America’s Children – 1940′s Photographs by John Vachon
John Vachon was a photographer for the Office of War Information (OWI) from 1942-1943, before serving in the army until 1945. He later became a staff photographer at both Life and Look magazine. Vachon’s work for the OWI led him and several other photographers around the country to capture what everyday life was like for millions of Americans. A small percentage of these photographs were in color, but the majority of Vachon’s were in black and white, capturing the faces of adults and children living their lives while an increasing number of brothers and sons went off to war. You can learn more about John Vachon’s life and career on his Wikipedia page.
Rural school girl, San Augustine County, Texas
Dr. Schreiber of San Augustine giving a typhoid innoculation at a rural school, San Augustine County, Texas
Rural school children, San Augustine County, Texas
Negro boy near Cincinnati, Ohio
San Augustine, Texas. Amanda Gayer, the county nurse, advising a mother on child care problems
San Augustine, Texas. Children having an Easter egg hunt on the school grounds on the last day of school before Easter vacation
San Augustine, Texas. Girl at NYA (National Youth Administration) woodworking shop in the war training program
San Augustine, Texas. Farm family in town on Saturday morning
Nacogdoches County, Texas. Children of a farmer in a pine woods area
San Augustine, Texas. Children in Sunday school at the Baptist church
San Augustine, Texas. Rural school children
San Augustine, Texas. Children on the main street
San Augustine, Texas. High school girls at the Spanish Club banquet
San Augustine, Texas. Girl making chairs in the woodworking shop under the NYA (National Youth Administration) war training program
San Augustine, Texas. A school girl
San Augustine, Texas. A school boy
San Augustine, Texas. Colored boy holding a horse for a cattle buyer at the auction
San Augustine, Texas. High school students dancing at the Spanish Club banquet
Orange, Texas. This high school girl in training for nursery school work spends an hour daily with children of shipyard workers in the “laboratory” nursery school
New Orleans, Louisiana. Little girl
Scott County, Missouri. Doctor visits sick child at home
Amarillo, Texas. Little girl waiting to board the Rock Island Rocket
Anaconda, Montana. Boy
Phillips refinery. Borger, Texas. An employee leaving for work
Phillips refinery. Borger, Texas. Worker returning from work
New Orleans, Louisiana. Negro dock worker and son
Burlington, Iowa. Sunnyside unit, FSA (Farm Security Administration) trailer camp. Sunday evening card game with neighbors in the trailer of the Heller family, who work at the Burlington ordnance plant
Orange, Texas. Extended school day program in the public schools. These children are weaving after the regular school day is over, while waiting for their parents to finish work and call for them
Orange, Texas. Extended school day program in the public schools. These children are working on their garden after the regular school day is over, waiting for their parents to finish work and call for them
Orange, Texas. Negro boy whose parents are both employed, modeling in clay at a nursery school
- Category: Photographers
- 3 Comments
3
Chris
Superb collection of a world that seems very distant, yet is not. Truly memorably photos. Artistic merit here is irrelevant, the true value lies in the memories captured.
maria thereza de barros camargo
It would be sad not to have people looking for old pictures, photos and things, we would loose them from sight. Thank yu Elizabeth, your effort is blessed and helped by God, for sure. Keep it on, congratulations and thank you!
Gareth O'Neill Photography
These photos reek of hard times. “Negro boy whose parents are both employed”. Yikes that’s nasty.