New archive unveiled showcasing historical photographs of leisure activities in Tammisaari, Porvoo, and Rauma

Black-and-white portraits are familiar to many, but glimpses into the leisure activities of people over a century ago are rare. In 1910, the cliffs of Tammisaari were crowded with onlookers at the shoreline, as swimmers dived headlong into the sea.

Now, anyone can explore over a thousand newly digitized historical photographs in the Finn service managed by the National Library of Finland. The images, taken in Tammisaari, Porvoo, and Rauma around the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, capture a time when owning a camera was unusual for families. However, the Fager family from Tammisaari had their own camera, documenting their active leisure time filled with laughter, cycling, sailing, and urban festivities.

Natalia Linsén from Porvoo was among the first trained female photographers in Finland. According to Juha Jämbäck, head of collections at the Porvoo Museum, “She could climb any church tower if she wanted to.” Linsén established the first photo studio in Porvoo, contributing to her family’s income while capturing detailed images of the cityscape, including the emergence of the new Empire-style center.

In the early 1900s, Rauma’s harbor, bustling with sailing ships, was an impressive sight. Bookstore owner Ludvig Nordberg had postcards made from his photographs—some of the first iconic images of Rauma, which have survived in homes to this day. While Nordberg sold the postcards himself, competitors soon emerged in the city.

The Finn archive continues to grow, currently housing nearly 800,000 images. Users can search for historical artifacts, artworks, documents, films, and literature from hundreds of museums, libraries, and archives.