Farm Security Administration Photograph Collection (FSA-OWI)

the work

Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection

The Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photographs (FSA-OWI) is a collection of photographs taken by the U.S. government between 1935 and 1944 that document the lives and work of people in rural and urban America. The photographs , which captured the tumultuous times of the Great Depression and World War II with realism and a documentary spirit, are highly regarded not only for their historical value but also as works of art.

Collection Overview

• Filming period: 1935-1944
• Principal photographers: Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Russell Lee, etc.
• Genre: Documentary photography
• Content: Documents social issues in America, including rural poverty, urban worker life, immigration, and the African-American community

Characteristics and influence of the collection

The FSA-OWI Collection vividly records the harsh reality of America during the Great Depression through people's expressions and scenes from their daily lives. These photographs were taken as part of the government's public relations activities, but the photographers' excellent technique and artistic sensibility made them works that have value beyond mere documentary photographs.

These photographs raised awareness of social issues of the time and supported social reforms such as the New Deal. They also demonstrated the power of photography to record society and bring about change, and had a major influence on the later development of documentary photography.

The FSA-OWI Collection is an essential resource for understanding American society and culture in the first half of the 20th century, and the work of its photographers continues to inspire us today to reflect deeply on social justice and human dignity.