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.
Open to researchers without restrictions.
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.
Due to the fragile nature of the photographs, researchers are encouraged to use the online images in the Old Dominion Univeristy Libraries Digital Collections.
Gift of David E. Johnson, Associate Professor of History
Gift. Accession #A88-5
[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
Workers in a Shoe Repair Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Shoe Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Owner in Front of Cleopatra Fruit Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Men in a Pool Hall, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
Workers and Customers in an Apothecary Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Bicycle Repair Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
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.
Workers in a Hosiery/Shoe Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
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.
Worker in a Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Harness Repair Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Shoe Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Worker and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Kitchen, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Barber Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
Workers and Customer in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Worker in Front of Fruit Stand, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Men in a Pool Hall, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
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.
Workers in a Kitchen, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
Worker and Customers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
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.
Worker and Customer in a Grocery Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customer in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers and Customers in a Barber Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Women's Clothing Store, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Tailor Shop, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Workers in a Lunch Room, 1919 November, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Norfolk in Nineteen Nineteen Research Study, 1988, Box 1, Norfolk 1919 Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.