“Untitled,” taken between 1935 and 1942 for U.S. Farm Security Administration or Office of War, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
In the Library’s online catalogue, this picture is among photos taken by Edwin Rosskam of farms in New Jersey in Spring 1938. Click on the image for a better view.
“Ray Allen family near Black River Falls, Wisconsin,” June 1937, by Russell Lee, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
In the early summer of 1937, Lee took a number of photos around the community of Black River Falls. Most were related to a land use project of the U.S. Resettlement Administration, for which he was a photographer.
The principal employment in Black River Falls, since its founding in 1839, was logging and sawmills. However, many of the people Lee photographed there were farming cut-over areas.
“Individual beds at nursery. Black River Falls project, Wisconsin,” June 1937, by Russell Lee, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
In the early summer of 1937, Lee took a number of photos around the community of Black River Falls. Most were related to a land use project of the U.S. Resettlement Administration, for which he was a photographer.
The principal employment in Black River Falls, since its founding in 1839, was logging and sawmills. However, many of the people Lee photographed there were farming cut-over areas.
Today, the town is probably best known as the subject of the 1973 book (and 1999 film) Wisconsin Death Trip.
“Gate made from the end of an old bed. Alvin, Wisconsin,” May 1937, by Russell Lee, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Alvin was named for one of its founders, Alvin Spencer, who had moved his family to the area in 1907.
In order to submit a request for its own Post Office, the little Forrest County community where the Spencers had settled had to have a name. Alvin submitted the name of another community leader, Curtis Powell, for consideration. Curtis submitted his friend Alvin’s name. Since there was already a town named Curtis in the state, the new community was dubbed Alvin, Wisconsin.
I love that they submitted each other’s first names.
“Typical houses of Morgantown, West Virginia,” June 1935, by Walker Evans, via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Evans may have taken the photo from an electric post like this one.
enclos*ure 