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Collection: FSA/OWI Color Transparencies

Photographers working for the U.S. government's Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) between 1939 and 1944 made approximately 1,600 color photographs that depict life in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The pictures focus on rural areas and farm labor, as well as aspects of World War II mobilization, including factories, railroads, aviation training, and women working. The original images are color transparencies ranging in size from 35 mm. to 4x5 inches. They complement the better-known black-and-white FSA/OWI photographs, made during the same period

606 photos

M-3 tank and crew using small arms, Ft. Knox, Ky.

M-3 tanks and crews, Ft. Knox, Ky.

An M-3 tank in action, Ft. Knox, Ky.

Good man, good gun: a private of the armored forces does some practice shooting with a 30-calibre Browning machine gun, Fort Knox, Ky. The gun is mounted on a pedestal for anti-aircraft work

M-4 tank line, Ft. Knox, Ky.

Light tanks, Fort Knox, Ky.

Light tank, Ft. Knox, Ky.

M-3 tanks in action, Ft. Knox, Ky.

M-3 tanks in action, Ft. Knox., Ky.

A good job in the air cleaner of an army truck, Fort Knox, Ky. This soldier, who serves as truckdriver and mechanic, plays an important part in keeping army transport fleets in operation

Tank crew standing in front of M-4 tank, Ft. Knox, Ky.

Parade of M-4 (General Sherman) and M-3 (General Grant) tanks in training maneuvers, Ft. Knox, Ky. Note the lower design of the M-4, the larger gun in the turret and the two hatches in front of the turret

Construction work at the TVA's Douglas Dam, Tenn.

Carpenter at work on Douglas Dam, Tennessee (TVA)

"Big Pete" Ramagos, rigger at work on dam (TVA) Douglas Dam, Tenn.

Men working on telephone lines, probably near a TVA dam hydroelectric plant

Transmission line towers and high tension lines that carry current generated at TVA's Wilson Dam hydroelectric plant, near Sheffield, Ala.

Construction at TVA's Douglas Dam, Tenn.

Here's our mission. A combat crew receives final instructions just before taking off in a mighty YB-17 bomber from a bombardment squadron base at the field, Langley Field, Va.

Welder making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Welder making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Welder making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Welder making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Welders making boilers for a ship, Combustion Engineering Co., Chattanooga, Tenn.