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Boarding House Collection

"Exploring the Rich History of Boarding Houses

Background imageBoarding House Collection: The parlour of a New York boarding house

The parlour of a New York boarding house
5616566 The parlour of a New York boarding house; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the parlor of a New York boarding house. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1886); Universal History Archive/UIG

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Water-tank in St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, 1858. Creator: Unknown

Water-tank in St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Water-tank in St. Giles's-in-the-Fields, [London], 1858. There are certain portions of London where the buildings are dilapidated and most of the inhabitants squalid...It should, however

Background imageBoarding House Collection: The Laurent Boarding House, Grez-sur-Loing, 1886. Creator: Elias Erdtman

The Laurent Boarding House, Grez-sur-Loing, 1886. Creator: Elias Erdtman
The Laurent Boarding House, Grez-sur-Loing, 1886

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Je ne loue pas aux gens qui ont des enfants!, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier

Je ne loue pas aux gens qui ont des enfants!, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Je ne loue pas aux gens qui ont des enfants!, 1847. I don't rent to people with children! An elderly landlady, surrounded by pets

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Oh! Quant à la vue, vous ne trouverez pas mieux qu'ici!, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier

Oh! Quant à la vue, vous ne trouverez pas mieux qu'ici!, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Oh! Quant a la vue, vous ne trouverez pas mieux qu'ici!, 1847. Landlord to prospective tenant standing on a chair to look out of the skylight: Oh

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Un locataire qui a eu un oubli le 1er janvier, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier

Un locataire qui a eu un oubli le 1er janvier, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Un locataire qui a eu un oubli le 1er janvier, 1847. A tenant who forgot something on January 1st. [Landlady brushing dust towards tenant who has neglected to pay his rent

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Je ne loue pas aux gens qui ont des enfants!... 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier

Je ne loue pas aux gens qui ont des enfants!... 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Je ne loue pas aux gens qui ont des enfants!... 1847. I don't rent to people with children! An elderly landlady, surrounded by pets

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Pensionnat de petites filles, 1861. Creator: Félicien Rops

Pensionnat de petites filles, 1861. Creator: Félicien Rops
Pensionnat de petites filles, 1861. From Instruction Religieuse

Background imageBoarding House Collection: 'The Strangers Home', West India Dock Road, Limehouse, 1857. Creator: Unknown

"The Strangers Home", West India Dock Road, Limehouse, 1857. Creator: Unknown
"The Strangers Home", West India Dock Road, Limehouse, [London], 1857. Lodgings for seamen. The building...is capable of accommodating 230 inmates, with apartments for superintendent

Background imageBoarding House Collection: The Great Naval Review: 'No Beds' - drawn by Phiz, 1856. Creator: Unknown

The Great Naval Review: "No Beds" - drawn by Phiz, 1856. Creator: Unknown
The Great Naval Review: "No Beds" - drawn by Phiz, 1856. Crowds flock to the Hampshire coast for a display by the Royal Navy - accommodation is quickly snapped up

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Laurel House, Catskill Mountains, N.Y. between 1900 and 1906. Creator: Unknown

Laurel House, Catskill Mountains, N.Y. between 1900 and 1906. Creator: Unknown
Laurel House, Catskill Mountains, N.Y. between 1900 and 1906

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Monsieur le concierge, allant en soirée... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier

Monsieur le concierge, allant en soirée... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Monsieur le concierge, allant en soiree... 19th century. Monsieur le concierge, going out for the evening with my wife...I have the honour to request authorisation to let us in after midnight!

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Il faut me trouver la dedans trois pièces et une cuisine!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier

Il faut me trouver la dedans trois pièces et une cuisine!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Il faut me trouver la dedans trois pieces et une cuisine!, 19th century. Tenants and landlords. Landlord to builder: I need you to fit three rooms and a kitchen in here!

Background imageBoarding House Collection: 2.000 fr...sans écurie...ça ne me convient pas!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier

2.000 fr...sans écurie...ça ne me convient pas!, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
2.000 francs...sans ecurie...ca ne me convient pas!, 19th century. Parisians. Prospective tenant complains to landlady: 2, 000 francs with no stable - that won't suit me at all

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Street scene in an American city, between 1896 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe

Street scene in an American city, between 1896 and 1942. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Street scene in an American city, between 1896 and 1942. Sign: Rooms to Let

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Boarding House Life, 1890. Creator: Unknown

Boarding House Life, 1890. Creator: Unknown
Boarding House Life, 1890. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 42. July to December, 1890

Background imageBoarding House Collection: The Tanner's Council, between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Harris & Ewing. The Tanner's Council

The Tanner's Council, between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Harris & Ewing. The Tanner's Council
The Tanner's [sic] Council, between 1910 and 1920. USA. Signs: Rooms for Rent; Furnished Rooms; The Tanners Council of the United States of America; Drugs'

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Up the main street of a valley town, Gilroy, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange

Up the main street of a valley town, Gilroy, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Up the main street of a valley town. Gilroy, California

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Main street, Gibson, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange

Main street, Gibson, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Main street. Gibson, California

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Mon Dieu! m'ame Bombec, qué que vous avez donc attrappé?, 1842. Creator: Honore Daumier

Mon Dieu! m'ame Bombec, qué que vous avez donc attrappé?, 1842. Creator: Honore Daumier
Mon Dieu! m'ame Bombec, que que vous avez donc attrappe?, 1842. Mon Dieu! M'ame Bombec que que vous avez attrape? - Ne m'en parlez pas, ma chere dame, une horreur

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Uncle Sam's lodging-house, 1882 (chromo)

Uncle Sam's lodging-house, 1882 (chromo)
2623731 Uncle Sam's lodging-house, 1882 (chromo) by Keppler, Joseph (1838-94); (add.info.: Chromolithograph print titled Uncle Sam's Lodging-House')

Background imageBoarding House Collection: On main street, a new town, Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange

On main street, a new town, Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
California. Siskiyou County, Tulelake. On main street. A new town. [Posters in the windows of Casino Cafe and Warren Hotel, advertising Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey air-conditioned circus shows]

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Sign on staircase on Brooks Hotel in a town... West Carlton, Yamhill County, Oregon, 1939

Sign on staircase on Brooks Hotel in a town... West Carlton, Yamhill County, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Sign on staircase on Brooks Hotel in a town (population 749) near the timber, where there are three lumber mills. West Carlton, Yamhill County, Oregon. ['No Calk Shoes Upstairs']

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Sign in upstairs hall of small hotel, West Carlton, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange

Sign in upstairs hall of small hotel, West Carlton, Oregon, 1939. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Sign in upstairs hall of small hotel. Population of town: 749. West Carlton, Oregon. ['No Loud Talking After Ten O'Clock']

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Boardinghouse, Alabama, 1936. Creator: Walker Evans

Boardinghouse, Alabama, 1936. Creator: Walker Evans
Boardinghouse, Alabama. [Signs: Morris Hotel; Rooms 50c Up; Family Style Meals 35c 40c; Room and Board $ 30.00 per Mo(nth).']

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Smuggling Out, or Starting for Gretna Green, August 8, 1798. Creator: Heinrich Schutz

Smuggling Out, or Starting for Gretna Green, August 8, 1798. Creator: Heinrich Schutz
Smuggling Out, or Starting for Gretna Green, August 8, 1798

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Geisha House, c. 1860s (b / w photo)

Geisha House, c. 1860s (b / w photo)
701556 Geisha House, c.1860s (b/w photo) by Japanese Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: also known as an okiya.); Japanese, out of copyright

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Boarding house on Cromwell Road damaged in a Zeppelin raid on Southend, Essex

Boarding house on Cromwell Road damaged in a Zeppelin raid on Southend, Essex, 10 May 1915 (b / w photo)
6029822 Boarding house on Cromwell Road damaged in a Zeppelin raid on Southend, Essex, 10 May 1915 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Man sneaking out of his lodgings (colour litho)

Man sneaking out of his lodgings (colour litho)
3095888 Man sneaking out of his lodgings (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man sneaking out of his lodgings)

Background imageBoarding House Collection: A little misunderstanding in a boarding-house in Glasgow (engraving)

A little misunderstanding in a boarding-house in Glasgow (engraving)
736084 A little misunderstanding in a boarding-house in Glasgow (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Full up (colour litho)

Full up (colour litho)
3642925 Full up (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Full up. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Ashburnham House, c. 1882 (b / w photo)

Ashburnham House, c. 1882 (b / w photo)
JHL394927 Ashburnham House, c.1882 (b/w photo) by Dixon, Henry (1820-92); Private Collection; (add.info.: Built by Inigo Jones (1573-1652)

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Leeds YMCA (b / w photo)

Leeds YMCA (b / w photo)
3095289 Leeds YMCA (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Leeds YMCA. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Untitled (rented room) (w / c on paper)

Untitled (rented room) (w / c on paper)
695575 Untitled (rented room) (w/c on paper) by English School, (19th century); The Geffrye Museum of the Home, London, UK; eGeffrye Museum; English, out of copyright

Background imageBoarding House Collection: St Andrews College (b / w photo)

St Andrews College (b / w photo)
3092402 St Andrews College (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: St Andrews College)

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Landladies at the seaside resort Skegness who are taking part in a show put on by

Landladies at the seaside resort Skegness who are taking part in a show put on by the Skegness Hoteliers Assocation. They are known locally as the " Heavy Brigade"

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Accommodation, or Lodgings to Let at Portsmouth!!, June 30, 1808. June 30, 1808

Accommodation, or Lodgings to Let at Portsmouth!!, June 30, 1808. June 30, 1808
Accommodation, or Lodgings to Let at Portsmouth!!, June 30, 1808

Background imageBoarding House Collection: The Dog Killer, 1870s. Creator: William P. Chappel

The Dog Killer, 1870s. Creator: William P. Chappel
The Dog Killer, 1870s

Background imageBoarding House Collection: In Boarding-House Land: The Plane Trees of Torrington Square, c1935. Creator: Donald McLeish

In Boarding-House Land: The Plane Trees of Torrington Square, c1935. Creator: Donald McLeish
In Boarding-House Land: The Plane Trees of Torrington Square, c1935. Georgian terraced houses round a square in Bloomsbury, central London

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Brunswick Square: Part of Bloomsburys Boarding-House Land, c1935. Creator: Joel

Brunswick Square: Part of Bloomsburys Boarding-House Land, c1935. Creator: Joel
Brunswick Square: Part of Bloomsburys Boarding-House Land, c1935. London square in winter. From " Wonderful London, Volume 3", edited by Arthur St John Adcock

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Boarding house landlady, 1952. Creator: Shirley Markham

Boarding house landlady, 1952. Creator: Shirley Markham
Boarding house landlady, 1952. Shirley Markham (1931-1999) studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central School of Art in London from 1950-1952

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Greenwich Pensioner 1859 Etching second state

Greenwich Pensioner 1859 Etching second state
Artokoloro

Background imageBoarding House Collection: BOARDING HOUSE, 1943. Portrait of women in a boarding house in Washington D

BOARDING HOUSE, 1943. Portrait of women in a boarding house in Washington D.C. Photograph by Esther Bubley, 1943

Background imageBoarding House Collection: CARD GAME, 1943. Residents playing bridge at their boarding house in Washington, D

CARD GAME, 1943. Residents playing bridge at their boarding house in Washington, D.C. Photograph by Esther Bubley, 1943

Background imageBoarding House Collection: WOMAN, 1943. Portrait of a woman at a boarding house in Washington D

WOMAN, 1943. Portrait of a woman at a boarding house in Washington D.C. Photograph by Esther Bubley, 1943

Background imageBoarding House Collection: FLORIDA: JUKE JOINT, 1941. A combination store, juke joint and boarding house for

FLORIDA: JUKE JOINT, 1941. A combination store, juke joint and boarding house for migrant workers near Canal Point, Florida. Photograph by Marion Post Wolcott, 1941

Background imageBoarding House Collection: Christophe and the Fat Sylvie, illustration from Le Pere Goriot by Honore de Balzac

Christophe and the Fat Sylvie, illustration from Le Pere Goriot by Honore de Balzac
XIR239748 Christophe and the Fat Sylvie, illustration from Le Pere Goriot by Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Background imageBoarding House Collection: APRIL FOOLs DAY, 1884. Uncle Abram makes a discovery and hears a voice. Drawing

APRIL FOOLs DAY, 1884. Uncle Abram makes a discovery and hears a voice. Drawing, 1884, by William Ludwell Sheppard




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"Exploring the Rich History of Boarding Houses: From Uncle Sam's Lodging-House to Geisha Houses" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of boarding houses. These unique establishments have played a significant role throughout history, offering temporary accommodation for travelers, workers, and those seeking a sense of community. In 1882, Uncle Sam's lodging-house stood proudly on main street in Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California. This chromo artwork captures the essence of a bustling town where weary souls found respite under its roof. Traveling further east to Jacksonville, Florida in 1943 brings us to the vibrant Negro section. A street scene frozen by Gordon Parks showcases an era when boarding houses were vital hubs for African Americans seeking shelter amidst segregation. Venturing westward again to Yamhill County, Oregon in 1939 reveals two poignant images captured by Dorothea Lange. The sign on Brooks Hotel's staircase tells tales of transient guests passing through this small town while upstairs hall signage reminds lodgers that comfort awaits within these humble walls. Walker Evans' lens transports us to Alabama in 1936 where a boardinghouse stands as a testament to resilience during challenging times. It serves as both refuge and gathering place for individuals navigating life's uncertainties. Boarding houses weren't limited to providing shelter alone; they also witnessed clandestine affairs like elopements depicted by Heinrich Schutz's "Smuggling Out or Starting for Gretna Green" from August 8th, 1798. Lovebirds sought solace within these walls before embarking on their secret journey together. The allure of exoticism takes center stage with an intriguing glimpse into geisha houses from the c1860s. These elegant abodes offered more than just accommodation; they were gateways into Japan's rich cultural heritage and entertainment industry. However, not all memories associated with they are pleasant.