In 1923, recreational automobile travel was still new enough to be considered special and exciting. This small and carefully annotated photo album documents a family’s car adventures throughout Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. It was a different time; oil wells were considered novelties and skunks were huggable pets. And as always, crazy weather was lurking: twisters, sandstorms and 114 degree temperatures.
July 16 1923
Included are a few touristy shots taken in Coffeyville, Kansas, of a cemetery and “Death Alley” – the scene of the final shoot out of the Dalton Gang, specialists in bank and train robberies. Bo Dalton, the gang’s leader, had an obsession with rival Jesse James and vowed to beat him by simultaneously robbing two banks in broad daylight. On October 5, 1892, he recklessly did so – the gang wore fake beards and robbed two banks directly across the street from one another. Bo died with three others in the resulting gunfight.
July 16 1923
July 20, 1923
July 23 1923
July 23 1923
July 30 1923
August 13 1923
August 19 1923
September 9 1923
September 1923
October 9 1923
October 10 1923
November 9 1923
Follow Lauren at the excellent Invisible Commute and here. You can buy her book via this email address.
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
