Project: “Farm Security Administration Photographs”
Directions: 20 Points Due: Tuesday, 2/13/18
On these websites are a collection of photographs taken by the U.S. Farm Security Administration (FSA) from 1935 to 1944, investigating the living conditions of migrant laborers and their families in poor, rural regions of the country, mainly California. These few photographs are representative of a much larger collection of photos referred to as “documentary photography” created for the purpose “not to inform us, but to move us.”
View the following websites:
- Farm Security Administration search for “farm security administration photographs” on the website -
- The History Place Dorothea Langeclick on -
- Search on Google for “famous Farm Security Administration photographs”
On these websites are a collection of photographs taken by the U.S. Farm Security Administration (FSA) from 1935 to 1944, investigating the living conditions of migrant laborers and their families in poor, rural regions of the country, mainly California. These few photographs are representative of a much larger collection of photos referred to as “documentary photography” created for the purpose “not to inform us, but to move us.”
(1)Spend some time with this – Choose any series of photographs:
Take your time with this!! Write a one-page summary, answering questions below, either tying or writing in paragraph narrative form on notebook paper. You may work with a partner on this, and it is due next Wednesday.
- Describe what you see in the photographs (living conditions, clothes, etc.).
- If there is a description of the photographs you observed, and if so summarize this information about the subjects in the photographs.
- What sort of feelings are conveyed on the faces of people in the photographs?
- What is your overall response to the photographs (living conditions, health of subjects, is there work going on / an occupation, and what activities are depicted)?
- Imagine yourself living in the shoes of these people: How would you feel, act, etc?