While there’s still a bit of summer left in the United States, there’s still time to visit a state or county fair.

The Vermont State Fair, 1941

Library of Congress

The New York State Fair, 1918

Cornell University Library

The Oregon State Fair, 1912

Oregon State University Archives

The Florida State Fair, 1947

State Library and Archives of Florida

Garfield County Fair, Colorado, 1973

U.S. National Archives

Cheshire County Grange Fair, New Hamphire, 1892

Keene and Cheshire County (NH) Historical Photos

… as found by Penny in two different Commons collections. David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson photographed Lady Eastlake in 1845, seemingly on different days.

George Eastman House

National Galleries of Scotland

It’s not hard to spot–the hands facing each other, close above the lap, each holding a needle. Maybe her attention is on the project; or maybe she doesn’t need to look. Sitting, standing, walking; old and young; there’s a whole lot of knitting going on across the Commons. (For a larger collection, check out the Knitting Across the Commons gallery.)

“Elderly woman, knitting”–clearly a formal portrait, but she’s not about to put down her knitting for the occasion.

George Eastman House

“Mrs. Lewis, Y Borth at 84 Years Old”–notice that, in the time the shutter took to open and close, Mrs. Lewis was completely still except for her hands.

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales

“Herring girls, Scarborough, Yorkshire”–no idle hands for these herring girls, c1910; knitting is a time-honored way to make use of wait time.

National Maritime Museum

“Breien in lagere school in woonwagenkamp”–two girls learning to knit in wartime Holland, 1941; commenters point out that the girls are knitting “English Style,” not “Continental Style”.

Nationaal Archief

“Girls Knitting, 1918″–long before Barbies or Wiis, knitting served the purpose of a social activity for little friends, on a summer day in Ohio.

UA Archives/Upper Arlington History

From a gallery by Spellbound Blog (jkramersmyth) in celebration of yesterday’s summer solstice …

Young boy fishing with his dog: Palm Beach County, Florida

State Library and Archives Florida

Three Generations of Oldlands Have Ranched on Piceance Creek. in the Summer They Move 15 Miles South to Their Cow Camp, and Their Cattle Graze on Higher Lands Owned by the Bureau of Land Management and Private Oil Companies Haying Crew at Work, 07/1973

U.S. National Archives

Atlantic City Beach

George Eastman House

Enjoy the rest of the Spirit of Summer gallery here!

Margaret Wise Brown was born 100 years ago this month (23 May 1910). A tribute, using images from the Flickr Commons.

In the great green room …

Smithsonian Institution

… there was a telephone …

Genevieve Clark (Lib. of Congress)

… and a red balloon …

L. Stevens (Lib. of Congress)

… and a picture of a cow …

Pauline (DC Public Library)

… jumping over the moon …

Margaret Ballardini & Fred Watson (State Lib. of NSW)

Hands are, uh, handy subjects–everyone has some nearby, right? And they’re an interesting shape. Some photographs of the hand at work, at play, under study and under a rodent, from the Flickr Commons. (Or come visit the gallery “Hands across the Commons” for fourteen handfuls of the same.)

Olifantsspitsmuis in Artis. Oppasser houdt muisje op de hand (a.k.a., an elephant shrew)

Nationaal Archief

Library Appeal 1973

. LSE Library

Women Bowling

George Eastman House

Moses Williams playing the diddley bow: Waverly, Florida

State Library and Archives of Florida

Untitled (from the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Native Basketry program)

Smithsonian Institution

The Commons provides a wealth of photos of the half of the world being celebrated today, International Women’s Day — every one of them uncommon and important in her own way.

Wilhelmina Drucker, women’s rights pioneer, is portrayed by Truus Claes on the occasion of her seventieth birthday (1917).

Nationaal Archief

Gwyneth Richards, the only girl in the YFC taking part in sheep shearing competitions in Wales (1944).

National Library of Wales

Eileen Power, Professor of Economic History from 1931 to 1940, London School of Economics (1930s).

LSE Library

Co-eds with hoes: The county experimental hop yard recruited Oregon State College coeds for a quick job of hoeing (1944).

Oregon State University Archives

An unnamed 14-year-old striker, actress and political activist Fola La Follette, and prostitute-turned reformer Rose Livingston (1913).

Library of Congress

Rita Trudget (or Trudgett), wicket keeper, in Moore Park, Sydney, Australia (1930s).

State Library of New South Wales

Field Museum Library

U.S. National Archives

U.S. National Archives

New York Public Library

This one’s for you, Shelley!

The Nancy Grey with a whale, Norway.

Library of Congress

A whale in Sydney Harbour.

State Library of New South Wales

Model of a whale.

Smithsonian Institution

Posing on whale bones.

State Library and Archives of Florida

Stranded blackfish whales.

National Library of New Zealand

Whaling / Walvisvaart

Nationaal Archief

A sperm whale jawbone.

Nantucket Historical Association

A large whale skeleton.

Field Museum

Whale-back at pier.

Brooklyn Museum

March 1st is observed as St. David’s Day, a national holiday in Wales. To mark the occasion, some images of the Welsh from across the Commons …

A photochrom image of two knitting and spinning Welshwomen, 1890s, in traditional costumes

[Library of Congress]

Mr. Roberts, a Welsh harpist, c. 1875

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/National Library of Wales

A family of Welsh immigrants to Patagonia, Argentina, 1924; this photo was taken as part of the Captain Marshall Field Expedition for Vertebrate Paleontology (1922-1925)

Field Museum Library

Fisherman’s family outside cottage, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, c.1890 (be sure to see the then-and-now posted in the comments on this one)

National Maritime Museum

Welsh artist Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956)

Smithsonian Institution

From a Flickr Gallery curated by david_cory, we bring you … Oddities from the Commons!

Ed E. Ford, comedian, at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, ca. 1914 / photographer unknown

State Library of New South Wales

Library Mummers Play, 1980

Library Mummers Play, 1980

Poster for a side show at the Vermont state fair, Rutland (or, as David says, “Disturbing on many levels”)

Library of Congress

Hunter with 3 Foot Grasshopper

Galt Museum & Archives

Sea serpent visitors

Nantucket Historical Association

Check out the rest of David’s gallery for more Oddities from the Commons!