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Post by billhammond on Nov 13, 2009 11:05:45 GMT -5
We tend to imagine the Great Depression in black-and-white; it fits the mood, and the imaging technology of the time. But I didn't realize until recently that that Library of Congress holds 1,600 gorgeous color photographs of the period -- and beyond -- all on Flickr. You can access the collection here: www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/sets/72157603671370361/show/These images were shot by the Farm Service Agency and Office of War Information, which documented World War II's home front. They are mesmerizing, so be sure you have some time to luxuriate in the history. There is a "show info" box that provides caption info for each image, if you wish. |
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Post by Fingerplucked on Nov 13, 2009 11:11:26 GMT -5
Cool. I think I'll revisit that site for a slide show during guitar practice.
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Post by omaha on Nov 13, 2009 11:12:37 GMT -5
Very cool.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,958 
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Post by Dub on Nov 13, 2009 11:51:51 GMT -5
Wow! That's a great resource. I can see I'll have to spend some time there. Thanks, Bill. - Dub |
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Post by sidheguitarmichael on Nov 13, 2009 11:58:39 GMT -5
OK, that's a cool slide show. Thanks Bill.
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Post by Cornflake on Nov 13, 2009 12:37:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, Bill. Very intriguing.
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Post by theevan on Nov 13, 2009 12:42:39 GMT -5
Mesmerizing. I didn't know they could walk on water back in those days.
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Post by John B on Nov 13, 2009 12:45:58 GMT -5
Evan, I'm pretty sure the whole "walking on water" thing was old hat by the 30's.
These are fantastic. The lenses in those old cameras, combined with the film in those days, make for striking pictures.
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Post by mnhermit on Nov 13, 2009 12:55:29 GMT -5
For this I don't even mind the taxes I paid.
Is this something that DickT worked on?
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Post by TDR on Nov 13, 2009 13:03:17 GMT -5
Reminds you of the transient nature of things. Most all those landscapes have been changed beyond being recognizable now. Mostly the structures are gone, the cars are gone, the people have passed.
And it wasn't all that long ago.
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Post by dickt on Nov 13, 2009 13:06:19 GMT -5
For this I don't even mind the taxes I paid. Is this something that DickT worked on? The Prints & Photographs Division was across the hall from my Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division when we were in DC. Now that we've moved to Culpeper we do work closely with P&P because we house all of their original nitrate negatives in our nitrate vaults. When people order copies we scan the negatives for P&P although I've heard they have plans for permanently stationing a staff member at our Culpeper, VA facility. |
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Post by millring on Nov 13, 2009 13:12:52 GMT -5
The power of color to shape opinion -- it's amazing.
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Post by fred sterenberg on Nov 13, 2009 13:32:44 GMT -5
Wow! Very impressive.
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Post by theevan on Nov 13, 2009 13:59:31 GMT -5
The power of color to shape opinion -- it's amazing. Yeah, the depression is cheerier than I recall... |
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Post by paulschlimm on Nov 13, 2009 14:10:13 GMT -5
I really enjoy looking at old pictures such as that. They remind me of my Grandparents' photo albums, only in color. I took note, too, of how skinny your average American was back then.
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Post by Marshall on Nov 13, 2009 14:16:43 GMT -5
The Great Cheeriness.
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Post by omaha on Nov 13, 2009 16:06:18 GMT -5
A few things I noticed:
Like Paul, you realize how much skinnier everyone was back then.
Stuff was shipped in wooden crates and wooden barrels. No corrugated to be found.
If you read the text, there are some interesting windows into the past...one photo of three boy scouts "one colored, one Chinese", comes to mind.
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Post by John B on Nov 13, 2009 16:12:58 GMT -5
No binders, either - everything in redfiles.
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Post by millring on Nov 13, 2009 16:44:29 GMT -5
A few things I noticed: Like Paul, you realize how much skinnier everyone was back then. Stuff was shipped in wooden crates and wooden barrels. No corrugated to be found. If you read the text, there are some interesting windows into the past...one photo of three boy scouts "one colored, one Chinese", comes to mind. Another observation: If you're like me, you unthinkingly equated the run-down nature ot things (peeling paint, rotting wood, etc) to poverty. In reality, it probably has more to do with building materials and the elbow grease it used to require to keep things up. |
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Post by kariseal on Nov 13, 2009 17:21:41 GMT -5
Thanks for that link! What a great resource.....and it is very interesting seeing these types of images in color, most everything I have seen during this time period is black and white. I loved some of the old cars.
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