Selecting an Easter Bonnet
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To be the grandest lady in the Easter parade required the appropriate attire. Mrs. Bannerman, (far right) owner of this millinery shop in Park River North Dakota, in the early 1900s, looks on with keen interest as these ladies attempt to find suitable bonnets, which were a must to complete any Easter outfit. Hats and bonnets were commonplace during this time in North Dakota, and Mrs. Bannerman's store certainly had an abundant selection of them.

The Prairie Barbershop
Full Page 30k | Hult. 190 |

The Lars Wall barbershop in Milton, North Dakota, in 1917, appears rather isolated and quiet. However, barbershops were thriving businesses, as well as places for the homesteaders to catch up on the latest gossip in the early days of North Dakota's history. The shops were decorated with pictures, advertisements, and occasionally taxidermy treasures, such as a stuffed fox.

Strummin' and Sewin' in Harmony
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Marie Gjevre (left) and Kari Erickson pause for a moment from their sewing to listen to Marie's husband, Ole, strum out a tune on his guitar.

The Gjevre home in Fairdale, North Dakota, in the 1890s, depicts a typical scene on the North Dakota prairie, one of quilting as a social outlet for women. Men, on the other hand, preferred "entertaining" as one way of utilizing their precious, though not abundant, leisure time.

A Lesson in Spinning Wool
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The younger generation watch and listen intently as an older woman demonstrates how to spin wool using an Icelandic spinning wheel. While not involved in the learning process, children and a dog nestle in to become part of the cozy scene.

Bicycles also were a fairly common part of the scene in the early 1900s, as a fast, economical way to get around the wide open North Dakota prairie.

Strolling through the Neighborhoods with Man's Best Friend
Full Page 32k | Hult. 210 |

Pausing for a moment in front of a tree-lined sidewalk are a boy and girl with their dog and cart, in Milton, North Dakota, in the early 1900s.

This "dog cart" was simply a buggy hitched to a dog that provided for a leisurely form of transportation through the newly formed sidewalks of various towns and communities in North Dakota.

Reading 'Riting and 'Rithmetic Dakota Style
Full Page 19k | Hult. 272 |

They're on horseback, in carriages, and even on the school! No, they are not the dreaded crop eating locust, but rather North Dakota rural school children.

While this rural school looks small, its importance should not be underestimated. Immigrants coming into the state placed a high priority on education, making schools some of the first buildings constructed by the new homesteaders.

Out for a Sunday Cruise
Full Page 26k | Hult. 403 |

Cruising the North Dakota prairies in a Velie car could get a bit windy and dusty in the early 1900s and hats and scarves were the norm for those partaking in the adventure.

Goggles protected the driver's eyes from debris, ensuring an exciting Sunday odyssey through the rolling hills and plains around Fairdale, North Dakota, for Etta and Myrtle Erickson, Mary Olson, and John and Joseph Moscrip (the little girl's name is unknown).

Posing for the Camera
Full Page 28k | Hult. 448 |

Miss Fannie Powles of Milton, North Dakota, poses for the camera against a backdrop of trees, flowers, and a distant house. Her long, flowing garment with the high neck was characteristic of women's formal dress on the prairie. The lace adorning the dress added a mystique of femininity to Miss Powles, as did her hairstyle and intriguing facial expression.

Continue through exhibit: Sod Houses | Farming Life | Prairie Society

Return to the Pioneer Camera page.

Institute for Regional Studies
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