Flashback Photos: Journal photographer Walter F. Winn's Atlanta

News

Flashback Photos: Journal photographer Walter F. Winn's Georgia

Walter Frank Winn (back row, third from left) was hired by The Atlanta Journal in 1909 to set up the newspaper's photo department. He worked for the Journal until his death in 1939. During his 30-year career, Winn captured enduring images from all aspects of life around Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Here's a look at the AJC's rich archival collection of historic scenes tagged, quite simply, "Staff photo by Winn." And here's the Journal photo staff in 1937, the original photo caption reading: "This battery of photographers is on the jump 24 hours a day, recording the news in pictures for Journal readers. Left to right, front row, Frank Rhodes, Ralph Jones, Lawrence Cornett, Walter Sparks, and Victor Barron. Back row, Lamar Caldwell, H.G. Blasingame, Walter F. Winn and S.T. Jones."

This photo shows prosecutor Hugh Dorsey, standing at left, examining witness Jim Conley, on the stand at right, during the trial of Leo Frank, who is seated at center. It was Conley's testimony that sealed Frank's fate. This photo from the Frank trial was shot by Winn in 1913. Winn's grandson, Walter Winn of Decatur, said this image and many others from Winn's career have been handed down to succeeding generations of the family.

Original caption: "1933 -- Miss Marlon Joiner, of Coleman, Ga., and Miss Doris Bunch, of Lincolnton, Ga., try their hand at loading hay in Wolf Fork Valley, Ga."

Original caption: "Debris of the combination baggage and colored day coach of the Ponce De Leon, splintered by the terrific impact of the head-on collision with the Royal Palm near Rockmart, Ga., on the night of Dec. 23, 1926. Staff photo by Winn."

Original caption: "Cracker training -- Benny Rothstein, former Cracker first baseman, shown working out with the Atlanta team. (Staff photo by Winn) 1932."

Original caption: "1933 -- The Jenkins brothers of Dahlonega, Tom (left) and William, busy with their gold pans in the famed mining section around their home. There was twenty-five cents' worth of ore in the gravel which William scooped up in his pan."

Original caption: "1932 -- Left to right, Charlie Yates, Ga. state amateur champion; Frank Ridley, George Harris and Berrien Moore, Jr., who played an exhibition match as part of the official opening of the nine-hole Chattahoochee Golf Course at Bolton. (Staff photo by Winn)"

Original caption: "1933 -- Atlanta Crackers catcher Phillips going after a high foul at Ponce de Leon Park. (Staff photo by Winn)"

Original caption: "1935 -- Carl Smith wanted something exciting, so he aimed the nose of his motorcycle at the top of Stone Mountain and never paused until he slithered to the summit. Staff photo by Winn"

Original caption: "June, 1931 -- Montgomery, Ala: At the 41st Annual Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans, held at Montgomery, Ala., June 2-5 - T. O. Day and T. A. Prince, two hardy Texans, were playing a friendly game of checkers when someone mentioned General Lee, and they both exclaimed, 'Now, back in sixty-one...'"

Original caption: "1937 -- And isn't Thelma Donehoo, of 1214 Mansfield Ave., Atlanta, having the time of her life with a whole melon for herself? Georgia's melon crop this year is the largest in several seasons."

Original caption: "1932 -- This old structure, built 76 years ago, is one of the few of its kind still in use in Georgia. It spans beautiful and historic Sope Creek, a small stream which flows into the Chattahoochee River 15 miles north of Atlanta, near Sandy Springs."

Original caption: "Left to right: Miss Martha Berry, founder and president of the Berry Schools at Mt. Berry, Ga., Mrs. Mattie Talmadge, wife of Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge, Mrs. Edith Wilson, widow of former president Woodrow Wilson, and Mrs. Edgar Alexander, national Democratic committeewoman for Georgia, shown at the luncheon given in honor of Mrs. Wilson by the Woman's Democratic Club of Fulton County, at the Capitol City Club, March 20, 1933. (Staff photo by Winn)"

Original caption: "1931 -- The world's only double-barrelled cannon. This unique gun was designed for use in the War Between the States but never saw service in battle, and it now stands on the lawn of the City Hall in Athens. The two pretty cannoneers are Miss Ninfa Palmistano (left) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gaspar Palmisano, and Miss Ethelyn Cook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wever Cook."

Original caption: "1930s -- Glassy Mountain as seen from its neighbor, Fort Mountain."

Original caption: "1937 -- As a part of their state-wide conservation program, Conservation Committee of the Georgia Legislature, now in session at the State Capitol in Atlanta, recently took a boat ride through the famous area of 'trembling earth,' which as been proposed as a national park and a wild life refuge." (The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was eventually established in 1937.)

Original caption: "The Jefferson County Courthouse at Louisville, Ga. Louisville was the fourth capital of Georgia, and the first permanent legislative site. The capitol was moved there in 1794 and remained until 1807, when it was transferred to Milledgeville."

Original caption: "1933 -- William and Tom Jenkins, old-timers at the art of wrestling 'pay dirt' from the North Georgia mountains, at work on their 'claim' near Dahlonega."

Original caption: "1930s -- This ox cart finds light going on paved roads. Walton Ramey, living near Tiger, (Rabun County) Ga., with his team of steers and a load of hay."

Original caption: "1932 -- Miss Eva Hood is pouring in the apples as Miss Christine Wood operates the mill to produce sweet, sparkling cider, which turns into the finest pickle vinegar in the world. This picture was made in a large orchard near Cornelia, Ga."

Original caption: "1935 -- One mule rests while the other works in the operation of this old-fashioned hay baling machine on the farm of W.M. Taggart in Dooly County. Big hay crops are typical of general improvement in that section."

Original caption: "1932 -- Mary Ruth Duckett of Cornelia, Ga., picking apples."

Original caption: "1930s -- Bobby Jones putting on the 13th green of the famous Augusta, Ga., course, where he will compete in the open golf tournament to be held April 2 to 5. The field will include the world's greatest players."

Original caption: "1935 -- This fine growth of hay is being harvested on the Aycock Brothers' farm near Monroe, Ga. (Staff Photo by Winn)"

Original caption: "1930s -- A view of the 18th fairway of the Glen Arven Country Club, showing the green and the clubhouse atop the hill in the background. Kid Brown, of Atlanta, was defeated in the finals, one up, by George Converse, of Valdosta."

1/25

Walter Frank Winn (back row, third from left) was hired by The Atlanta Journal in 1909 to set up the newspaper's photo department. He worked for the Journal until his death in 1939. During his 30-year career, Winn captured enduring images from all aspects of life around Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Here's a look at the AJC's rich archival collection of historic scenes tagged, quite simply, "Staff photo by Winn." And here's the Journal photo staff in 1937, the original photo caption reading: "This battery of photographers is on the jump 24 hours a day, recording the news in pictures for Journal readers. Left to right, front row, Frank Rhodes, Ralph Jones, Lawrence Cornett, Walter Sparks, and Victor Barron. Back row, Lamar Caldwell, H.G. Blasingame, Walter F. Winn and S.T. Jones."

Today's Gallery Headlines

Atlanta Jazz Fest brings 3 days of free music

Alerts

PHOTOS: Atlanta Jazz Festival 2026

PHOTOS: Memorial Day Flag Placement at Marietta National Cemetery

PHOTOS: Braves beat Nationals in extra innings

PHOTOS: MomoCon 2026 held in Atlanta

PHOTOS: The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center opens in Fayetteville

PHOTOS: Office space renderings in Atlanta's 5th tallest tower

PHOTOS: Gov. Kemp: South Georgia wildfires are ‘most dangerous, biggest’ in U.S.

PHOTOS: Two Georgia wildfires destroy homes, ravage thousands of acres