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Doggie in the Window: 1937
... full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Woof. Even after reading those signs, I don't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 12:55pm -

April 1937. Children playing in Washington, D.C. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Woof.Even after reading those signs, I don't know. How much is that doggie? The Panama"The Panama," home to the doggie, was at 913 M Street NW. (The Gallery, D.C., Dogs, John Vachon, Kids)
The Excitement Begins: 1938
... full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Ben Shahn for the Farm Security Administration. More carnival canes The heads of these don't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 12:44pm -

August 1938. Girls at the fair in central Ohio. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Ben Shahn for the Farm Security Administration. More carnival canesThe heads of these don't seem so fancy as the ones in Colorado. (The Gallery, Ben Shahn, Small Towns, Sports)
Volley of the Dolls: 1938
... 35mm nitrate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. Library of Congress. West Virginia 1938 1938, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/27/2008 - 11:16pm -

September 1938. "Kewpie doll bathing girls for sale along main highway near Charleston, West Virginia." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. Library of Congress. West Virginia 19381938, and a "main highway" near the state Capital is still a dirt road. How interesting. [The road is paved. This is the shoulder. - Dave] Volley of the Dolls?Oh, ouch! Seriously, Dave, you crack me up! (The Gallery, M.P. Wolcott, On the Road)
Throwing Shade: 1940
... format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Robert Johnson Do you think ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/30/2019 - 1:04pm -

June 1940. "Highway near Clarksdale, Mississippi Delta." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Robert JohnsonDo you think the photographer was trying to find the "crossroad" thought to have been where the bluesman Robert Johnson allegedly made his deal with the devil? It looks very much like the various depictions in film and elsewhere made in subsequent years, and Clarksdale was supposed to be where it happened. And a Parade of PlymouthsBoth of the cars pictured appear to be 1939 Plymouths. The '39 P8 was most notable for its one-year-only square headlights. However, having a separate lens, bulb and reflector, the square headlamps suffered from moisture intrusion, which resulted in sockets rusting and the reflectors turning black. The 7-inch round sealed beam headlamp came along in 1940, with many cars converted to them. Tree's companyA majestic example of an old-growth tree. With the emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, and the slow disappearance of roadside woods, it's sad to think that such trees may become a thing of the past in the near future. US 61, Southwest of TownBased on the limited clues offered by the picture, you can't pinpoint an exact location. But, looking at a 1939 map of Mississippi, it is clear there are only three paved roads coming into Clarksdale -- US 61 from the north, US 61 from the Southwest, and US 49 from the Southeast. Both 61 North and 49 South run alongside railroad tracks. So, this is probably the legendary blues highway, as it comes into (or goes out of) Clarksdale from the southwest. I can't match this photo up with anything on Street View. US 61 seems to come into Clarksdale the same way it always did before it spins off into a bypass. It is now a four lane road. Best guess is this tree disappeared as a result of road improvements or attrition. Of course, since this is Shorpy, it could have burned down. Which Highway?Wolcott photographed US 49 the previous January, and it was much wider and better paved than this. US 61 was described in period travel brochures in glowing terms. Highway 1, which runs to the west of Clarksdale, is shown as gravel on the 1940 map, but the road shown may meet the criteria. An IC branch line ran along it on the west side at Hillhouse. But according to Robert Johnson's lyrics, the railroad also went through Friars Point, which is not actually on MS-1. I tend to guess MS-1 looking south, north of where the railroad comes close to the road. Most people won't remember this, but the constant pounding of steam engine drivers and side-rods made telephone poles near the tracks in that part of the Delta to lean in alternate directions. They used steam there at least though 1959. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, M.P. Wolcott, On the Road)
The Old Hard Shoe: 1939
... County, Montana." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Footprints I could tell ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/07/2017 - 7:07pm -

June 1939. "Ruins of blacksmith shop. Virginia City, Madison County, Montana." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. FootprintsI could tell from the first glance that there was a small gift hidden in this photograph. A few seconds later, there it was: the line of child's footprints across the board over the window. This vision of delicate absurdity breaks the paralyzing stillness of the old photograph like a cast stone breaks the stillness of a pond. U.P. Uren?I should hope so! Child’s footprintsWe used to make those on chalkboards. Make a fist and press the side with your pinkie on the chalk board and rub very slightly. The impression looks like a foot sole. Then take your finger and make the five toes. Looks just like a baby’s footprint. Although I think this jokester used paint? What a Bonanza!I'll bet that Ben Cartwright used to hang around that place. [The Ponderosa was big, but it was a far piece from Montana. -tterrace] It's a joke!The town blacksmith was John P Uren, born England about 1850, died Montana 1928. Remove the periods and the two words become "Up Uren". John P. Uren would have made a nice Shorpyite. The sign seems to have held up well in the 11 years since the owner’s death. [Yes, it's a joker's hand. There's no doubt about it. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Small Towns)
Après-Skid: 1940
... Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Blowing Snow The definition ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/07/2019 - 3:10pm -

March 1940. "Highway after blizzard. Brattleboro, Vermont." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Blowing SnowThe definition of a blizzard has more to do with wind speed than with snowfall totals. Plenty of snowbank to bounce off ofI live on a quarter-mile private road that looks like this in the winter. The entire family knows how to deal with it when it's icy and the sand guy hasn't shown up yet. Drive dead slow, if you start sliding, head for the side however you can. Those banks work well to slow and/or grab the wheel and rotate the vehicle. Judicious application of brake, snowbank and steering can slow you, even when there is little or no traction due to the ice. I have done semi-controlled 360s down the hill, by bouncing off the banks as I slide. It's an experience. The driverof the car parked by the side of the road I take it is probably Marion Post Wolcott who probably decided to walk up the road a ways to get the shot. Just a guess. [Incorrect. - Dave] Yes, I saw that later too on a search for Wolcott in Brattleboro hoping to identify the section of highway. It probably hasn't changed much. An alternate shot but not completely conclusive in and of itself that the car wasn't hers. [The FSA photographers did their traveling in late-model government-issue cars. Not 1920s Buicks . - Dave] Ah that's much more convincing and informative than simply "Incorrect." So what do you think is the reason he's stopped? Though we can't see what's immediately around it looks some what desolate. He looks like he's delivered milk and/or retrieving bottles though that doesn't look like anything I've seen resembling a milk truck. Car IDBuick 1927. DC photographer meets snowAnd of course regards any snowfall as a blizzard. This resembles the scene in Brattleboro proper where perhaps a couple of inches have fallen on a pre-existing base. Ms. Walcott seems to equate a minor snowfall with a blizzard, which is where high winds cause a whiteout and very low visibility for hours on end. To a Northerner looking at this photo, you can see the bulk of the snow fell a long time before the scene was captured because the road is clear. [If only you had been there to guide her! Marion Wolcott was from New Jersey. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Landscapes, M.P. Wolcott)
The Big Dig: 1941
... electric shovel. Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Are You My Mother? "He ran ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/01/2020 - 5:42pm -

August 1941. "Albany iron mine. Hibbing, Minnesota." A Bucyrus-Erie Model 54-B electric shovel. Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Are You My Mother?"He ran right up to it." "Mother, Mother! Here I am, Mother." he said to the big thing. -- P.D. Eastman Mike and Mary AnneThis photo made me immediately think of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, first published in 1939 and one of my favorite books as a child. They dug a cellar for a new town hall building in a day, just to prove they could keep up with these newfangled electric and diesel shovels. Electric shovelsWow. When I think of the supporting systems for a large shovel like that, including the super-heavy and expensive copper power cord, what was the engineering or safety reason? Again, wow. Shorpyites -- help an ignorant one, please! [Steam shovel excavators gave way to electric shovels in the 1920s. In this 1948 survey of iron-mining power shovels, the majority were electric; 22 percent were diesels. (Diesel powerplants, which came on the scene in the late 1930s, had the disadvantages of higher first cost and more expensive maintenance and operation.) In the 1960s, mining power shovels were superseded by even bigger electric draglines. - Dave] Very informative stuff, especially the 1948 survey's explanations about safety. Thanks, Dave. Mike Mulligan and His Steam ShovelTook me a while but I remember that book. Teacher read it to us in 1st grade 1961 Thanks! (Technology, The Gallery, John Vachon, Mining, Railroads)
Near Earle: 1936
... Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Very Interesting Photograph ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/15/2012 - 7:28pm -

July 1936. "Negro women near Earle, Arkansas." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Very Interesting PhotographOther than I believe it to be some sort of hair treatment: I have no idea what it actually does. It is also interesting that there was an entire cosmetic industry especially for blacks. To me it's odd that her hair stays braided even though this product is being applied. Yes, what does it do? Great photo by the way. RelaxingThe product in use here is manufactured by Proline (whose name you can see on the jar). The company was later known for its commercialization of the lye-based hair relaxer, a process that had already been in use in the African American community for decades. I had difficulty finding information about Proline's earlier products - this appears to be a pomade or softener. (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange)
Anytown, USA: 1940
... medicine, evidently. Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Hey, Jim, Better Get the Rig ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/12/2018 - 7:56pm -

March 1940. "Medicine Bow, Wyoming." Generic medicine, evidently. Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Hey, Jim, Better Get the RigYou don't suppose, do you, that we're looking at the same Brown's Hotel as that mentioned in the '40s standard "Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe"? PetHis collar reads, "Dog". Town namesPerhaps it is not named Paradise for a reason. Street and AvenueThe pool hall (located at the corner of Street and Avenue) appears to have an outdoor pool, as well. The VirginianMedicine Bow was the setting for the TV series, and I presume the Owen Wister novel. Wonder if he and Trampas ever shot pool here? I doubt this Brown's hotel was mentioned in the song, "Atchinson, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," since Medicine Bow was served by a branch line of the Union Pacific. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Small Towns)
Long Distance: 1941
... Montana." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Short Distance 2021 Who ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2021 - 12:37pm -

September 1941. "Telephone sign along highway. Judith Basin, Great Falls, Montana." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Short Distance 2021Who would have thought that 80 years hence a telephone/computer/camera thing would be owned by just about all people and rarely leave their hands? (The Gallery, Landscapes, M.P. Wolcott, Rural America)
Pork-Bowel Politics: 1939
... Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Yellow Stop Signs I haven't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/21/2017 - 3:29pm -

September 1939. "Iowa state capitol, Des Moines." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Yellow Stop SignsI haven't seen a yellow stop sign in years. They used to be all over. Much has changedBut the capitol remains. True GritKozel's comment that much has changed is certainly true. But it isn't nearly as interesting or telling with the homogenized autos and trucks, the sterile open space or the buildings that could be anything. The original photo has "grit," and I like it much more with building signage, yellow stop sign with reflectors and weeds. Don't Risk My RathRath Packing Company was one of the largest meatpacking companies in the country in 1939, with facilities in 12 states. According to Wikipedia, the company's business declined for decades, then shut down in 1985. The Rath's Black Hawk Bacon brand is back though, another meatpacker owns the name and it is sold in your friendly neighborhood Walmart and on Amazon. Too bad it's not delivered in that gorgeous Rath's panel truck anymore. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Dead Serious: 1939
... camp with homemade ax." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Happy Halloween Reading the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/31/2018 - 11:45am -

July 1939. "Oklahoma City. Boy living in May Avenue camp with homemade ax." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Happy HalloweenReading the caption at first I thought it said "Homicide Ax." My bad! The reckoning He's going after the person who gave him that haircut. I don't know, but I'll ax himThank you for this wonderful cross between "The Shining" and "Children of the Corn". Happy Halloween to the webmaster too. Home-made haircutWhen every nickel counted and your chores include chopping firewood for cooking you don't go to a tonsorial parlor. Tent city of Dust Bowl folks making doThis site has multiple photos and stories from the May Ave camp http://daysgoneby.me/oklahoma-city/ Here is a slide presentation https://slideplayer.com/slide/8545701/ Heartbreaking. These folks were once farmers who owned their land making do as best they can. One cannot help be impressed with the dignity of the subjects in all respects in the face of such indignity. (The Gallery, Halloween, OKC, Russell Lee)
Funny Money: 1939
... Iowa." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not Tom's younger brother ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/05/2018 - 2:03pm -

September 1939. "Closed bank. Haverhill, Iowa." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not Tom's younger brotherWhen I saw Art Mix on that poster I joked to my wife that he must be Tom Mix's younger brother. Turns out there was no relation, except for the fact that they were both cowboy movie stars. Art appeared in a couple hundred horse operas, just like Tom, but never reached Tom's level of stardom. They ended up in the same place, though. Both are buried in the famous Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, CA. I cannot quarrelwith the identification. That is definitely a closed bank. The urban legend about this bankThis archetypal photo appears in many history books, always in the chapter about the failures of small-town and rural banks during the Great Depression. However, thanks to a sticky-fingered clerk named H.M. St. John, the Farmers Savings Bank of Haverhill failed well before the Depression. In April 1924, Mr St. John was arrested after examiners noticed a deficit of over $25,000, which was over twice the size of the bank's capital. News articles said he had admitted taking and spending $13,000 of it. The bank failed as a result, and never reopened. Under pre-FDIC state laws, the state paid annual sums to the bank's depositors until 1927. It was one of 273 Iowa banks that failed between 1921 and 1926 (a figure that would pale by comparison to the number that would fail in the next decade). Cole Bros. Circussome of the posters (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Small Towns)
Jack Benny: 1941
... Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The visible and not so visible ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/07/2020 - 7:21pm -

August 1941. "Movie theater. Saginaw, Michigan." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The visible and not so visible1) I like the Shorpy placement, up in the shade. 2) The brawny guy at left -- has his face been blacked out? [His face? That's his cap. - Dave] Temple TheatreThis looks to be the beautiful Temple Theatre, home of the Saginaw Bay Symphony. Even the fire escape hasn't changed a bit. Charley's AuntUndoubtedly related to the August 1941 release of "Charley's Aunt," starring Jack Benny and Kay Francis. This was at least the fifth American movie version of the 1893 play by Brandon Thomas. Seeing Jack Benny's name here literally in lights reflects how popular he was, primarily for his radio show (and later TV), though he also appeared in a good many movies. Not well known is that Benny was to have played one of the leads in the 1975 movie of "The Sunshine Boys," but his fatal illness led to the casting of George Burns, who won an Oscar. Jack BennyI saw him at my high school a few years before he died in 1974. He was of my grandparents’ generation and was a majorly famous guy. Until then, the only famous people I’d seen with my own eyes were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, so this was a big deal. He was not there to perform but to be honored somehow. I forget (or never knew). One of the bestI think all Mr Benny's appearances on UK tv have been wiped, which is such a shame, however there is so much to enjoy online. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Movies)
Track Star: 1938
... Nebraska." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. UPRR 2-8-2's numbers 1928 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2017 - 9:22am -

November 1938. "Union Pacific yards. Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. UPRR 2-8-2's numbers 1928 and 2121If I read the locomotive numbers correctly, they are #1928 and #2121. Both had the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. #1928 was retired in 1949, while #2121 soldiered on until 1957. Source: www.utahrails.net Puzzles That complicated trackwork is called "puzzle switches", even by professional railroaders who work with them every day. PuzzlesI commute by rail. There's one of these puzzle arrangements coming into South Station in Boston. Some number of tracks coming in and another number of platforms, not all tracks can get to all platforms (I think), and each track change requires some amount of linear distance to accomplish. The amount of distance available is limited, since we're in an urban environment, with highways over, under and around us. The number of switches and shacks holding the control equipment is impressive, but the person who makes it all work sits in a little 8x10 hut surrounded by PCs. I guess it's less puzzling for the computer. Still, it's impressive when your train hardly ever has to wait for the switches to set up -- we almost always go straight out or in, and within a minute of "on time". Name TrainScript on the side of the coaches identifies this train as The Challenger, an economy Chicago-LA train devised by the UP in the 1930's to lure travelers back from the highways. It's in the process of being switched and reassembled, probably cutting a dining car in or out. The 1928, a low-drivered freight engine, is not the road power. That honor will likely go to one of UP's new 4-8-4 types. I agree with Lost WorldNote the pilot on engine 1928: it is the type that they outfit switch engines with, so the brakeman can step on and off easily. Looks like 1928 will be spending the rest of her days as a "yard goat." (The Gallery, John Vachon, Omaha, Railroads)
Board & Room: 1937
... Minnesota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Watch that first step The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2018 - 9:54am -

September 1937. "Boardinghouse in Littlefork, Minnesota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Watch that first stepThe upper door, an old balcony/upper porch judging from the scars on the wall framing, reminds me that most buildings in the Colorado Rockies needed a way out when the snow was real deep. I wonder if this upper door was used the same way in winter. Miss VickyThat 1932 Ford Victoria would be worth a small fortune, today RadioThe lower right window pulls in an antenna wire and a ground wire outside the window framing. I can't tell if the wire continues from the first roof post to the second. 3rd and FrontBoarding house was likely at 3rd and Front St, assuming this building is the larger one in the background (but viewed from another direction). Got That Right Horace!1932 Ford V8 Victoria Average asking price $57,431; lowest price in last three years $26,500! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Gee's Bend: 1939
... Bend, Alabama." 35mm negative by Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gee's Bend Quilts This ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/21/2008 - 4:29pm -

May 1939. "Old cable ferry between Camden and Gee's Bend, Alabama." 35mm negative by Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gee's Bend QuiltsThis is cool! This of course is the same Gee's Bend of the quilting community fame; the fact that the town was only accessible by ferry (and therefore remote) was considered a factor in how the artisans evolved their unique artistic style. Alternate transportation didn't arrive till the 1960s. Interestingly apparently the ferry has been running again for the past couple years. Thanks for posting this great and historic pic. http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/history/ http://www.geesbendferry.com/ Gee's BendApparently Gee's Bend hasn't changed much since 1939, its still of the remotest and most poverty stricken communities in Alabama. I've ridden the new ferry and it really is like stepping back in time. QuiltsI just saw the quilts and met some of the women who made them here in Louisville, KY at the Speed Museum. I was amazed and blown away. They were beautiful. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Gee's Bend, M.P. Wolcott)
Imperial Hotel: 1940
... Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still Grand My wife and I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/30/2020 - 2:09pm -

September 1940. "Old Imperial hotel built in Silverton, Colorado, during its heyday." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still GrandMy wife and I stayed there a couple of years ago, and it was a pleasant visit. The rest of Silverton keeps it grand. Still in businesshttps://www.grandimperialhotel.com Awesome photoI would have loved to see Silverton back then before the tourist wave hit. Beautiful little mountain town. I'll bet that building could tell some stories. I'm told this is where the phrase "There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight" came from. Still a beautiful area. One of the most beautiful places on EarthI stayed here for four days about 12 years ago and found it to be incredibly beautiful and still largely unspoiled. It was Labor Day weekend and very uncrowded. The train pulled into the middle of town and there was a brass band under the streetlight. The statue of Christ of the Mountains made of Italian marble is impressive. When we were there the town had a dispute with the cable company so they cut off all the cable so we had no internet, no TV and one religious radio station. We went and rented old movies off the shelf at the grocery store and played cards at night. Went to a blind auction at the town hall. A wonderful weekend. I want to go back (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Mining, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Suppertime: 1939
... . Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Taking it all for granted ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/02/2018 - 4:27pm -

February 1939. "Corpus Christi, Texas. Wife of war veteran living in shantytown on Nueces Bay." The lady last seen here. Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Taking it all for grantedThe next time I start complaining about something, I'll try to remember this family. CriminyWhat an awful and complete mess and what a horrible way to live. These folks would probably be considered "homeless" today and even have less than this hovel to live in. ClothingShe's got a good dress for such an occasion. Neatness countsFlour everywhere except on her dress and hands. Overdressed?That is a really pretty dress, compared to the threadbare cabin interior. [Like a lot of the ladies in these photos, she might have donned her Sunday best for Mr. Government Photographer, as well as for you and me. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., Russell Lee)
King of the Road: 1940
... Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Towing a trailer? I see a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/17/2018 - 1:45pm -

March 1940. "Interstate trailer truck at Elko, Nevada." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Towing a trailer?I see a pole and a chain coming from the back axle of the trailer. It looks like it is going straight back to a second trailer? It's scary to think a semi-trailer being pulled by a piece of pipe and a chain. Pipe and chainThe pipe and chain is quite normal and safe. It is part of the tow dolly or "Joe Dog" used to tow double semi trailers Tractor-Trailer Prepared for SnowChains are readily available for snow! March in Nevadahe will be needing those chains going either way. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Paddy Wagon: 1936
... at state rice mill." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Chevrolet His truck is a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 1:29pm -

September 1938. Abbeville, Louisiana. "Farmer's truck at state rice mill." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ChevroletHis truck is a 1934-35 Chevrolet similar to the one in the photo below. Paddy WagonDave, I always look forward to your witty captions. Perfect formI give this "hunker" a 10. The farmer's name seems to be J. Broussard, reading from the truck's door. There are still many Broussards living in Abbeville. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee)
The Cardigan Cowboy: 1941
... wrangler. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A Horse Named Blasé. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2015 - 12:04pm -

August 1941. "Cowboy and horse at the Quarter Circle U, Brewster-Arnold Ranch Co. Birney, Montana." Our second visit with this sweater-wearing wrangler. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A Horse NamedBlasé. Handsome RakesTime to add the tag to this guy, because he is one. Sure, not in the iron worker way, but rather in the ranch hand way! [Done. - Dave] UnbridledInteresting that the horse is not wearing a bridle, but rather a halter. The bridle has a bit, which goes in the horse's mouth, and is used to control the animal. A halter is generally used only to lead them. Somebody more horse savvy than I am might be able to shed light on this. Hackamore not halterThe horse is not wearing a halter, but a hackamore bridle. The nosepiece is called a bosal. These are more common in California and Texas -- in the old California style, the young horses are worked in the hackamore, slowly transitioning to the large and heavy spade-style bitting. It can be hot as blazes -- or not -- in Montana summers, so the straw hat is cooler than the felt style hats. (The Gallery, Handsome Rakes, Horses, M.P. Wolcott)
Portrait of Caroline: 1939
... Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. Portrait of Caroline: 1939 Beautiful portrait ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:49am -

A closeup of Caroline Atwater, seen earlier this week, in the doorway of her kitchen in Orange County, North Carolina. View full size. Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. Portrait of Caroline: 1939Beautiful portrait of a lovely woman. The world would be a lesser place without the photographs of Dorothea Lange and the people who agreed to be photographed. Thanks for posting this bit of our country's history. Portrait of Caroline: 1939I don't know what it is about this lovely photograph that speaks to me. It's just so...real. (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Rural America)
Two-Cent Cigars: 1942
... two cents." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Vapor Cherokee "Steamship" ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/28/2019 - 3:57pm -

January 1942. "Yauco, Puerto Rico, In a small cigar factory. These cigars are made for local consumption and sell for about two cents." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Vapor Cherokee"Steamship" Cherokee was sunk by the German navy on June 16, 1942. Sinking of the Cherokee Do the MathIf the cigars retailed for two cents, he was probably paid something like a cent for every five he rolled. The Fighting 69thBased on the activities in World War I of the actual 69th Infantry Regiment from New York City, the film is about the fictional character Jerry Plunkett played by Jimmy Cagney. Watch the trailer on YouTube for more Irish clichés than you’d think could be crammed into under two minutes. Fight fanIsn't that the "Brown Bomber" to the left? Our cigar roller ooks like a fan of exciting things doing his best in a job that just might be dull. Leftover ScrapsYou can see that he's using small, chopped scraps of tobacco, almost like cigarette filler. Definitely not premium, full leaf cigars. (The Gallery, Factories, Jack Delano, Movies, Puerto Rico)
Salem: 1940
... size. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. Now playing at the Lyric "The Great Victor ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:37am -

February 1940. The business district in Salem, Illinois. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. Now playing at the Lyric"The Great Victor Herbert", which was released on Dec. 29, 1939. [more] With all of those flags lining the sidewalks, this was probably taken sometime near the Washington's Birthday national holiday on Feb. 22nd. But since this was in Illinois, they might have gotten an early start with the decorations in honor of Lincoln's Birthday on the 12th. Mike_G (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Mommy's Little Soldier: 1939
... Medium format negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. What a Beautiful Woman... ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2018 - 8:16pm -

February 1939. "In a carrot pullers' camp, Imperial Valley, California, near Holtville. Women from Broken Bow, Oklahoma." Medium format negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. What a Beautiful Woman... I am deeply touched by this woman, a migrant worker living in a tent, working at stoop labor in the hot, dusty fields, tenderly caring for her son and raising a family under the most squalid and hopeless conditions. Yet her clothes are clean and fresh-looking, despite the knee patches, her hair is brushed and well cared for, her hands still tender and beautiful. Any chance that there might be other pictures of this extraordinary woman and her family...? A hard lifeI'm struck by several things in this photo: 1) That little guy is having a tough moment. But both the ladies are kindly tending to him. 2) That tent can't be all that comfortable, however, it looks like the occupants are doing their best to keep it neat and clean, living with as much dignity as possible. A broom for a dwelling with a dirt floor, that's some moxie. 3) How is she keeping those jeans and white shirt so clean? And her hair is neatly styled and appears clean. My life has been too easy. The Little TykeNo wonder he's so unhappy. He has a bandage on his arm and girls' shoes on his feet. They have the toolsFriend Tuba Dave ask "How is she keeping those jeans and white shirt so clean?" She has a washing machine, of course, but it's easy to miss, because the kid is standing in front of it. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange, Kids)
Home Office: 1941
... Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Sleeping dog? No! He's got ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/21/2020 - 2:08pm -

August 1941. "FSA borrower working on accounts. Itasca County, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Sleeping dog?No! He's got his eye on you! Maytag!That model of wringer washer came with an optional sausage making attachment. As my friend up in the mountains tells me, "That's something I'd rather just hear about." Cut & PasteTo the left of the electrical outlet above the table, the wallpaper has been carefully incised, peeled back, and then repasted. This house was probably electrified only within the last decade, and the electrician took care to minimize the mess. Atop the cabinet, at left behind the electric percolator, there is a kerosene lamp, in case the new technology is not so reliable. Hanging WallpaperLooks like he took the term Hanging Wallpaper a bit too literally? (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dogs, John Vachon, Kitchens etc.)
Tasty Hamburgers: 1941
... size. 35mm nitrate negative by Edwin Rosskam for the Farm Security Administration. Illinois This is the home of the Big Mac. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:40am -

April 1941. "Lunch wagon for Negroes. Chicago, Illinois." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Edwin Rosskam for the Farm Security Administration. IllinoisThis is the home of the Big Mac. (The Gallery, Chicago, Eateries & Bars, Edwin Rosskam)
The Men From UNC: 1940
... office." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now Where's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2019 - 7:57pm -

October 1940. "University of North Carolina boys in their car at the Chapel Hill post office." Acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now Where's Betty and Veronica?Looks like Archie and Jughead are out for a spin in his jalopy. 1928 Ford PhaetonI always look for old photos of this model Ford; I have a restored one which I bought in 1995 here in Southern California. If I lived near Chapel Hill we could recreate the photo, providing we could borrow a couple of photogenic UNC men. Carolina BlueI wish this photo was in color. I am guessing the word "Carolina" was painted that shade of blue. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, M.P. Wolcott)
Cozy Shack: 1939
... Avenue camp, Oklahoma City." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not Shown There's no dog. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2018 - 11:19am -

July 1939. "Family in front of shack home. May Avenue camp, Oklahoma City." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Not ShownThere's no dog. Four kids keeps you busy but a dog would be nice. Tough times!How old is Mom, 26? Dog's aren't stupidIt's to doggone hot in those metal boxes in July! I'd bet the dogs are lounging under the trees we see in the background. The definition of poverty then compared to now is startling. Big screen vs food. Three out of fourThree out of four kids in the photo wearing shoes - they must have dressed up for the photographer. Only the runt got away until it was too late. A dog would be nice... but a dog has to be fed. (The Gallery, Kids, OKC, Russell Lee)
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