[New York Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, L.I., 1905: 2 men with man and woman watching yacht race]

Share

Set on the North Shore of Long Island, Oyster Bay was a summer retreat for well-off New Yorkers in 1905, and this photograph shows a group of men and a woman at the New York Yacht Club there, watching a yacht race. Their relaxed attention suggests a leisurely afternoon of sport and socializing. Frances Benjamin Johnston, who made the picture, was known for her portraits and documentary views of American life in these years. The caption details come from old, unverified records, so the specific boats and the identities of the spectators remain uncertain.

More from the New York City collection

Snapshots of the Past helps heritage brands, museums, historians and storytellers tell stories with history: historic prints, image licensing and historical storytelling drawn from more than 25 years of research and curation.