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Midcentury Memories. The Anonymous Project
A view into how hundreds of anonymous
people documented their existence
Rewind back to the midcentury, before the age of Instagram and Snapchat, where people were using 35mm cameras loaded with color film to document both monumental and mundane moments in their lives. They took pictures of their loved ones, their vacations, their celebrations. They memorialized the births of babies; a child in a cowboy outfit; a new color television set; sightseeing in National Parks; fishing trips; lazing on the beach; weddings; office parties; family reunions; holding hands, kissing and dancing. Imagining these lives and the possible stories that lie behind the images is what makes The Anonymous Project such a compelling journey into our past. The passing of time is enhanced by the book’s narrative that begins with scenes of early childhood and ends with seniors, with all the stages of life in between.
It all started with an innocent purchase on eBay. Filmmaker Lee Shulman bought a set of 35mm Kodachrome slides—anonymous family photos—and was so taken with what he calls “the emotional value of these slices of life” that he knew he had to have more. He launched The Anonymous Project in 2017 and has since acquired around 700,000 images either by donation or via vintage sellers. As noted photography critic Richard B. Woodward writes in the introduction: “It is significant—and fascinating—that in virtually every image here, photographer and subject seem to know one another. In this embracing album of humanity, no one exists in isolation. There are no strangers here.”
This curated collection of just under 300 images taken between the 1940s and ’70s offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of these anonymous subjects. The locations, dates, and the subjects may be unknown—but these shots taken by skilled amateur photographers, and the fascinating stories they contain, are universally familiar.
people documented their existence
Rewind back to the midcentury, before the age of Instagram and Snapchat, where people were using 35mm cameras loaded with color film to document both monumental and mundane moments in their lives. They took pictures of their loved ones, their vacations, their celebrations. They memorialized the births of babies; a child in a cowboy outfit; a new color television set; sightseeing in National Parks; fishing trips; lazing on the beach; weddings; office parties; family reunions; holding hands, kissing and dancing. Imagining these lives and the possible stories that lie behind the images is what makes The Anonymous Project such a compelling journey into our past. The passing of time is enhanced by the book’s narrative that begins with scenes of early childhood and ends with seniors, with all the stages of life in between.
It all started with an innocent purchase on eBay. Filmmaker Lee Shulman bought a set of 35mm Kodachrome slides—anonymous family photos—and was so taken with what he calls “the emotional value of these slices of life” that he knew he had to have more. He launched The Anonymous Project in 2017 and has since acquired around 700,000 images either by donation or via vintage sellers. As noted photography critic Richard B. Woodward writes in the introduction: “It is significant—and fascinating—that in virtually every image here, photographer and subject seem to know one another. In this embracing album of humanity, no one exists in isolation. There are no strangers here.”
This curated collection of just under 300 images taken between the 1940s and ’70s offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of these anonymous subjects. The locations, dates, and the subjects may be unknown—but these shots taken by skilled amateur photographers, and the fascinating stories they contain, are universally familiar.
277 pages, Hardcover
Published October 9, 2019
2 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 28, 2024
"Intimate, (..) unadulterated imperfection at its best."
March 7, 2020
Short Review:
Some charming anonymous photos. And some pretty banal ones. The photos here capture nostalgia, personal moments, a time in history, a snapshot of anonymous people in anonymous places.
Longer Review:
I like the decision to not include the names of people and places. The foreword mentions that this was intentional, to avoid adding any extra information to our reading of the photos. To look at anonymous photos is to construct our own story. An interesting point also mentioned - photos taken by friends and family (like the ones in this book) often capture a personal connection between the subject and the photographer that you will not find in professionally taken photos. That is true. Some photos in this book really caught my interest for this reason, but many did not.
Some charming anonymous photos. And some pretty banal ones. The photos here capture nostalgia, personal moments, a time in history, a snapshot of anonymous people in anonymous places.
Longer Review:
I like the decision to not include the names of people and places. The foreword mentions that this was intentional, to avoid adding any extra information to our reading of the photos. To look at anonymous photos is to construct our own story. An interesting point also mentioned - photos taken by friends and family (like the ones in this book) often capture a personal connection between the subject and the photographer that you will not find in professionally taken photos. That is true. Some photos in this book really caught my interest for this reason, but many did not.
September 17, 2025
"Why the focus on color slide film, namely Kodachrome?"
"Color slide film is unique in the world of photography. No cropping, no manipu-lation, no printing or postproduction. What you see is what you get — unadulterated imperfection at its best."
Questo libro mi ha ricordato quando da bambino, ogni tanto a domenica, mia mamma proiettava in casa le diapositive scattate durante gli anni passati.
Una cosa preistorica se ci pensiamo oggi, normale trent'anni fa. Indimenticabile.
Come alcune foto di questa raccolta anonima.
"Color slide film is unique in the world of photography. No cropping, no manipu-lation, no printing or postproduction. What you see is what you get — unadulterated imperfection at its best."
Questo libro mi ha ricordato quando da bambino, ogni tanto a domenica, mia mamma proiettava in casa le diapositive scattate durante gli anni passati.
Una cosa preistorica se ci pensiamo oggi, normale trent'anni fa. Indimenticabile.
Come alcune foto di questa raccolta anonima.
December 5, 2023
This is a fabulous book if you have any memories of the 1950's - 1960's, even if your memories come from TV shows and movies.
I have always loved photographs and this book is a wonderful mish mash of spontaneous photos. Really worth the time to view.
I have always loved photographs and this book is a wonderful mish mash of spontaneous photos. Really worth the time to view.
December 23, 2024
This book was full of photos from the middle of the 20th century, and they were high quality color photos. I loved seeing how people used to dress and look back then, as well as the decor, cars, etc. of the time.
June 30, 2022
This book is WONDERFUL. I collect photos myself so it's so nice to see another collector and what they find particularly interesting.
November 8, 2024
Maybe the most boring photo book I've ever read.
October 24, 2025
Nothing beats Kodachrome. Beautiful captures of a time long past.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews