Nineteenth-Century Photographs

Through photographs, historians are able to analyze the past without having ever been present in that era or time period. Historians and non-historians alike can draw assumptions based upon the common patterns viewed in photographs throughout the year they want to observe. In the photographs, observers can see the advancement of civilization, technology, and safety advancements. Most importantly, observers can view moments in our nation’s past that led our nation to grow and develop into its current state. Through the three photographs that will be analyzed, observers can see the working environment and conditions in the early nineteen- hundreds. To begin, in the first photograph, nineteen thirteen Ford Motor Company, one can see the assembly line in Ford Motor Company. Pictured on the line working are several men. The men are all dressed in long sleeves to protect their …show more content…
Pictured is a women working with heavy machinery wearing a mask to shield her eyes as well as a gas mask to prevent her from inhaling any particles or hazardous chemicals. The factory appears to have poor lighting which explains why there happens to be a lamp beside the table she is working on. One could wonder how dangerous the machinery was considering she lacked much protection besides the gas mask. She had short sleeves revealing her arms and ungloved hands allowing for possible cuts from the machinery. From this photograph could form another question, why were there no other workers present in the factory? All in all, photographs allow for current historians and non-historians alike to observe and analyze the past. Without photographs, much of history would be lost without any traces of records. Photographs give a nice view into the past that a letter cannot give you. A letter can be descriptive; however, it does not allow one to fully comprehend or visualize how the past truly