If you grew up in the 1950's, most of the photography was in black & white. Color was just starting out & black & white pictures have been around since the beginning, back in the late 1800's. Many of us grew up with the kodak & Brownie's of the 1950's & lots of black & white pictures. Newer generations enjoyed color photographs & today almost everyone has a digital camera.
There are a few important things to know about caring for old pictures. Never use a damp cloth to wipe them. The chemicals used on the paper usually react very badly to any humidity. Just wipe them lightly with a dry rag. And when putting them in a binder & under plastic, take particular care of the corners as you place them. Make sure they are well protected & safe so they may last another 50 years or so!
There are as many types of black & white photograph collectors as there are pictures. Some collectors prefer groups of people in the pictures they seek. Others prefer tall buildings, Government buildings, Wedding pictures, Industry, the list is endless. People collect what they feel & we are all different.
At times there is writing on the back of an old black & white picture & dated. When this occurs & the message is clear & dated 100 years ago, it is very special. There are collectors that are looking for pictures with writing on the back, dated, & with clear messages.
Paper items are very fragile & among the first of all the treasures to self destruct after a certain period of time. Photographs are like this & have to be protected from the humidity & kept under plastic. They contain memories & although the people appearing in the pictures have been dead many years, their images continue to survive!