Early 20th Century New York Street Food Vendor

The photograph titled East Side Food Peddler, taken on February 24, 1917, captures a moment in the bustling urban life of early 20th-century America. Street vendors like the one in this image were essential to city economies, offering a variety of foods and goods to residents who often relied on them for their daily needs. This particular peddler is representative of the countless individuals who navigated crowded neighborhoods, showcasing the informal markets that thrived in cities like New York and Chicago during this period.

Captured by the Bain News Service, this image serves as a visual record of the diverse and dynamic environment of city streets at the time. With the rise of mass production and urban migration, food peddlers played a crucial role in community life, bridging the gap between local producers and consumers. The glass negative format used for this photograph provides a high level of detail, allowing us to glimpse not just the vendor but also the surrounding architecture and the characteristics of the street life that defined the era.