A friend sent me a picture the other day from the Library of Congress collection of Farm Security Administration photos. The photo (above), taken by Dorothea Lange in 1939, shows a Durham county farmer drawing driving directions in the dirt. I'd used the fantastic Durham public library collection of Durham historic photos and seen Gary work his photo sleuthing magic on Endangered Durham but had never really investigated the FSA collection before. The Library of Congress has some 171,000 digitized black and white prints and negatives from the FSA and associated government agencies which took pictures throughout the country from 1935-44 (more description on the project's homepage). There are quite a few Durham photos in the collection that I had not seen before, including a number that I only found by browsing as they lack identifying information. Though not at all an exhaustive list, I've linked to a number of them below in my own categories. There are additional Durham photos in other Library of Congress collections including the Historic American building survey which do not appear listed below.
Note: When descriptions appear in quotes they have been taken verbatim from the contemporary titles assigned photos by their makers. Otherwise the photos are untitled and I have briefly described them. In some cases I have amalgamated titled photos with negatives and prints of other similar shots but left untitled by the photographer - these are educated guesses.
City Scenes:
1. "Center of city, with Chesterfield cigarette factory in background. Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer.
1940 Oct.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c14000/8c14100/8c14133r.jpg
2. "Five points, center of city, with Chesterfield cigarette factories in background. Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer.
1940 Oct.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c14000/8c14100/8c14121r.jpg
3. "Durham, North Carolina [showing Post Office and theater]"
Rothstein, Arthur, 1915-1985, photographer.
1940 Jan.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8b19000/8b19300/8b19352r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8b19000/8b19300/8b19345r.jpg
4."Tobacco warehouses and factory. Durham, North Carolina."
Rothstein, Arthur, 1915-1985, photographer.
1940 Jan.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8b19000/8b19300/8b19351r.jpg
5.Citizens National Bank:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33801r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33802r.jpg
6. "Bus station in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33836r.jpg
7. "At the bus station in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c20000/3c25000/3c25800/3c25806v.jpg
8. "Street scene near bus station in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsc/00100/00198r.jpg
9. The "super market" in Durham, North Carolina.
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33841r.jpg
10. Untitled downtown street scenes:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33844r.jpgf
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33845r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33846r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33847r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33848r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33849r.jpg
12. Interior downtown Store scenes:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33850r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33851r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33853r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33852r.jpg
African-American Durham:
13. Outside of the Depositors National Bank of Durham:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33700/8a33797r.jpg
14. "Young Negro flower vendor [outside bank], Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33700/8a33798v.jpg
15. "Negro children reading the comics on Sunday morning, Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May:
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c30000/3c30000/3c30500/3c30589v.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33900/8a33943r.jpg
16. "Street in Negro quarter of Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02500/8c02558u.tif
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02500/8c02510r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02400/8c02458r.jpg
17. "Houses in Negro quarter of Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer:
1940 May
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02500/8c02508r.jpg
18. "Backs of houses in Negro quarter [Hayti], Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02500/8c02505r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02400/8c02494r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02400/8c02493r.jpg
19. "Barber shop [Bob McCain's] in Negro quarter of Durham, North Carolina.”
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02500/8c02509r.jpg
Scenes from the Tobacco industry:
19. Diamond Feed Store:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33854r.jpg
20. "Tobacco warehouse in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33855r.jpg
21. Banner Warehouse:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33856r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33857r.jpg
22. "Street scene in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33858r.jpg
23. Farmers cafe and pool hall sign outside warehouse
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33859r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33865r.jpg
24. "Poolroom in tobacco warehouse district. Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910- photographer.
1939 Nov.?:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a41000/8a41600/8a41684r.jpg
25. "A cafe near the tobacco market, Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May:
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c20000/3c29000/3c29800/3c29840v.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33802r.jpg
26. "Cafe in tobacco warehouse district. Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910- photographer.
1939 Nov.?:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a41000/8a41600/8a41685r.jpg
27. "Cafe in warehouse district during tobacco auction season. Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910- photographer.
1939 Nov.?
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a41000/8a41600/8a41676r.jpg
28. "Outside of the tobacco warehouses [Carver, Currin, Cozart] in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33863r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33864r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33862r.jpg
29. "Cop in Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33860r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33861r.jpg
30. Farmer' Supply Co., Roycroft
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33866r.jpg
31. "At a cattle dealer's [Dillard+Gamble] establishment. Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33867r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33868r.jpg
32. Roycroft's no. 2:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33869r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33870r.jpg
33. "Home of Roycroft family, one of the tobacco warehouse owners in Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer.
1939 Nov:
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c11000/8c11300/8c11319r.jpg
34. Mangum's Tobacco warehouse
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33871r.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a33000/8a33800/8a33872r.jpg
35. "Tobacco warehouse. Durham, North Carolina."
Delano, Jack, photographer.
1940 May.
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8c02000/8c02400/8c02472r.jpg
36. "Tobacco auction, Durham, North Carolina."
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910- photographer.
1939 Nov.?
http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/fsa/8a41000/8a41500/8a41562r.jpg
3 comments:
wow, thanks for collecting all these photos and posting them. They're very interesting, if a bit sad. The one of the kid sitting on the bank window ledge selling flowers is really evocative.
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