Culture

July in the archives: Richmond, VA

Step into the Julys of Richmond’s past with archival photos from 1975 to 1989.

July 22, 2025 • 
Elise Steele
Black and white photograph of William McCoy, age 12, jumping Double Dutch rope in the street; two girls hold each end of two jump ropes; other kids stand by and watch; adults and children hang out outside apartment buildings in background.

Alexa Welch, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.4555/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. We dove into the archives to see what July has looked like in Richmond’s past, from 1975 to 1989. All photos are courtesy of The Valentine and its meticulously curated Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection.

Note: Dates and photo titles are also provided by The Valentine.

July 8, 1975

“Rooting for the Home Team”
A batboy for the (formerly named) Richmond Braves sits in front of Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. and Attorney General Andrew P. Miller.

Black and white photograph of Earl Windle, a batboy for the Richmond Braves baseball team, blowing a large bubble gum bubble during a game; Windle, wearing a Braves jersey and hat, sits with his back to the stands; Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. and Attorney General Andrew P. Miller, sit in the first row behind Windle; the group was watching a doubleheader between the Braves and the Tidewater Tides at Parker Field.

Masaaki Okada, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.3608/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 7, 1977

“Have Board, Will Travel”
You could pass a similar sight on any Richmond street today, but a few elements may differ.

Black and white photograph of Larry Himmelman riding home from work in downtown Richmond on his skateboard; cars on street behind him; he wears a white shirt and dark pants.

Bob Brown, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.3573/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 17, 1977

“Men Fish from Bank of James River as Haze Lends Gray Texture to New Federal Reserve Building”
Compare this view to Richmond’s skyline today.

Black and white photograph of three men sitting in metal lawn chairs and fishing along bank of the James River; downtown Richmond skyline and bridge in background; sky is hazy; Federal Reserve building at center in background.

Bob Brown, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.3530/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 2, 1983

“Betsy Berry, 19, and Scott Vermillera, 23, on the James River”
Memories are always made along the James — photograph taken from Huguenot Bridge.

Black and white photograph of Betsy Berry, age 19, and Scott Vermillera, age 23, floating in inner tubes on the James River; Berry holds Vermillera's ankle; they both wear swimsuits; Vermillera holds a beer can between his legs; view looking down on them from the Huguenot Bridge.

P. Kevin Morley, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.3774/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 31, 1983

“People Sunbathe on Rocks Near Pony Pasture”
I wonder what the parking situation was like back then...

Black and white photograph of numerous people hanging out on large rocks in James River, near Pony Pasture; view from the riverbank.

Bob Brown, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.4423/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 10, 1984

“Gayton Kirk Members Entertain Visiting Scots and Massachusetts Group at a Picnic”
Nothing says “July” like a buffet-style picnic, and nothing says “the 1980s” like that “M*A*S*H” shirt.

Black and white photograph of Gayton Kirk members and members of visiting Scots and Massachusetts groups getting food during outdoor picnic; they file along buffet table and serve food to themselves.

Masaaki Okada, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.4566/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 20, 1984

“William McCoy Jumps Rope”
Buy double-dutch ropes and recruit your friends immediately; jumping rope is a summer-of-childhood-whimsy must.

Black and white photograph of William McCoy, age 12, jumping Double Dutch rope in the street; two girls hold each end of two jump ropes; other kids stand by and watch; adults and children hang out outside apartment buildings in background.

Alexa Welch, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.4555/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 28, 1984

“Getting Down”
At the time, the owner of Didgie’s on Grove Avenue hired break-dancers to promote a summer sale.

Black and white photograph of Betsy Gunter (left) standing with group of people and watching Richard James, age 15, break- dancing in middle of her store, Didgie's, on Grove Avenue near Libbie Avenue; Gunter hired break-dancers as part of sale sponsored Westhampton area merchants.

Bob Brown, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.85.37.4526/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 19, 1987

“Hardware Cat”
You weren’t leaving Lorraine Hardware without Hero the cat checking your bag.

Black and white photograph of "Hero," Lorraine Hardware's cream and white cat; the cat is investigating a customer's purse sitting on the counter; Mark Robertson, a store employee, talks on the telephone.

Robin Layton, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.91.04.06/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 12, 1989

“Fan Park Music”
Folks in the Fan district gather in the park for a jazz performance.

Black and white photograph of a jazz combo playing outside in a pocket park in the Fan District; the group of keyboard, drums, bass, and flute, plays to a crowd of people sitting on the grass or park benches.

Bruce Parker, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.91.04.1053/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 14, 1989

“Porch Proud”
Plants, trinkets, crochet crafts, and a cat — this is what a front-porch summer in RVA is all about.

Black and white photograph of Helen Korusek on the porch of her home on Addison Street; Korusek is surrounded by things she used to keep inside, but now displays outside where they can be seen; the porch is cluttered with hanging baskets, planters, crocheted afghans and animal figurines; a cat eats from a community cat food tray attached to the porch railing.

Jay Paul, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.91.04.1287/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

July 24, 1989

“Games at Joe + Brenda’s Barber Shop”
A father and son play checkers in a barber shop at 25th and P Streets, Church Hill.

Black and white photograph of Joe Lofton and his son Patrick, finishing a game of checkers at Joe and Brenda's Barber Shop at 25th and P Streets in Richmond; a customer, Jerry Scott, watches the game as he waits in the barbers chair for a trim; the Loftons hold the checker board on their knees as they play; both men are barbers at the shop.

P. Kevin Morley, photographer. Richmond Times-Dispatch Photograph Collection. V.91.04.1217/PHC0076. The Valentine, Richmond, Virginia.

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