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Historical Photos

Postcards

NTTM Collection

Then and Now

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Historical Photos

Danville Historical Society preserves tens of thousands of photographs of Danville. Most are contained within large collections that were donated over the years. We share some of these photo collections here. Check back in, as we will continue to add more photos over time.

John Tate

John Tate worked for The Register and The Bee newspapers and over the years took thousands of photographs memorializing Danville during the mid-20th century. Around 1975 he donated his entire collection of photographs and negatives to DHS. The photos date from the 1940s through the 1960s. We share an eclectic mix of his photos.

View part of the John Tate Collection photos below by clicking on “John Tate Photos” tab! 

Danville’s Chamber of Commerce had thousands of photos of Danville dating back to the early decades of the 20th century. The collection highlights the city’s businesses, agriculture, and social events.

View the Chamber of Commerce photos below by clicking on the “Chamber of Commerce” tab!

Stratford College closed in 1974 after more than one-hundred years and several iterations: Danville Female College, Danville College for Young Ladies, Randolph-Macon Institute, and Stratford College. Numerous items from the college remained in the care of the Stratford College Alumnae Association until 2016 when SCAA donated its holdings to DHS. Among the items contained in the larger collection are thousands of photographs.

View the Stratford College Collection photos below by clicking on the “Stratford College Collection” tab!

Throughout American history, African-Americans have struggled for racial equality and justice. The decade of the 1960s was one in which that fight spread across the South and was seared into the consciousness of the country. Here in Danville, after decades of Jim Crow laws, many African-American citizens protested their unequal treatment. These protests reached a peak in 1963 and included one of the most violent Civil Rights demonstrations in Virginia on June 10th, a day known as “Bloody Monday.” Danville Historical Society’s Civil Rights Collection includes photos of multiple protests and marches.

View the Civil Rights Collection photos below by clicking the “Civil Rights Collection” tab!

John Tate Photos Chamber of Commerce Stratford College Collection Civil Rights Collection
John Tate with his camera.
Five Forks 08-01-1958 - cropped
Car Show 04-21-1955 - cropped
John Tate photo. One of the more interesting polling places taken 6-29-1949.
Datestone West Main Baptist Church - 01-01-1949 - cropped
Fill Er Up For Polio - 01- 15-1954 - cropped
Snow Removal - 01-23-1954 - cropped
The old and the new stove - 01-27-1954 - cropped
After a storm - 05-04-1948 - cropped
Freak Show at the Fair - 05-15-1958 - cropped
John Tate photo. Children ready for Halloween.
John Tate photo. Snow, a hindrance to a good tandem bike ride.
John Tate photo. Hidden among the tobacco plants.
John Tate photo. A boy and his friend delivering papers.
John Tate photo. Danville's Christmas parade.
John Tate photo: 1957 - grand opening of Heartline Dinner, a business won in the game show "Strike It Rich."
John Tate photo. Post mistress at unknown Post Office.
John Tate photo. The Municipal Building.
John Tate photo. A snow dinosaur!
John Tate photo. The corner of Main Street and North Union Street near Christmastime.
John Tate photo.
John Tate photo.
A derailed freight train spilling large logs onto the tracks, with damaged cars piled on top of one another near a telephone pole. January 1952.
John Tate photo.
John Tate photo. Corner of Holbrook Avenue and Main Street. Clarke Electric Co. building since demolished.
John Tate photo. Unknown diner.
John Tate photo. The Register and The Bee newspapers.
John Tate photo. A statue installed at the then-Sacred Heart Catholic Church (the second of three locations of Sacred Heart).
John Tate photo of a Basketball team.
Two members of the Danville Leafs Baseball team.
An illegal moonshine haul, February 1953.
A mule stands harnessed and ready in a plowed field as several men work with planting tools, spreading out along the furrows.
A young woman and man in overalls use a mechanical planter to insert young tobacco plants into furrows of a freshly plowed field.
Four men stand around a tobacco planter on a sunlit field, preparing young tobacco plants for transplanting.
Rural farm labor reflecting historical farming practices.
A young woman waves while standing among tall, healthy tobacco plants, smiling beneath a partly cloudy sky.
Mule-drawn sled parked near the edge of a tobacco field as laborers load harvested leaves into a large crate under a bright, clear sky.
Tobacco field laborers lie across a mule-drawn sled, harvesting leaves by hand among broad rows of plants.
A tobacco harvest
A group of farm workers sorts and prepares large tobacco leaves for curing outside.
A glimpse into traditional tobacco curing methods.
Workers and mules gather outside a wooden tobacco barn in a rural farming landscape, surrounded by maturing tobacco plants.
Loading the tobacco leaves for curing.
Two men standing next to a log tobacco barn on a sunny day after unloading flue, with hanging crops and a cornfield nearby.
A group of men and women, including business-dressed visitors, observes tobacco leaf sorting in an indoor processing facility, with neatly tied bundles on benches.
A formal gathering of men and women for the Tobacco Market Opening, some speaking into a radio microphone labeled "WDVA" inside a barn or warehouse.
From DHS' Chamber of Commerce photo collection.
Randolph-Macon Girls.
Graduating Class of 1936.
Late 1960s or early 1970s standing in front of the Stratford College sign.
Dorm Rooms in 1930s.
Spring in 1950 at the Stratford College Campus Grounds.
The Stratford College Campus Grounds in 1960s.
Stratford College Campus Grounds with students walking in the 1960s.
Students on Joans Bridge in the 1950s.
A ski trip taken in 1958 by a group of Stratford College students.
Stratford College students playing a game of softball during a physical education class.
Madrigal Singers during an unknown date.
A group of musicians and dancers during the Fall Dance in 1962.
Couples in formal attire dance under hanging streamers in a gymnasium setting.
May Day Celebration in 1961.
May Day Celebration at Stratford College during an unknown date.
A large group of young adults during a rehearsal on a stage under the guidance of a conductor.
Studying at the library during an unknown date.
Hands-on learning in the pottery studio at Stratford College during an unknown date.
An art show during the late 1960s or early 1970s at Stratford College.
A Stratford College dorm room in the 1960s.
Students at Stratford College, listening to music on the outdoor terrace facing Main Street.
1963 in Danville, the year of widespread Civil Rights protests.
The Danville Christian Progressive Association office on Union Street, affiliated with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
African American demonstrators stage a lie-in outside a downtown Danville store while police and onlookers observe.
Civil rights activists march down a Danville street holding protest signs and wearing clergy robes, with bystanders and vintage storefronts in the background.
A group of African American women participate in a civil rights lie-in demonstration inside a storefront, peacefully occupying the space.
Civil rights protesters walk down a narrow alley, holding signs demanding justice for children and objecting to discriminatory city laws. A police officer watches from the side.
A civil rights march moves down Patton Street in Danville, Virginia, with both men and women marching in protest. Storefronts and the Bee newspaper building visible.
A large crowd, primarily of African Americans, gathers in an alley in Danville, Virginia, many sitting or kneeling in protest. Some individuals appear to be detained.
Peaceful civil rights protest in a Danville parking lot, with young Black demonstrators holding signs criticizing new laws and demanding equal rights. Several white officers observe nearby.
Two Black men protest outside a building in Danville, Virginia, holding signs that read “CHRISTIANS DISCRIMINATE” and “Dan River is Unfair,” during a civil rights demonstration.

Postcards

Danville Historical Society’s postcard collection contains hundreds of items spanning the 20th century. The majority of the cards were obtained from Clara Fountain and are contained in a collection that bears her name.
Birds Eye View from North Danville from 1941
Auction Sale in Tobacco Warehouse
Averett College Amphitheater Post-1907
Averett College from 1918
Birds Eye view from North Danville
Burton Hotel 1914
Dan River Cotton Mill (Schoolfield)
First Baptist Church from 1909
General Hospital Jefferson Avenue
Langhorne House from 2000
Main Street Looking West
Main Street
Municipal Building from 1941
Memorial Hospital from 1941
Old Municipal Building from 1908
Old Post Office from 1907
Riverside Cotton Mills from 1925
Railway Station from 1909
Sutherlin Mansion from 1910
Rock House Country Club from 1921
Tobacco Schooners from 1908
Union Street Bridge from 1994 with Susan Stilwell dressed as Lady Astor and Landon Wyatt in his 1940 Buick
View on West Main Street from 1926
View in Reservoir Park C. 1910
Virdan Motor Lodge
Birds Eye view from Leeland Hotel from 1917
Dan River Power Plant and Cotton Mills from 1919
Epiphany Episcopal Church C. 1910
Main Street Methodist Church C. 1910
Birds Eye View from Leeland Hotel from 1927
Main Street at Night
Main Street Danville C. 1910
Mill No. 8 the White Mill from 1998
Scene in Reservoir Park from 1910
Southern Railway Station from 1925
U.S. National Cemetery

National Tobacco-Textile Museum collection

The National Tobacco-Textile Museum officially opened on Lynn Street in 1975. It paid tribute to these two major industries in displays of looms and wagons, tiny lighters and artfully carved meerschaum pipes, and everything in between. The museum closed its doors in 1989. The vast collection went into storage, with occasional small, temporary exhibits. In 2023, the former museum and Danville Historical Society agreed that DHS will hold the NTTM collections. Our mutual aim is, someday, to put many of these treasures on public display.

The settlement of Wynne’s Falls was favorably located along the banks of the Dan River, surrounded by land perfect for growing tobacco. In 1793 the Virginia Legislature designated the area a tobacco inspection station and renamed it Danville.

From its tobacco origins, Danville grew and thrived. Nearly one hundred years later, wealthy tobacconists invested in another industry destined to put Danville on the map: textiles. For another century tobacco and textiles shaped the growth and fortunes of Danville.

The National Tobacco-Textile Museum officially opened on Lynn Street in 1975. It paid tribute to these two major industries in displays of looms and wagons, tiny lighters and artfully carved meerschaum pipes, and everything in between.

The museum closed its doors in 1989. The vast collection went into storage, with occasional small, temporary exhibits. In 2023, the former museum and Danville Historical Society agreed that DHS will hold the NTTM collections. Our mutual aim is, someday, to put many of these treasures on public display. In the meantime, we share some of these holdings here.

Baseball Card History

As early as the 1880s, tobacco companies began inserting baseball cards in cigarette packs to stiffen them. These cards proved very popular. Who could resist the “Cracker Jack” effect – a prize in every box…er, pack (actually not every cigarette pack had a card, but many did!)? One of the most well-liked and collectable series ran from 1909-1911. Known as the T-206 or “white border” cards, the series featured major and minor league players and is one of the most sought after of all baseball card series. This series appeared across 16 brands of cigarettes.

The vast majority of the following cards were found in the Piedmont brand. A few were from Old Mill. From the collection of the former National Tobacco-Textile Museum, now held by DHS, we feature baseball cards, alphabetically from A-C. Keep watch for more in the coming months!

NMTT Collection Baseball Cards Collection
Two "pistol" lighters.
"Liberty Bell" on the move. This full-size replica of the Liberty Bell was made out of tobacco by the Reynolds Tobacco Company. Only two were made. The other one resides at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
A lighter and cigarette/cigar holder (ashtray).
Lighters with operating roulette wheels.
Color vintage baseball card featuring Abbaticchio of Pittsburg in a tan uniform, preparing to swing a bat.
Vintage baseball card of Abbott of Toledo, shown in profile against a yellow background.
Portrait-style vintage baseball card of Abstein of Pittsburg, wearing a dark cap and uniform against a red background.
Worn vintage baseball card showing Alperman of Brooklyn in mid-swing, gripping a bat.
Color baseball card featuring Anderson of Providence in a grey uniform and cap, preparing to catch a ball.
Vintage baseball card of Arellanes of the Boston Americans.
A portrait card of Armbruster in a gray "St. P" uniform with a red background.
A vintage baseball card depicting Atz in a dark blue "CHICAGO" uniform against a mustard-yellow background.
A crouched fielding pose of Ball in a white “NEW YORK” jersey with red accents, featured against a blue sky.
A side-facing portrait of Barbeau in a gray “ST. LOUIS” uniform, holding a bat against a green background.
A red-background portrait card of Barger in a white jersey with a black “R.”
A blue-background card of Barry in a white “A” uniform for the Philadelphia Americans.
A yellow-background card featuring Barry in a blue uniform with an “M” insignia, captured in a confident pose.
A half-body portrait of Bastian in a gray jacket and cap, set against a yellow sky.
A straightforward portrait of Batch in a white “R” uniform, posed against a solid blue background.
A batter’s pose of Bates in a white Boston uniform with red trim and a large “B” on his cap, set against a multi-colored sunset.
Baseball card image of Bay from the Nashville team reaching upward to catch a ball.
A vintage baseball card featuring player Beaumont of the Boston Nationals, dressed in a white jersey with a red “B.”
Vintage baseball card showing Beck of the Boston Nationals fielding a ground ball.
Becker of the Boston Nationals is shown leaping to make a catch on this vintage card, featuring a vivid green background.
A headshot card of Bender from the Philadelphia Americans wearing a collared jersey with a stylized "A."
Baseball player Bender of the Philadelphia Americans is depicted swinging or turning, viewed from behind in uniform.
A striking baseball card of Bergen from Brooklyn gripping a bat, with a bright orange background and detailed uniform.
Bernhard from the Nashville team is captured in pitching form, mid-motion.
Vintage baseball card featuring Bescher of Cincinnati in a navy jersey with red details.
A vintage baseball card featuring Blackburne of the Providence team, in a gray uniform with dark accents, ready to catch a ball.
Baseball card of Bliss from the St. Louis Nationals in a gray and red-trimmed uniform, ready to pitch.
Early 20th-century baseball card of Bowerman from the Boston Nationals, wearing a light uniform with a red "B" and a blue collar.
Portrait card of Brain from the Buffalo team, shown in a white uniform with a bold "B" and a blue background.
Colorized baseball card of Bransfield, Philadelphia Nationals, mid-play in a catching stance, wearing a striped cap and white uniform.
Historical baseball card of Brashear, Kansas City team, in a gray uniform with stylized letters "KC."
Headshot-style card of Bresnahan in a green backdrop wearing a gray uniform with red trim marked “ST. LOUIS.”
Vintage card showing Bresnahan of the St. Louis Nationals in profile, holding a bat with a yellow sunset in the background.
A lively action card of Burchell pitching for Buffalo, wearing a "B" marked white uniform.
Card of Butler from the Rochester team, shown in a white uniform with a Gothic “R” on a green background.
Historic baseball card of Byrne from the St. Louis Nationals, holding a bat and dressed in gray with red trim.
Portrait of a vintage baseball card featuring Howie Camnitz of the Pittsburg baseball team, arms crossed and dressed in an early 1900s uniform with “PITTSBURG” written across the chest.
Illustrated baseball card of Camnitz from Pittsburg mid-pitch, arms raised with glove overhead.
Vintage baseball card of Carey from Memphis with a sunset sky in the background. Carey raises his glove above his head in a celebratory pose.
Portrait card of Carr from Indianapolis, wearing a light blue uniform with a black “I” emblem.
Baseball card of Carrigan from the Boston Americans, shown holding a ball in a throwing stance.
Baseball card of Casey from Montreal, featuring a portrait in a white uniform with a black gothic “M” and a bold red backdrop.
Portrait of Cassidy from Baltimore on a vintage baseball card, light green background with “BALTIMORE” across his uniform.
Baseball card depicting Chappelle from Rochester in a pitching pose, uniform marked with a bold “R.”
Illustrated baseball card of Charles from the St. Louis Nationals, bat in hand and uniform adorned with red trim.
Baseball card portrait of Chase, New York Americans, in a crisp white uniform with bold “NEW YORK” lettering, framed by a deep blue background.
Baseball card showing Chase of the New York Americans in a pitching pose, glove up and ready.
Rare baseball card of Chase from the New York Americans holding a large trophy with a green ballpark in the background.
A vintage baseball card featuring Chesbro of the New York Americans, depicted in a white uniform with "NEW YORK" across the chest, set against a yellow background.
A classic baseball card showing Clark of the Columbus team in a white uniform with a stern expression and red background.
Baseball card of Clarke from Pittsburg in gray and black uniform, facing forward with a red background.
Vintage baseball card of F. Clarke from the Pittsburg team, posed with a bat and wearing a tan and black uniform.
J.J. Clarke of Cleveland on a vintage baseball card, crouched in a gray "CLEVELAND" uniform with yellow background.
Portrait card of Clymer, Columbus team, in a white uniform with large “C” emblem.
Baseball card of Cobb of Detroit in gray uniform with a bold “D,” set against a red background.
Vintage card of Cobb, Detroit team, in gray uniform with a green background.
Well-worn card of Cobb from Detroit holding a bat, with sunset background.
Vintage baseball card featuring Coles of the Augusta team in a white uniform with a bold "A" on the chest.
Illustrated baseball card of Collins from the Minneapolis team, wearing a gray uniform with "MINNEAPOLIS" printed across the chest.
Baseball card of Collins from the Philadelphia Athletics, wearing a white jersey with a prominent "A."
Portrait-style card of Congalton from Columbus, in a white uniform with a black "C" on the chest.
Illustrated card of Conroy from Washington, posed with a bat on his shoulder.
Action card of Conroy from Washington in a fielding stance. White uniform and green field background.
Cranston of Memphis is pictured in a gray "Memphis" uniform with glove outstretched.
Cravath from Minneapolis stands holding a bat, wearing a dark gray uniform.
Card features Crawford of Detroit, mid-pitch with a colorful yellow-pink sky behind him.
Baseball card of Cree from the New York Americans, ready to throw a ball with a stadium faintly visible in the background.
Historic baseball card showing Criger of the St. Louis Americans, posed in uniform with a vivid red background.
Vintage baseball card of Criss from the St. Louis Americans, featuring the player in mid-pitch wearing a grey uniform with "STL" on the chest.
Reverse of a baseball card by Old Mill Cigarettes, listing league selections from Texas, South Atlantic, Virginia, and Southern Leagues.
Back side of a Piedmont brand baseball card, advertising “The Cigarette of Quality” with elegant blue lettering.

Then and Now

Take a stroll through the city – and through time – with photos of various sites, in the past and today.

Almagro Elementary School

This shows how Almagro Elementary School looked in the past and what it looks like today. 

Producers Café

“Producers Café” attached to Producers Tobacco Warehouse in the 900 block of
Industrial Drive. The building is now empty.

Schoolfield, 1226 West Main Street

Currently the structure houses Linden Rose Boutique, JTMB Luxury Grooming, and Alterations by Brenda. The building was constructed in the late 19th century.

493 Lynn Street

Originally the site of duplex townhome (private residences). The duplex was demolished in the 1950s for parking.

700 Block of Wilson Street

This site of multiple private homes – pictured during street widening in the late 1940s. All pictured structures were subsequently demolished. Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home is now located at 707 Wilson Street.

629 Craghead Street

This site once held the Coal Gas Works, and the pre-1870s structures. Today it is the site of the Carrington Pavilion.

200 Block of Main Street

The earlier photo shows Lea Lewis Furniture, no longer standing. 209 Main Street, “Amburn & Company Salon” and “Me’s Burgers and Brews” are still there.

1050 Main Street

The early photo is of the house as it was originally built in the ornate Aesthetic Movement style. The structure was modernized in the 1920s by local architect J. Bryant Heard to resemble an English Cottage. Now it houses “King-Cropp Kitchen.”

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DHS 52nd Holiday Tour

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