Picture this: you are walking through the Blue Hallway, admiring the grainy black and white photos lining the walls. Have you ever stopped to wonder: Where did these pictures come from? Who were these students, and what were they doing? 

Intrigued by these photos and the questions they posed, I set off to find answers in the Baldwin Photo and Document Archive, which is accessible through the Anne Frank Library’s Canvas page– a mission that left me even more in awe of the vast array of photographs dating back an entire century.

Curious? Well, get ready to learn about the complex past of our school and to find out what is the same– and what has dramatically changed.

If you look at a computer science class at Baldwin today, you’ll see tables of shiny laptops, a SmartBoard on the wall, and technology in every direction. Conversely, in this third grade computer class from 1983, all the students share only one clunky computer. Even in this relatively recent photo, you can clearly see how far the technology available to Baldwin- and the world- has progressed.

Why are these students dressed up in elaborate costumes? In 1975, these students were part of the Maskers, Baldwin’s theater program and one of the longest-running clubs at the school. 

Based on the costumes, Mrs. Tingling and Mrs. Friedman-Way speculated that the Maskers were performing My Fair Lady in this photograph (they both performed that show in high school as well). Although the camera quality is not the finest, the joy that comes from theater, then and today, shines through in these actors’ smiles.

As you could probably guess, this is a photo of Baldwin’s tennis team, taken sometime during the 1950s. The image shows small wooden rackets, a piece of equipment entirely replaced by graphite rackets in 1980. The white dresses are a remnant of tennis’ purity culture and restrictions against lower and middle-class individuals playing, dating back to the Victorian era. While the shape of the rackets and the all-white uniforms are a distinct reminder of the past, the courts and team spirit remain largely unchanged. 

In 1941, these students were working on a Baldwin newspaper that- in 1945- would become The Hourglass, our beloved newspaper that has been in print for a remarkable 77 years. This picture gives a glimpse into where it all began: students hovering over a table and excitedly seeing their articles come together, a feeling we members of The Hourglass can still relate to today.

Baldwin has had swimming talent since the 1930s, made clear by this impressive headstand on the diving board. Even though the pictured old pool was located in the area that is now the Innovation Center, the horse floaties and liveliness of the team show how little has changed in the way of Baldwin’s fun and supportive athletic attitude.

Like the Arts Jubilee, this is the Baldwin talent show from exactly a century ago: 1922. These students are showcasing their athletic aptitude, complete with their old-fashioned hairstyles. We’re still showcasing our talents in a similar way– one hundred years into the future– but hopefully with better hair.

Did these pictures pique your interest like they did mine? If you’d like to discover more photos like these, you can visit the Baldwin Photos and Documents Archive through Canvas. With pictures like these, it feels like you are living in the black-and-white world of Baldwin’s past, immersed in the depths of its history.