Vintage Photos of Argentina

Some time ago I confessed my love of vintage photographs here in this post.  In my quest to uncover more vintage goodness, I decided to delve into The Commons on Flickr, a collection of publicly-held images submitted by museums and other cultural organizations.  Friends, I can happily report that I have struck the mother lode.

I found a fascinating series of images from Argentina that date to the 1920s, an overwhelming number of which come from the photo archives of Chicago's Field Museum Library.  I was also excited to note that many of the photographs were taken in and around Necochea and Quequén. 

Argentina is rich with fossils – a paleontologist's dream, really – and the Field Museum sent two small teams of scientists to undertake fossil-collecting expeditions that spanned several years and numerous provinces: The Captain Marshall Field Expedition for Vertebrate Paleontology (1922-1925), and The 2nd Captain Marshall Field Paleontological Expedition (1926).  It seems that the efforts of the second expedition were primarily focused on sites in Catamarca (northwestern Argentina) and the province of Buenos Aires, including towns such as Necochea, Quequén, and Monte Hermoso. 

Although the men were obviously here for scientific purposes, they also managed to capture some wonderful scenes from everyday life in Argentina at the turn of the 20th century.  Here are just a few of the many photos from Necochea and Quequén:

[Horse-drawn wagons carrying wheat to the port for shipment – Puerto Quequén – 1926]

[Swimming races – 1926]

[Elmer Riggs, expedition leader, standing by a large natural arch – coast of Necochea – 1926]

[Scene on Río Quequén Grande, near camp – present-day Paraje Las Cascadas – 1926] 

[At the site of the Megatherium excavation – bank of the Río Quequén Salado]

Click here to explore some of the 200+ vintage images from all over Argentina that are available on The Commons at Flickr.