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Snowman in Norwich, Connecticut. Photo by Jack Delano, 1940 Nov. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8a34798

Want to Build a Snowman?

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Longtime readers of Picture This will know that I love snow, and I love sharing images from the collections related to snowy weather. I’m especially inspired to do so when the white stuff is falling outside my window and creating a winter wonderland. We recently had a good amount of snow around the nation’s capital – our first significant storm in a few years.

While I was outside shoveling out, I tested this snow like I did as a kid, to see if it was “snowball snow,” that perfect consistency to pack together for snowballs and other snow structures. The action made me reflect on winters past when my brothers and I built snowmen and forts and, of course, had snowball fights. I was happy to find a great selection of photos of snowmen completed, as well as under construction, as seen below:

Cedars. Photographic party stops for a cold snowy lunch. American youngsters build a snowman while waiting for lunch. Photo by Matson Photo Service, 1946 March. https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/matpc.21919
The snow man–happy days. Photo by George Barker, 1888. https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/stereo.1s43985
Untitled photo, possibly related to: Children playing in snow in Norwich, Connecticut. Photo by Jack Delano, 1940 Nov. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8a34817
Dorothy and Caroline Seavey building snow man after first storm of season. Chicago, Oct. 26, 1929. Photo by Underwood & Underwood, 1929. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a49171
Snowman in Norwich, Connecticut. Photo by Jack Delano, 1940 Nov. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8a34798
Mercer County, North Dakota. Snowman at rural school. Photo by John Vachon, 1942 Feb. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8c21261
Fritzi Ridgeway, Vaudeville Star, combines the north and south at Wash. and takes her daily exercise in the open making a snowman. Photo by Harris & Ewing, 1924. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hec.44074

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Comments (2)

  1. Wonderful photos.
    One question: was it “snowball snow?” You set us up but never finished that thought! 😉

    • Sharon,
      When I tested it, the snow was too dry and fluffy to pack, but others in the area did manage snowball fights, so it worked for them!

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