Hitchhiker with His Dog "Tripper" on U.S. 66, May 1972

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    Original Caption: Hitchhiker with His Dog, "Tripper", on U.S. 66. U.S. 66 Crosses The Colorado River At Topock: 05/1972

    U.S. National Archives' Local Identifier: NWDNS-412-DA-6626

    From: Series: DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972-1977 (Record Group 412)

    Created by: Environmental Protection Agency. (12/02/1970 - )

    Production Date: 05/1972

    Photographer: O'Rear, Charles, 1941-

    Subjects:
    Yuma (Yuma county, Arizona, United States) inhabited place

    Persistent URL: arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=549112

    Repository: Still Picture Unit of the National Archives at College Park

    For information about ordering reproductions of photographs held by the U.S. National Archives' Still Picture Unit, visit: www.archives.gov/research/order/still-pictures.html.

    Reproductions may be ordered via an independent vendor. The U.S. National Archives maintains a list of vendors at www.archives.gov/research/order/vendors-photos-maps-dc.html.

    Access Restrictions: Unrestricted
    Use Restrictions: Unrestricted

    ken mccown, ju_lien, DonnaApril, and 152 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    View 12 more comments

    1. The U.S. National Archives 34 months ago | reply

      Dear Suzy Douce 814U:

      Glad you like the photo of Tripper and his master. Yes, the patched jeans seem to say it all. This is arguably the most popular image from the DOCUMERICA collection, taken by photographer Charles O'Rear while on assignment for the EPA in Southern California. O'Rear still works in photography, and has published a number of photo studies of the Napa Valley wine country. (http://charlesorear.photoshelter.com/)

      Jerry (U.S. National Archives)

    2. itsAngelo 32 months ago | reply

      Awesome historical shot.
      Do we know who the person is?
      R.I.P. Tripper

    3. The U.S. National Archives 32 months ago | reply

      itsAngelo:

      We know from photographer Charles O'Rear that he never learned the hitchhiker's name. He only learned Tripper's name. This is arguably the most popular DOCUMERICA image in the collection.

      Jerry (U.S. National Archives)

    4. wirrrn 31 months ago | reply

      Awesome, evocative picture. He's cute! I would totally have dated him if I wasn't only 4 months old at the time the picture was taken! Amazing to think that he'd be in his late Fifties/ early Sixties now...

    5. The U.S. National Archives 31 months ago | reply

      Hi, wirrn!
      Glad you like the photo. It's one of our favorites here at National Archives. I spoke with the photographer Charles O'Rear about this guy and he says he never learned the hitchhiker's name, unfortunately. Can't beat those groovy threads!

      Jerry (U.S. National Archives)

    6. addclinton 22 months ago | reply

      He would be about 60 now. Wonder how life treated him.

    7. Yaroslav Gerzhedovich 18 months ago | reply

      Fabulous. The guy looks like a rock star :-)

    8. Vitiaco 18 months ago | reply

      And the trousers are excellent :-)

    9. BlueisCoool 5 months ago | reply

      What a great looking old capture and i wonder what became of this person and his dog.

    10. ratexla 5 months ago | reply

      Hello to everyone talking about the innocence and safety of the olden days. You may want to read "The better angels of our nature: Why violence has declined" by Steven Pinker. :D

      Anyway, lovely shot! :)

    11. JIM Mourgos 5 months ago | reply

      Innocence? Watts riots, killing at the Kent campus, Vietnam, Watergate. Yeah, right.

      Good photo though.

    12. JIM Mourgos 5 months ago | reply

      And let's not forget Kennedy both John and Robert, assassinated as well as MLK. Innocent indeed.

    13. rwchicago 5 months ago | reply

      Is this for real? Amazing!

    14. Temari 09 5 months ago | reply

      What a cool image! Thanks for sharing.

    15. Jon Haynes Photography 5 months ago | reply

      he's holding that pup like a fashion accessory

    16. cathimc 5 months ago | reply

      How cool is this? LOL, great observation...like a purse.

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