The Linda Brockett collection is a series of photographic negatives taken around the Great Lakes region between 1910-1915. The images follow an unknown family whose son graduated from Northwestern University in 1915. They had a vacation home in Paw Paw Lake, Michigan and traveled often between Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The collection names friends of the family including Helen Lett, Will Knight, and Ruth Moorehead. They often traveled by steamboat or by train, owned a Ford Model T, and saw biplanes at a 1912 Chicago air show. The collection also includes photographs of several pets and farm animals.
A woman sitting in the back of a Model T holding a dog. There is a man with a straw hat and glasses in the driver's seat. Both are looking towards the camera and the car is parked on grass outside of a wooden house or barn.
A biplane flying very low, either taking off or landing in a field. There is a city skyline in the distance, and to the right is a small group of men standing behind the wing of another plane.
The back of a biplane. There is a crowd of men in suits and hats gathered around the front of the plane. One of the flaps has large letters that say "Brodie."
A large house with a wraparound porch and a Model T car parked in the yard. The porch appears to have been built around a large tree growing through the middle of the roof.
A crowd watches a low-flying plane. There is a group of men in suits and hats and one woman standing away from them next to a wire fence in a large straw hat and a white dress. Beyond the fence is a seating area with rows of empty chairs.
A man looking towards the camera in a suit and tie wearing a trilby hat sitting in a train car across from a woman in a large straw hat. There are circular windows around the car and rows of empty seats.
A dock by a small lake house with a banner that says "Windermere." The right side of the image has part of a boy's face and arm and behind him is another small rowboat with a woman in a white hat.
A three-story hotel next to train tracks with a sign that says "The Midland" and below that "Fred Sachau Proprietor." A woman with a white shirt and long black skirt stands with her arms at her hips next to two rocking chairs on the porch.
A two-car train across a field billowing smoke. There is a lone figure standing outside the first car in a white shirt. Behind the train are a few trees and two residential houses.
A mechanical dredge out on the water billowing steam. There is a sign that says "Dredge No. 7 Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co" and several workers standing on the deck. In the distance is a steamboat looking low in the water with several figures standing on the deck.
A small boat labeled "Police Harbor and River Service" on each end. There are two men in suits sitting towards the front next to a furled American flag.
Two boys crossing a railroad track in front of a stopped train with a man sitting on the front next to a billboard saying "This is Dowagiac, Home of the Famous Genuine Round Oak"
Two men, one sitting on a flat cart with large wheels and the other standing next to him in front of a building with a sign that says "Des Plaines." Another sign above a door says "American Express."
A ship sailing away from shore billowing steam with buildings in the background and the prow of another ship on the left edge of the image. There are three decks filled with people on the boat.
An older and younger man in suits sitting on flat cart with large wheels. The younger man has a camera bag and the building behind them has signs saying "Des Plaines" and "American Express Co."
A male graduate holding a diploma in front of a field with trees, and the shoulder of another person cut off next to him. The negative has been cut by its previous holder.
Heck Hall, a large building with tall rounded windows covered in icicles behind with a large gnarled tree trunk. There is a group of people in coats and hats walking in through the door.
Heck Hall, a large building with tall rounded windows covered in icicles and several bare trees, with silhouettes of three people standing to the left of the building.
Heck Hall, a tall building with tall rounded windows covered in icicles with a large fire escape ladder leading from the roof of the building to just above the door.
A procession of women in long skirts and hats wearing large white bows on their backs. They are walking across a road in front of a large house next to a smaller house with an automobile behind them.
Three graduates, one holding a book, one holding a book and a purse, and one holding a mortarboard cap outside a building with a crowd of people in the distance.
Heck Hall, a large building with tall rounded windows behind bare trees. There are icicles covering the building, four small silhouettes of people to the left of the building, and one man standing by the door.
Three adult men dressed in suits standing next to a rock etched with "Class of 1873." Two are holding their hats and one has a hat placed on the ground behind him.
A male graduate holding a diploma flanked by an adult man in a suit and an adult woman in formal dress. They are standing next to a rock etched with "Class of 1873," opposite two more adult men in suits and an adult woman in formal dress.
Male graduate, likely college, dressed in a cap and gown, flanked by three adult men in suits wearing hats and two women wearing formal dresses. They are all surrounding a large rock etched with "Class of 1873" and behind them are a row of trees.
