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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

Mountain streams in Ouray County, Colorado run yellow because of the tailings from the gold mills

Mill at the Camp Bird Mine, Ouray County, Colorado

Distributing surplus commodities, St. Johns, Ariz.

Distributing surplus commodities, St. Johns, Ariz.

Distributing surplus commodities, St. Johns, Ariz.

Distributing surplus commodities, St. Johns, Ariz.

Distributing surplus commodities, St. Johns, Ariz.

Distributing surplus commodities, St. Johns, Ariz.

Civilian training school, students and instructors, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Tex.

Civilian pilot training school, returning from practice flight, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Tex.

Instructor and students studying a map, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Tex.

Boy building a model airplane as girl watches, FSA ... camp, Robstown, Tex.

Boy building a model airplane while other children look on, FSA labor camp, Robstown, Tex.

Low flying planes from which dust or insecticide is spread onto crops by men who "follow the season" up the east coast, Seabrook Farm, Bridgeton, N.J.

Home of Jim Norris, homesteader, Pie Town, New Mexico

Mr. Leatherman, homesteader, tying up cauliflower, Pie Town, New Mexico

Mr. Leatherman, homesteader, shooting hawks which have been carrying away his chickens, Pie Town, New Mexico

Faro Caudill drawing water from his well, Pie Town, New Mexico

Filling station and garage at Pie Town, New Mexico

Bill Stagg, homesteader, with pinto beans, Pie Town, New Mexico

Bill Stagg turning up his beans, Pie Town, New Mexico. He will next pile them for curing

Bill Stagg turning up pinto beans, Pie Town, New Mexico

Church, Pie Town, New Mexico

Les Thomas, homesteader, Pie Town, New Mexico