Unseen History Photos That Leave Nothing To The Imagination 

By | November 24, 2020

Chief John Smith a.k.a. White Wolf, reportedly the oldest Native American to ever live photographed in 1920. He claimed to be 137 years old

This collection of unseen photographs capture more than expected.  Originally captured in black and white, these colorized photos show a different side to history than you already know.

You won't find these photos in history books...you might think they've been hidden away because they have rarely been seen in full vibrant color. The photos leave nothing to the imagination...take a closer look.

Warning, these photos and their stories may be mature in nature.  This collection of rarely seen snapshots tells the real story of history, but it may not be suitable for all viewers. 

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source: pear colours

Living to any age beyond your 60s was a feat in the early 20th century. It was an era marked with famine, illness, and war, and while there are people managed to live through it, Chief John Smith claimed to be 137 years old when he passed away in 1922.

Hailing from the northern woods of Minnesota, Smith was a member of the Chippewa tribe who was allegedly born in 1785, a year that's a little hard to wrap your head around. Referred to as "Wrinkled Meat" by his tribespeople, it's more likely that he was closer to 100 years old when he passed. Thanks to a man named Paul Buffalo who lived with the Chippewa as a child we know that Smith claimed that he was between eight and ten years old when "the stars fell."

This mysterious claim is likely in reference to the Leonid meteor shower of 1833 which would make Smith 99, if not a nice round 100. When Minnesota's Star Tribune attempted to validate his age they just found more questions. Smith's family said that the claimed to remember the war of 1812, that he was married eight times, and never had children. His adopted son, Tom Smith, maintained that his father 137 years old when he passed away.

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source: jecinci

Otherwise considered a mild mannered American, Robert Wadlow was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest man alive. His final measurement by the twins who collected the records noted that he was 8ft 11.1 inches tall. By the time he was eight years old Wadlow was 5' 11", a towering height for a child.

Wadlow intended to study law, but in 1936 he went on tour with the Ringling Brother Circus and found fame as a gentle giant. This photo of Wadlow comparing shoe sizes with Clarence Howerton was sponsored by the International Show Company (now INTERCO) who offered to make their shoes for free.

This was a blessing for Wadlow as his shoe size was 37AA, which required special shoes to be made at a cost of $100, the equivalent to $1,500 today.