February 1940. Newsboy during a winter storm in Iowa City, Iowa. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Our readers point out the Englert Theater to the right, where "Balalaika" is playing.

January 1942. "Cowboys and Indians" at the Farm Security Administration camp elementary school in Weslaco, Tex. View full size. Photo by Arthur Rothstein.

June 1942. Lockheed Vega aircraft plant at Burbank, California. "Hollywood missed a good bet when they overlooked this attractive aircraft worker, who is shown checking electrical sub-assemblies." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by David Bransby for the Office of War Information.

Australian soldiers at Christmas dinner in the Australian Club (old East Hotel) in Jerusalem between 1940 and 1946. View full size. Matson Photo Service.

Christmas in the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem circa 1940. View full size. 4x5 glass-plate negative, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection.

1921. "Bathing Beach." Taking the waters somewhere along the Potomac River at Washington, D.C. View full size. National Photo Company Collection.

February 1942. Cincinnati, Ohio. "A battery of 1,000- and 2,000-pound furnaces roaring threats to the Axis. These are rotary oil-fired melting furnaces at Aluminum Industries Inc. Destination of the finished aluminum products is kept secret." 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer. View full size.

November 1912. Central Falls, Rhode Island. View of privies, garbage dumps, etc., in back yards near Bed-bug Alley and High Street. View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine for the Child Welfare Exhibit of 1912-13.

June 22, 1916. Fall River, Mass. Oscar Revinsky [Radnisky]. Born Jan. 11, 1900. 16 years old. Lives at 99 Oak Grove Ave. A scavenger on Pine Street Dump. Case known to S.P.C.C. (record No. 4322) since 1910. In 1913 parents refused to let child be committed to Wrentham, Mass. In 1916 father came to office asking that boy be committed as he spent all his time on the dumps. Deficient mentality. Neck covered with scars and boils. "No work, no school" since 1912. Never cleans up. Doesn't go home to meals. Eats from dump and steals from dinner pails. Was in baby grade at Ruggles School and was expelled. "Is father alive?" "No, he's a milkman." View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.

April 1913. Columbus, Georgia. "Eagle and Phoenix Mill. A 'dinner-toter' waiting for the gate to open. This is carried on more in Columbus than in any other city I know, and by smaller children. Many of them are paid by the week for doing it, and carry sometimes 10 or more meals a day. They go around in the mill, often help tend to the machines, which often run at noon, and so learn the work. A teacher told me the mothers expect the children to learn this way, long before they are of proper age." View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.

"The Works Progress Administration in Ohio presents the Federal Theatre for youth in 'A Christmas Carol.'" This poster for the Federal Theatre Project presentation of "A Christmas Carol" was created between 1936 and 1941.
View full size | Vintage Christmas Photos

April 1909. Phenix, Rhode Island. "Edward St. Germain and sister Delia. She has been working in Phoenix Mill for eight months. He works also. They cannot speak English." View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.

January 1912, New York City. View full size. To the untrained observer this might be a pleasant domestic scene; to the eye (and lens) of social reformer Lewis Hine, however, it is a diorama of decadence and moral decay, with peril lurking in every detail. The object of his ire here is the use of child labor in tenement home work, specifically the assembly of artificial flowers: "Julin, a 6-year-old child, making pansies for her neighbors on top floor (Gatto), 106 Thompson St. They said she does this every day, 'but not all day.' A growler and dirty beer glasses in the window, unwashed dishes on the stove, clothes everywhere, and flowers likewise." Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. (NB: Growler = beer pitcher.)

March 15, 1917. Oklahoma City. Jack Ryan is 6-year-old newsie who lives at 126½ West Reno Street. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine.

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. "Start of a glide; Wilbur in motion at left holding one end of glider (rebuilt with single vertical rudder), Orville lying prone in machine, and Dan Tate at right." October 10, 1902. 5x7 dry-plate glass negative attributed to the Wright Brothers. View full size.