Depression Era Photos

Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Photos of American Life 1935 - 1944. Photo captions from Library of Congress records.

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Thank you Barbara for trusting the Photogrammar team with this powerful project. We are indebted to your vision and work to build a wonderful community around these incredible photos.

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Acrobat and audience at Spanish-American traveling show. Penasco, New Mexico. July 1940. Photographer: Russell Lee.

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

The annual barrel rolling contest. Each barrel has two hundred pounds in it. Presque Isle, Maine. October 1940. Photographer: Jack Delano

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Newsstand, Manchester, New Hampshire. September 1937. Photographer: Edwin Locke

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Coal miner: the "lady's man" and "smart guy." Bertha Hill, West Virginia. September 1938. Photographer: Marion Post Wolcott

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Washington, D.C. Line outside Scholl's cafeteria on Connecticut Avenue, at six p.m. Over 100 people stand in line and are served at the rate of one every minute. August 1942. Photographer: Marjory Collins

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Fort Madison, Iowa. Welding cracks in the cylinder head of a diesel engine at the Shopton locomotive shops of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. March 1943. Photographer: Jack Delano

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Couple dancing "Put your little foot out" at dance during the San Angelo Fat Stock Show. San Angelo, Texas. March 1940. Photographer: Russell Lee

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Each group of ten trailers in the FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp at Erie has a "trailer service unit," water faucet, slop sink, and garbage pail. June 1941. Photographer: John Vachon

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Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Morris, owners and proprietors of the Perfect Eat Shop, a restaurant on 47th Street near South Park, Chicago, Illinois. April 1942. Photographer: Jack Delano

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Mrs. Dixon cans an adequate supply of fruits and vegetables to give her family a balanced diet during the winter. Saint Charles County, Missouri. November 1939. Arthur Rothstein.

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Decatur, Alabama. Ingalls Shipbuilding Company. A chipper at work on one of the barges. July 1942. Photographer: Jack Delano

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Amarillo, Texas. Geologist examining cuttings from wells being drilled in the Panhandle area by the Phillips Petroleum Company. November 1942. Photographer: John Vachon

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Food in England. Boys' club members clear away the debris from a bombed area in England prepare the land for vegetable gardening. Many bombed areas have been cleared and turned into allotment or community gardens. April 1943.

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

In the fishing village of Puerto Real, many women take in needlework to do at home to supplement their income from fish. The gloves which these women are stitching are being done for a firm in Mayaguez and will eventually be sold in NY. Puerto Rico. January 1942. Jack Delano

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Washington, D.C. Firehouse Station No. 4. Fireman sitting with his shoes untied so that in case of alarm he can shake them off easily and jump into his boots. January 1943. Photographer: Gardon Parks

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Playing cards in firehouse. Carson City, Nevada. March 1940. Photographer: Arthur Rothstein

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Honey peddler reading newspaper in market, San Antonio, Texas. March 1939. Photographer: Russell Lee

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Children playing in street of company town, Kempton, West Virginia. Note open ditches. May 1939. Photographer: John Vachon

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Finish line of farm boys' horse race. Vale Oregon. This was supposed to be a boys race but the girls wanted to be in it too so they were included. July 1941. Photographer: Russell Lee

[Depression Era Photos @USHistoryPhotos]

Washington, D.C. International student assembly. American students chatting after session. September 1942. Photographer: Gordon Parks