Figure 1 – “The Day Before.” From the Library of Congress Archives and in the public domain.

Continuing our saga – because of hurricane Arthur Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks displays are continuing here on the East Coast.  The Fifth is proving absolutely golden spectacular.  I have been amusing myself trying to locate the earliest known photograph of Fourth of July celebrations and the first ever photograph of pyrotechnics.  I’m afraid that I still haven’t figured it all out.

However, in perusing the archives of the United States Library of Congress, I keep being drawn to this wonderful stereo card image by E. W. Kelly from 1906 entitled “The Day Before,” and showing a darling little child, arms filled with fireworks and the American flag.  Hint that’s not an IPad in the child’s right hand. 8<}. Note the pinhole aperture effect of the shadows on the ground.

It goes to show both the similarities and the differences between Americans in 2014 and Americans in 1906.  Today parents would shudder to see their child laden down with deadly explosives! It was then just part of the glory of early twentieth century childhood.