Faces of the Mother Road

Faces of the Mother Road

The Lost Portraits of S.J. Tyler (1913–1949)

These extraordinary portraits were taken on fragile glass plates in Afton, Oklahoma, capturing the faces of everyday Americans who lived and traveled along what would become Route 66.

Learn about the exhibition at the Oklahoma History Center and the Route 66 Centennial.

Formal black and white portrait, couple and child, early 20th century
Formal black and white portrait, family group with cowboy hat
Black and white vintage portrait, man on early motorcycle
Formal black and white portrait, young child in decorative hat
Formal black and white portrait, woman and child on bench
Black and white portrait, young man in checkered flat cap
Black and white portrait, woman in embroidered blouse and wide-brimmed hat
Vintage black and white photograph, Afton baseball team
Black and white portrait, man in straw hat with polka-dotted band
Formal black and white portrait, two men in period clothing
Formal black and white family portrait, six people
Black and white vintage portrait, man in cowboy hat
Formal black and white portrait, woman holding child in christening gown
Black and white vintage portrait, young child in white dress
Formal black and white portrait, woman with four children
Vintage black and white portrait, young toddler girl on pedestal
Formal black and white portrait, woman in Edwardian attire with feathered hat
Black and white vintage portrait, two men in studio
Formal black and white group portrait, young women with Our Motto sign
Formal black and white portrait, man in dark suit holding cowboy hat
Formal black and white portrait, man holding violin
Black and white vintage portrait, young toddler on metal chair
Black and white vintage portrait, four young people including military uniform
Black and white vintage portrait, young child in ballet attire
Black and white vintage portrait, man in Western attire with studded chaps
Black and white vintage portrait, woman in early 20th century bathing attire
Formal black and white portrait, young woman with child on bench
Formal black and white portrait, group with nun in habit
Formal black and white portrait, well-dressed man in double-breasted suit
Black and white portrait, young man with slicked-back dark hair
Black and white vintage portrait, long-haired dog on ornate bench
Black and white portrait, young man in cowboy hat with leather satchel
Black and white historical photograph, crowded street scene outside storefronts