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By Emma Thom on

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy (in our collection)

We may have been dealt a blow with the promise of rain this weekend here in Bradford, but there's plenty of summer fun to be found in our collection.

It’s officially the start of the summer and the longest day of the year—which I always think is a bit of a disappointing juxtaposition. I want the days to get longer and lovelier now, but this is more likely in my little part of the world:

Couple sheltering under an umbrella by the sea, 22 August 1968, Webster, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection
Couple sheltering under an umbrella by the sea, 22 August 1968, Webster, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection

Researching photographs to illustrate Colin’s beach photography posts has put me in the mood for sunny days, lazy picnics, festival shenanigans, ice cream, bike rides, beach holidays and magical walks.

Whether you’re recovering from a heady pilgrimage to Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer solstice, or you’re still planning your summertime adventures, take some time out to enjoy these photographs from our collection.

Holiday joys on the beach, 3 September 1937, Reuben Saidman, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Holiday joys on the beach, 3 September 1937, Reuben Saidman, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
River girls at Sunbury-on-Thames, 31 July 1932, Leslie Cardew, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
River girls at Sunbury-on-Thames, 31 July 1932, Leslie Cardew, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Girl with a parasol sitting on a bench, 1908, Etheldreda Janet Laing, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Girl with a parasol sitting on a bench, 1908, Etheldreda Janet Laing, Science Museum Group collection
Boy watching a baby in a deckchair, 6 August 1937, Harold Tomlin Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Boy watching a baby in a deckchair, 6 August 1937, Harold Tomlin, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Children playing in a fountain, c.1915, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Children playing in a fountain, c.1915, Science Museum Group collection
Under canvas, 1 August 1938, George W. Roper, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Under canvas, 1 August 1938, George W. Roper, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Sun bathers at the lido, 14 September 1934, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Sun bathers at the lido, 14 September 1934, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Little girl with ice cream, 11 August 1937, Harold Tomlin, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Little girl with ice cream, 11 August 1937, Harold Tomlin, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Sing-a-long at the piano for summer campers, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Sing-a-long at the piano for summer campers, Science Museum Group collection
Else on a Bench on the Banks of Attersee, Austria, 31 August 1913, Friedrick Adolf Paneth, The Royal Photographic Society Collection, National Media Museum / SSPL
Else on a Bench on the Banks of Attersee, Austria, 31 August 1913, Friedrick Adolf Paneth © The Royal Photographic Society Collection
Sunday in the sun, 9 July 1934, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Sunday in the sun, 9 July 1934, Edward George Malindine, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Woman on a beach in sunhat and swimsuit, c.1935, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Woman on a beach in sunhat and swimsuit, c.1935, Science Museum Group collection
Two girls in a garden, 1938, Etheldreda Janet Laing, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Two girls in a garden, 1938, Etheldreda Janet Laing, Science Museum Group collection
Open-topped bus, c.1930, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Open-topped bus, c.1930, Science Museum Group collection
Catching the sun at the open air baths in Blackpool, c.1935, Reuben Saidman, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Catching the sun at the open air baths in Blackpool, c.1935, Reuben Saidman, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Sunbathing in the sand, 4 July 1936, James Jarché, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Sunbathing in the sand, 4 July 1936, James Jarché, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Man on roller skates with woman on bicycle, 8 March 1950, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Man on roller skates with woman on bicycle, 8 March 1950, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
The good old summer time, c. 1910, Charles Henry Davis, The Royal Photographic Society Collection, National Media Museum / SSPL
The good old summer time, c. 1910, Charles Henry Davis © The Royal Photographic Society Collection
Oyster stall, c.1930, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Oyster stall, c.1930, Science Museum Group collection
Four children eating ice cream, 7 July 1946, Daily Herald Archive, National Media Museum Collection / SSPL
Four children eating ice cream, 7 July 1946, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection

The National Railway Museum has a wonderful collection of railway posters, and the summer prints are oh-so-vintage—go and have a look on the Science and Society Picture Library website.

‘Whitley Bay’, BR poster, 1948-1965, © National Railway Museum / SSPL
‘Whitley Bay’, BR poster, 1948-1965, © National Railway Museum / SSPL

Have a great longest day of the year, everybody.

2 comments on “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy (in our collection)

  1. Das sind einzigartige Bilder,sie stahlen die betreffenden Momente mit voller Präzision aus.

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