America in years before WW2
These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs and captions are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.
Faro and Doris Caudill, homesteaders. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Connecticut town on the sea. Stonington, Connecticut, November 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Farm auction. Derby, Connecticut, September 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Children gathering potatoes on a large farm. Vicinity of Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Trucks outside of a starch factory. Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Headlines posted in street-corner window of newspaper office (Brockton Enterprise). Brockton, Massachusetts, December 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Children in the tenement district. Brockton, Massachusetts, December 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Going to town on Saturday afternoon. Greene County, Georgia, May 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Chopping cotton on rented land near White Plains. White Plains, Greene County, Georgia, June 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Barker at the grounds at the state fair. Rutland, Vermont, September 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Backstage at the “girlie” show at the state fair. Rutland, Vermont, September 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
At the Vermont state fair. Rutland, Vermont, September 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Couples at square dance. McIntosh County, Oklahoma, 1939 or 1940, Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Orchestra at square dance. McIntosh County, Oklahoma, 1939 or 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Children asleep on bed during square dance. McIntosh County, Oklahoma, 1939 or 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Jack Whinery, homesteader, and his family. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
The Faro Caudill family eating dinner in their dugout. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Saying grace before the barbeque dinner at the New Mexico Fair. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Homesteader and his children eating barbeque at the New Mexico Fair. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
School children singing. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Garden adjacent to the dugout home of Jack Whinery, homesteader. Pie Town, New Mexico, September 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Mill at the Camp Bird Mine. Ouray County, Colorado, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Distributing surplus commodities. St. Johns, Arizona, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Hauling crates of peaches from the orchard to the shipping shed. Delta County, Colorado, September 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Hay stack and automobile of peach pickers. Delta County, Colorado, 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
On main street of Cascade. Cascade, Idaho, July 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Road cut into the barren hills which lead into Emmett. Emmett, Idaho, July 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Shasta dam under construction. California, June 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Boy building a model airplane as girl watches. Robstown, Texas, January 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Arthur Rothstein. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Grand Grocery Company. Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Young African American boy. Cincinnati, Ohio, 1942 or 1943. Photo by John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Wisdom, Montana, April 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
A Fourth of July celebration. St. Helena Island, South Carolina, 1939. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Planting corn along a river. Northeastern Tennessee, May 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
African Americans fishing in creek near cotton plantations. Belzoni, Mississippi, October 1939. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Bayou Bourbeau plantation, a Farm Security Administration cooperative. Vicinity of Natchitoches, Louisiana, August 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
African American’s tenant’s home beside the Mississippi River levee. Near Lake Providence, Louisiana, June 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
A crossroads store, bar, “juke joint,” and gas station in the cotton plantation area. Melrose, Louisiana, June 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Boys fishing in a bayou. Schriever, Louisiana, June 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Boys fishing in a bayou. Schriever, Louisiana, June 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
African American migratory workers by a “juke joint”. Belle Glade, Florida, February 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Children aiming sticks as guns, lined up against a brick building. Washington, D.C.(?), between 1941 and 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photographer Unknown. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Shulman’s market, on N at Union Street S.W. Washington, D.C., between 1941 and 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Louise Rosskam. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
House. Washington, D.C.(?), between 1941 and 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Louise Rosskam. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Chapel, Vadito. Near Penasco, New Mexico, Spring 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by John Collier. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
A welder who works in the round-house at the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company’s Proviso yard. Chicago, Illinois, December 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
View in a departure yard at Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company’s Proviso yard at twilight. Chicago, Illinois, December 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Switchman throwing a switch at Chicago and Northwest Railway Company’s Proviso yard. Chicago, Illinois, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Mike Evans, a welder, at the rip tracks at Proviso yard of the Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Chicago, Illinois, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Putting the finishing touches on a rebuilt caboose at the rip tracks at Proviso yard. Chicago, Illinois, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Switch engine in yard near Calumet Park stockyards, Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. Calumet City, Illinois, January 1943. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
General view of part of the South Water Street freight depot of the Illinois Central Railroad Chicago, Illinois, May 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Mrs. Viola Sievers, one of the wipers at the roundhouse giving a giant “H” class locomotive a bath of live steam. Clinton, Iowa, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Women workers employed as wipers in the roundhouse having lunch in their rest room, Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Clinton, Iowa, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Children stage a patriotic demonstration. Southington, Connecticut, May 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Fenno Jacobs. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
At Beecher Street School. Southington, Connecticut, May 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Fenno Jacobs. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Street corner. Dillon, Montana, August 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Shepherd with his horse and dog on Gravelly Range Madison County, Montana, August 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Servicing an A-20 bomber. Langley Field, Virginia, July 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Marine glider at Page Field. Parris Island, South Carolina, May 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
M-4 tank crews of the United States. Fort Knox, Kentucky, June 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Welder making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Company. Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Construction work at the TVA’s Douglas Dam. Tennessee, June 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Assembling B-25 bombers at North American Aviation. Kansas City, Kansas, October 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
P-51 ‘Mustang’ fighter in flight. Inglewood, California, October 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Woman is working on a “Vengeance” dive bomber Tennessee, February 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Hanna furnaces of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation, stock pile of coal and iron ore. Detroit, Michigan, November 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Arthur Siegel. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Rural school children. San Augustine County, Texas, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Rural school children. San Augustine County, Texas, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Worker at carbon black plant. Sunray, Texas, 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Worker at carbon black plant John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Love the color of these interesting images.
first! also awesome
Great pictures.
some fantastic pictures there. Thanks.
Wow, incredible detail, good sizes and color from the early 19040s. Wow.
^1940s
Wow, some great pics there.
I’m amazed with these pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing Photos..
Just amazing..
ENBD..//
Thank you for sharing and capturing some of America’s great moments in history. I really enjoyed looking at the beautiful artwork!
Before the War years…. 1942, 1943. Way to show you paid attention during history class.
Absolutely incredible photos
The most striking thing is the simple beauty. The photographers knew then what makes a beautiful image. The depth of field, the subject matter, the lighting. All of these things make these images so very beautiful.
As others have said before, thank you for sharing this priceless art.
I’ve never seen so many wonderful Kodachrome Slides from those times. Great color. Also, no one was fat and the peaches were picked fresh, not green. And even the poor were eating vegetables.
Thanks.
thats the way the world looked when I was little. all the hats on both men and women
Great photos…I’d hate to live in that dugout!
I wonder if OSHA was aware of the Carbon Black Plant. Any wonder that the average life span was less than 60 years old during this period. It is interesting to see how our society has evolved. Notice the picture of the Dancing Girls at the carnival.
Amazing Pictures!! I was a little girl when these photos were taken. Lived on a desert in CA. dad worked in a defense plant.
They have really captured the essense of the times then. Bring some of them back!
I want to see more. Thank you
how spoiled we are when we complain of
not having a tv in our bedrooms….when
we have one in three other rooms….
these pictures are fantastic..thanks
My father-in-law and family were raised in dugouts (not as nice as the one posted here) and were homesteaders in Eunice New Mexico.
Rough life. Make strong people.
Wow!!! what wonderful pictures, brings back memories from a time long gone. We are so lucky to live and be free in the USA. even then the people were struggling but were free! Thanks for sharing.
wow..great pictures!
Excellent post and thanks for sharing….
The B52 Bombers looked like CGI out of Avatar
WUNDERBARE Bilder !!!
Gerade weil sie in Farbe sind und auch technisch von höchster Qualität, ist man “ganz hautnah am Geschehen”.
In schwarz-weiss wären die Bilder wohl nicht in diesem Masze ausdrucksvoll.
Ich bin BEEINDRUCKT – tief beeindruckt !
Sad to see what has become of our country since those times. Would be nice to have the “modern conveniences” we’ve gotten used to, with about half the number of people and, more significantly, less sense of entitlement and less greed.
And I would live in that dugout in a heartbeat.
Absolutely stunning. Amazing. Forwarded to everyone. I love B&W – but too often we see old BW and immediately think “historical” “old” etc. – seeing these in color – the children look like they could be the ones out my window! Yet they are my grandparents!
And forgetting about histroy and age and color – they are amazingly shot – perfect composition, perfect photojournalism, perfect lighting – we aren’t as original and smart as we often think we are – could many modern photographers capture images like this with the limited shots of a roll of film, no immediate feedback on the image, and far less sophisticated light metering etc,?
Mind-blowingly good.
PS – The world was very real before we got here
It was great seeing the old pictures, just beautiful.
I was born in the early 40s and it was wonderful seeing the pictures in color..
A wonderful pictorial history of a moment in history…beautifully recorded.
I wish I could personally thank the photographers whose artistry captured these moments in time.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures, a part of history. My mom was a riveter, as shown in the one photo. My dad was USAF.
These help to bring their stories back to life.
I am inspired to research more possible photographic work from Philadelphia.
These pictures are terrific. The photo’s were of the Norman Rockwell period and quality; for the most part each picture told an entire story of the people and their surroundings, there was no question as to what the photographer was showing us. No one gave any consideration or concern for the individuals health and safety or well being, it’s obvious why life expectancy during that period was about 47 years. I want to live the 40′s and 50′s over again, I know I would appreciate it a lot more then I did the first time. Thanks for sharing. norm
Brings back so many great memories. It’s too bad the kids of today can’t have these experiences.
Those are simply phenomenal. Thank you for sharing them.
What lovely photographs. The details are so fascinating!
Awesome pictures! All of these pictures were taken before and after my birth, but it showed how many people in the U.S. lived around the time of my birth. I bet more people were under the poverty line then, compared to today. Even though life is better today, they are those in this country who demand more and return less.
These are priceless treasures from a memorable period in our lives and are to be cherished.
I’ve probably seen these photos 3 or 4 times now and each time i’m amazed. Most of the subjects are probably dead now, but their youthfulness is eternally captured in these photos. It’s eerie
I’ve always wanted to go back in time and live in these ages, now I can actually almost picture myself there with these beautiful images. I am so thankful you posted these, they are wonderful and really do bring joy to my heart!
I always KNEW Rosie the Riveter was black. :o)
the BEST pictures ive seen in years. Very nice… PURE, Unadutrated, great Picture taking. trulely art… ALL of them tell an entire story just by looking at them, it takes you there. AWSOME ! Michael…
Wow, these pics are absolutely AMAZING, and totally inspiring to my family. We’re applying some of the same old-time principles to our small, making-from-scratch homestead in Indiana. Our philosophy: You go through hard times, you come through it, you move on, just like old times.
That’s when the world was tough ~
and the people where tougher!!!!
Amazing set of photos!
These are just amazing. I love the color. This is some of the most naturalistic color photography I have seen. What beautiful tones. As snapshots of a forgotten America, they are wonderful.
Wonderous photos!! Liked the bomber assembly pix. Grew up in St.Paul MN and home overlooked Holman Airfield, where B-24 Liberators were
armeed with their machine guns. Acres of planes, only the runways were not covered with them. Great people in a great time in our history that Obama & friends know or care very little, if anything, about!
These photos are amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Great pictures!!
It’s great that someone recorded history on film. Good that young people can see how it was in that time period.
What an amazing site, gain alot of information about America before WW2. Thanks alot.
My grade school and junior high years. Grew up near McIntosh County, Oklahoma where the square dance pictures were taken. Notice the building in Dillon Montana had an awning advertising it was airconditioned. Very rare then. Men wearing suits and hats. School boys in overalls. Girls in dresses made of feed sacks. Those old cars were great for Sunday afternoon drives. Royal Crown Cola. Potatoes for under 4 cents a pound. Everyone was poor, but really rich. It was a wonderful time. Thanks for the memories, and the memories, and the——-
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