[smokingfrog]

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 [view information about the black-and-white FSA/OWI photographs].

The Library of Congress is sharing the FSA/OWI Color Photographs on Flickr, where Flickr community members add comments, notes, and tags.

Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Color Photographs

[Larry Lucido]

Bookmarked. Thanks!

[smokingfrog]

I wonder how many of these photos were “staged.”

I see one woman working at an airfield and she’s wearing sandals. The women doing machinist work are not wearing gloves, eye protection, etc. Many of them seem a little to dressed up.

[HChampagne]

The women look great. Less processed food and less fast food.

[hinckley buzzard]

These heroic women are fading fast, as are our WWII veterans. I have had the privilege of talking with some--one who welded bomb carriers for B-17s--one who riveted together wingtips for the B-29s. These two and others had day jobs at offices, and their defense work was a second shift for them. Change out of dresses and high heels in a ladies' locker room and don welding goggles, overalls, heavy leather gloves... a different world.

[mylife]

They weren’t much for safety back then.

[bigbob]

Of course they were staged, who cares?

Ladies of the Greatest Generation, we thank you for all you were, and all you did.

[katana]

American women and American industry unleashed. The Germans and Japanese had no idea what they were up against.

[Psalm 144]

Some very attractive women in those shots. Very pensive as well.

[rawhide]

Oct. 1942

Worker putting finishing touches on the bombardier nose section of a B-17F navy bomber, Long Beach, Calif.

[chrisser]

Kind of refreshing that they aren’t all surgically “enhanced”.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

Even Rarer Photos: ANYONE working now

[Gay State Conservative]

Everybody had a job to do.The men were in uniform,the women were in the factories.Contrast that with today where 90% of the population sees themselves as victims of something or other and two thirds of the country claims to have some sort of disability.

[a fool in paradise]

Barney: "Y'know, Fred? I hate to see the women working so."

Fred: "Yeah, Barney. I know what you mean."

Barney: "Let's go behind the garage where we can't see them."

1960s Winston Cigarette commercial.

[KC_Lion]

(Sigh) Back when Everything in our equipment was Made in the U.S.A., not just "assembled in usa of foreign and domestic materials"

[martin_fierro]

VA VA VOOM!

[eartrumpet]

In 1980 I bought a Datsun from an old black lady. For some reason she mentioned that she had worked at an ammunition factory in the war. I asked what she did. She said she loaded 45 ball, then 30-06 tracer, and finally 37mm HE.

[rawhide]

World War II ‘Rosies’ pictures: http://pinterest.com/historybyzim/world-war-ii-rosies/