired: 11/21/1988

URL:

https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/5/resources/236

Quantity

0.6 Linear Feet

Quantity

1 photograph box boxes

Language

English

Abstract

A portfolio of 46 prints that depict small shop owners and employees of businesses in Norfolk, Virginia in 1919. Also, includes a study written by Dr. Peter Stewart, an Old Dominion University History Professor and local historian, that examines what Norfolk was like in 1919. This study is located in the collection's control folder.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Gift of David E. Johnson, Associate Professor of History

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A88-5

Biographical or Historical Information

The photographs presented here show some of the people and businesses of Norfolk, Virginia about one year after war ended on the western front in 1918. The anonymous photographer was clearly interested in certain kinds of businesses as the pictures feature scenes that other observers tended to miss. Rather than portraying the political leaders and the finest homes in Norfolk, the unknown photographer depicted small shop owners and employees, along with a few of their customers. The folks portrayed in this fashion look reasonably normal, but neither the nation nor Norfolk were experiencing normal times when the pictures were taken. The Norfolk of 1919 differed considerably from the city of the 1980s. Then, as now, there were distinct districts within the city, but these varied drastically from any current configuration. Between Water Street (now Waterside Drive) and the river were warehouses amid steamship and railroad terminals. Main Street presented an appearance entirely different from that of today. East Main Street, which commenced at Granby and ended at the large Union Station featured dozens of small shops, many of which appear in the collection of photographs. The eleven or twelve blocks contained some brothels for which this part of the city became notorious, but in 1919 it also held at least twelve lunch counters or restaurants, an equal number of tailor shops or garment makers, several groceries, shoe stores, and emporiums of various descriptions. Of the handful of photographs that have been identified, all were taken of the small businesses on East Main or nearby streets. The Boston Cafe, managed by Hop Sing and Joe Eng, stood at 711 East Main while the New York Lunch Room was located just a few doors down across the street, at 728. Demetrious Feleros, the proprietor of the latter establishment, may be the fellow standing behind the lunch counter at the New York Lunch Room. The address on one of the menus, 1115 East Main, confirms the presence of the Olympic Restaurant in the collection while the Maryland Fruit Store and Cleopatra's can be identified by the signs on their store fronts. The local directory fails to confirm the existence of these places in Norfolk or Portsmouth, but Cleopatra's neighbor, Brown's which sold breakfasts, stood near the ferry slip. Many of these establishments appear quite tiny and of questionable longevity.

Scope and Contents

This collection is a portfolio of 46 prints, each were contact printed from the original 6.5" X 8.5" glass plate negative. These photographs were taken in November of 1919 by an anonymous photographer. Most of the businesses depicted in the photographs appear to have been located in the area of East Main Street between Commercial Place and Union Station in Norfolk. The collection has been digitized and is available in the Old Dominion University Libraries Digital Collections.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Businesses--Virginia--Norfolk
Norfolk (Va.)--History--20th century

Norfolk (Va.)--History--20th century

Container List

Mixed Materials box: 01 Box 1

Box 01

Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 1
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 2
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 3
Workers Behind the Counter in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers Behind the Counter in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 4
Workers in a Shoe Repair Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Shoe Repair Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 5
Workers in a Shoe Repair Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Shoe Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 6
Owner in Front of Cleopatra Fruit Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Owner in Front of Cleopatra Fruit Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 7
Men in a Pool Hall
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Men in a Pool Hall, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 8
Workers and Customer in Front of Tagliavia Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customer in Front of Tagliavia Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 9
Workers and Customers in an Apothecary Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in an Apothecary Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 10
Workers in a Bicycle Repair Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Bicycle Repair Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 11
Workers and Customers in a Cigar Shop/Soda Fountain
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Cigar Shop/Soda Fountain, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 12
Workers Behind the Counter in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers Behind the Counter in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 13
Workers in a Hosiery/Shoe Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Hosiery/Shoe Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 14
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 15
Workers in a Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 16
Workers in a Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 17
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 18
Workers and Customers in a Women's Clothing Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Women's Clothing Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 19
Workers in a Men's Clothing Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Men's Clothing Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 20
Worker in a Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker in a Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 21
Workers in a Harness Repair Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Harness Repair Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 22
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 23
Workers in a Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 24
Workers in a Shoe Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Shoe Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 25
Worker and Customer in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 26
Workers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 27
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 28
Workers in a Kitchen
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Kitchen, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 29
Workers in a Barber Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Barber Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 30
Worker in Front of the Maryland Fruit Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker in Front of the Maryland Fruit Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 31
Workers and Customer in a Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customer in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 32
Workers in a Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 33
Worker in Front of a Fruit Stand
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker in Front of Fruit Stand, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 34
Men in a Pool Hall
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Men in a Pool Hall, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 35
Workers and Customers in the New York Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker and Customers in the New York Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 36
Men in a Cigar Store With Pool Hall and Shoeshine Stand
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Men in a Cigar Store with Pool Hall and Shoeshine Stand, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 37
Workers in a Kitchen
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Kitchen, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 38
Worker and Customer in a Pastry/Candy Shop and Soda Fountain
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker and Customer in a Pastry/Candy Shop and Soda Fountain, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 39
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 40
Workers and Customers in a Large Barber Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Large Barber Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 41
Worker and Customer in a Grocery Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Worker and Customer in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 42
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 43
Workers and Customers in a Barber Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers and Customers in a Barber Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 44
Workers in a Women's Clothing Store
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Women's Clothing Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 45
Workers in a Tailor Shop
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Tailor Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Graphic Materials box: 01 Item 46
Workers in a Lunch Room
1919 November
Preferred Citation
Workers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Text box: 01 Item 47
Norfolk in Nineteen Nineteen Research Study
1988
Preferred Citation
Norfolk in Nineteen Nineteen Research Study, 1988, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.