Amazing Trash Find! 1924-1938 Historic Scrap Book!

UnderMiner

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Jul 27, 2014
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From 1924 to June 1938 a young man named William Arthur Jacob put together a scrap book that depicted 14 years of his life, from his days in the US Army, to his training in the New York City Police Academy, to his honeymoon which took him all over the nation. William lived it up and had fun at every moment. Long after he completed this one-of-a-kind photo album scrap book and long after he had died someone in his family decided that poor William's life was not actually that interesting and tossed his lovingly-made scrap book into a garbage bag that was placed on the curbside for the trash man. 80 years and 4 months after it was completed I found William's scrap book tonight before it could be destroyed and lost forever. This is just SOME of what I found inside, the book is 55 pages long and contains HUNDREDS of historic photos...

The cover to the book labeled "WAJ":
001.jpg

The title page describing this as the scrap book of William Arthur Jacob who produced the book from 1924- June 1938:
002.jpg

William Arthur Jacob, a funny guy:
003.jpg

William at Camp Smith in 1935:
004.jpg

I would have hung out with these guys if I was alive in 1935.
005.jpg
010.jpg
029.jpg

The guard of a North Carolina chain gang looks towards the camera:
006.jpg

William presents us with his interpretation of President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" as it's never been seen before, the 'Nude Deal':
007.jpg
012.jpg013.jpg

Fisher Island July 1936:
008.jpg

The Great Depression was hitting some places worse than others, here is 1936 Luray, Virginia:
011.jpg009.jpg

Shahola Pennsylvania in 1933 still reminds one of the railroad towns of the old west
with its unpaved dirt roads still kicking up dust as the steam train pulls into the station:
020.jpg

1933 Fort Wright, Fishers Island N.Y.
014.jpg
015.jpg
Firing the big cannon:
016.jpg
018.jpg

024.jpg

1934 Brooklyn NY, Possibly Floyd Bennett Field:
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NYC Police Academy 1937:
017.jpg

There are many more photos that I can upload later... including ones where they are on a battle ship, New York City Police Academy training photos, Bi-plane barn storming, etc.
 

Last edited:
Upvote 43
Very cool, looks like he was a fun guy!

Steve
 

Hey Underminer, that is one of the COOLEST finds I've seen in a while. It's amazing that it survived all those decades, but glad it did! Thx for sharing and yes...please do post more of William's pics. Ddf.
 

that is a great save. its ashame that somebody threw this out specially his own family. please preserve this
 

Absolutely outstanding save!!! That would be a great piece of history gone forever if you wouldn't have recovered it from the trash!!! It makes you wonder, just how much great pieces of our history is literally trashed each day. Thanks for sharing, Take care and may God bless you and yours... "D"



Awesome.jpg
 

Really cool kinda sad someone threw it away Be great to return to a family member
 

From 1924 to June 1938 a young man named William Arthur Jacob put together a scrap book that depicted 14 years of his life, from his days in the US Army, to his training in the New York City Police Academy, to his honeymoon which took him all over the nation. William lived it up and had fun at every moment. Long after he completed this one-of-a-kind photo album scrap book and long after he had died someone in his family decided that poor William's life was not actually that interesting and tossed his lovingly-made scrap book into a garbage bag that was placed on the curbside for the trash man. 80 years and 4 months after it was completed I found William's scrap book tonight before it could be destroyed and lost forever. This is just SOME of what I found inside, the book is 55 pages long and contains HUNDREDS of historic photos...

The cover to the book labeled "WAJ":
View attachment 1641085

The title page describing this as the scrap book of William Arthur Jacob who produced the book from 1924- June 1938:
View attachment 1641086

William Arthur Jacob, a funny guy:
View attachment 1641087

William at Camp Smith in 1935:
View attachment 1641088

I would have hung out with these guys if I was alive in 1935.
View attachment 1641089
View attachment 1641103
View attachment 1641102

The guard of a North Carolina chain gang looks towards the camera:
View attachment 1641090

William presents us with his interpretation of President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" as it's never been seen before, the 'Nude Deal':
View attachment 1641091
View attachment 1641092View attachment 1641093

Fisher Island July 1936:
View attachment 1641094

The Great Depression was hitting some places worse than others, here is 1936 Luray, Virginia:
View attachment 1641096View attachment 1641095

Shahola Pennsylvania in 1933 still reminds one of the railroad towns of the old west
with its unpaved dirt roads still kicking up dust as the steam train pulls into the station:
View attachment 1641101

1933 Fort Wright, Fishers Island N.Y.
View attachment 1641097
View attachment 1641098
Firing the big cannon:
View attachment 1641099
View attachment 1641100

View attachment 1641104

1934 Brooklyn NY, Possibly Floyd Bennett Field:
View attachment 1641105
View attachment 1641106

NYC Police Academy 1937:
View attachment 1641107

There are many more photos that I can upload later... including ones where they are on a battle ship, New York City Police Academy training photos, Bi-plane barn storming, etc.

Great save!
 

Awesome...Great Save and Thanks For Sharing These...I'd like to see however many pics you'd like to post too.

Kace
 

Can't believe some relative would'nt of wanted that.....congrats on the find...
 

Way to go UnderMiner amazing piece of history you saved. I can attest to the great and amazing garbage finds in NYC as I have found many. Cheers
 

That’s an amazing save that could have been lost forever. Very interesting find for sure.
 

Absolutely outstanding save!!! That would be a great piece of history gone forever if you wouldn't have recovered it from the trash!!! It makes you wonder, just how much great pieces of our history is literally trashed each day. Thanks for sharing, Take care and may God bless you and yours... "D"



hey brother i like your southern pride picture and sayings, my family came from Louisiana and most are still there. my great, great uncle was CONFEDERATE general Henry Hopkins Sibley
 

I understand knick knacks being tossed, but never have understood pictures...especially if they are labeled as well as the ones in this scrapbook. Great find! One thing I've done is hunt down relatives on Ancestry.com and offer to share pics with them.
 

You always find the coolest trash!
 

That’s a real shame that it was thrown away. Maybe local historical society would be interested in it. I can’t believe the family tossed it. . Pretty sad. Nice save
 

That's a great save. One of the coolest finds I have seen. Congratulations and good job!
 

Thank you for saving some history here ! A local historical society may be a good home for that, if other relatives of this gentleman cannot be located . Go to your area libraries too - Also , Veterans associations may be a resource you should contact . Good on ya for saving this !
 

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