Iowa (1940)

Civil Liberties in War Times

1940 Poster for a lecture by Max Lerner at Roosevelt High, Des Moines, Iowa, showing an armored guantlet clenched in a fist.

A high-resolution image of the poster can be downloaded at the Library of Congress website.

See also:
How Experts Think We'll Live in 2000 A.D. (1950)

My Robot's Birthday Party (1994)

The Robot

I found the robot pieces. I put the pieces together so it looked like a robot. I named him Zachary. The next day it was Zachary's birthday party. One day Zachary snorted because it was his birthday party. Zachary was 18 years old.

First-grader Lisa Stamp wrote this story, which appeared in the March 19, 1994 Daily Register (Oelwein, IA).

See also:
My Robot (1994)
The Robot From Outer Space (1994)
My Robot Gets Lunch (1994)

Indiana (1908)

Jack, A Bright Indianapolis Boy of 13: Was a Messenger at the age of 11. Indiana has no age limit for mes'grs. Aug., 1908. Wit., E. N. Clopper. Location: Indianapolis, Indiana.

You can find a high-resolution version of this image by Lewis Wickes Hine at the Library of Congress website.

See also:
Alabama (1940)
Alaska (1940s)
Arizona (circa 1885)
Arkansas (1935)
California (1943)
Colorado (1859)
Connecticut (1961)
Delaware (1910)
Florida (circa 1910)
Georgia (circa 1940)
Hawaii (1902)
Idaho (1941)
Illinois (1943)

My Robot Gets Lunch (1994)

My Robot Gets Lunch

My robot's name is Kyle. He gets me lunch every day. He fixes my car. When he's done, he finds a new job. He gets a new home. He got a new son. He got four more children.

First-grader Nick Palmer wrote this story, which appeared in the March 19, 1994 Daily Register (Oelwein, IA).

See also:
My Robot (1994)
The Robot From Outer Space (1994)

Illinois (1943)

This photo by Jack Delano was taken in April of 1943. It is titled, "Daniel Anastazia, blacksmith's helper, Rock Island R.R., Blue Island, Ill."

You can find a high-resolution version of the image at the Library of Congress website.

See also:
Alabama (1940)
Alaska (1940s)
Arizona (circa 1885)
Arkansas (1935)
California (1943)
Colorado (1859)
Connecticut (1961)
Delaware (1910)
Florida (circa 1910)
Georgia (circa 1940)
Hawaii (1902)
Idaho (1941)

The Robot from Outer Space (1994)

The Robot from Outer Space

My robot flew down from outer space. My robot found some people to talk with. My robot talked with the president. Then my robot started walking to get something to eat. It was ice cream. When he was done, my robot flew back to outer space because my robot was tired. The end.

Zachary Stocker wrote this story, which appeared in the March 19, 1994 Daily Register (Oelwein, IA).

See also:
My Robot (1994)

My Robot (1994)

The March 19, 1994 Daily Register (Oelwein, IA) published the short stories of local first-grade students. Wings Park teacher, Barb Ehlers, asked her students to write about their robots and received some pretty awesome responses.

Nowhere is there any indication that the aforementioned robots are imaginary, so I will assume that these robots actually exist. I expect this series to be more interesting than the A-Z states experiment.

But no promises.

These stories seem to be crying out for drawings. Feel free to submit any that you are inspired to create: matt[at]paleofuture.com

See also:
The United States (Alabama to Wyoming)
Rosie the Robot (1962)

The Photoscope (1904)

Apparently this photoscope, (a photobooth sans booth), was all the rage at the St. Louis Exposition. The ad above was found in the June 4, 1904 Ogden Standard (Ogden, UT).

The newest novelty in Nickel-in-the-Slot Machines. Takes your photograph, develops and delivers to you in one minute. The only Nickel-in-the-Slot Machine that aside from affording amusement gives permanent value for your money. Always a perfect likeness. Takes but a minute, costs 5 cents. Be sure to try the first one you see.

200 in operation at the St. Louis Exposition.

See also:
A Ballad for the Fair (1964)

Idaho (1941)

This photograph by Russell Lee was taken in 1941 on the main street of Cascade, Idaho. The Cascade Club looks like it's hopping. You can find a higher resolution version of the photo at the Library of Congress website.

See also:
Alabama (1940)
Alaska (1940s)
Arizona (circa 1885)
Arkansas (1935)
California (1943)
Colorado (1859)
Connecticut (1961)
Delaware (1910)
Florida (circa 1910)
Georgia (circa 1940)
Hawaii (1902)

Hawaii (1902)

Melvin Vaniman took this panoramic photo on July 3, 1902 at a Haleiwa Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. It can be found at the Library of Congress website and must be viewed in a larger version to be truly appreciated.

See also:
Alabama (1940)
Alaska (1940s)
Arizona (circa 1885)
Arkansas (1935)
California (1943)
Colorado (1859)
Connecticut (1961)
Delaware (1910)
Florida (circa 1910)
Georgia (circa 1940)

Delivered Twins in 20 Minutes, With No Pain! (1895)

Let me get this straight Mrs. Anna Gage; you delivered twins, in 20 minutes, with no pain? I guess there was no Federal Trade Commission to investigate your claims back in 1895. This "Mothers' Friend" was, of course, sold by ALL druggists.

The ad appeared in the July 18, 1895 Cambridge Jeffersonian (Cambridge, OH).

See also:
Anti-Fat (1878)

Spy Pen (1967)

This advertisement for a "Spy Pen" appears to be encouraging less-than-wholesome endeavors. With a money back guarantee, no less! It seems that one might have to order a "Spy Drill" in order for that pen to work properly.

The ad appeared in the October, 1967 issue of the comic book Strange Suspense Stories.