45 vintage photos documenting holiday celebrations in Detroit through the years

By on Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 5:51 pm

These photos show the heyday of shopping in Detroit, when a trip to J.L. Hudson Department Store was an event that you got dressed up for in your best outfit.

All photos used courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University/Virtual Motor City collection.

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Washington Blvd. Christmas decorations. (1930) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Washington Blvd. Christmas decorations. (1930)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade at J. L. Hudson's. (1952) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther

Christmas parade at J. L. Hudson's. (1952)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther
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Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. (1981)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas shoppers on Woodward Avenue. (1934) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas shoppers on Woodward Avenue. (1934)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Children looking in store window. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Children looking in store window.



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Shopping crowds. (1945) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Shopping crowds. (1945)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Carolers. (1920-1929) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Carolers. (1920-1929)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1953)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1955) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1955)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1952) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1952)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1953)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1953)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1955) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1955)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas parade. (1953) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas parade. (1953)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
35 of 46
Christmas shoppers on Woodward Avenue. (1934) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas shoppers on Woodward Avenue. (1934)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
36 of 46
Christmas shoppers downtown. (1940) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas shoppers downtown. (1940)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Christmas shoppers downtown. (1939) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Christmas shoppers downtown. (1939)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Santa Claus. All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Santa Claus.



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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Santa Claus. (1930) All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University

Santa Claus. (1930)



All photos courtesy of Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
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