The great depression in the United States in color

These images, taken by photographers Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are the only colored photos, reflecting the effects of the great depression in rural areas and small towns. Colored digital photos, obtained by scanning the color slides give an idea about America since the great depression, the industry, homes and attractions. All the signatures were made by the authors of the photographs and enlarged by the staff of the Library of Congress.

Shop at crossroads, a bar and a gas station near cotton plantations in Melrose, Louisiana, June 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Marion Post Wolcott, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Field for growing beans, Bridgeton, new Jersey, June 1942. A color slide. (Photo by John Collier, color transparency, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D. C)

The view from the road, Skyline Drive, Virginia, circa 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D. C)

A woman paints a picture with a view of the Shenandoah valley from Skyline Drive road near the entrance to the Appalachian trail, Virginia, circa 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D. C)

Farm in the mountains near the road, Skyline Drive, Virginia, circa 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D. C)

Stand corn on a farm in the mountains near the road, Skyline Drive, Virginia, circa 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D. C)

Farm in the mountains near the road, Skyline Drive, Virginia, circa 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D. C)

The burning of leaves in Norwich, Connecticut, November 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The old seaside town of Stonington, Connecticut, November 1940. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

A farm for the cultivation of potatoes in Aroostook County, Maine, after harvest, October, 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Starch plant the Aroostook river in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, October 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Industrial building in Lowell, Massachusetts, December 1940 or January 1941. The photo shows the building that was later converted into a residential complex "the Massachusetts mills", located at the confluence of the rivers Merrimack and Concord, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Second-hand plumbing store in Brockton, Massachusetts, December 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Shoe factory "Douglas Shoe Factory" on the Spark street in Brockton, Massachusetts, December 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The train and snow-covered railway track, Massachusetts, December 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Industrial town in Massachusetts, possibly new Bedford, January 1941. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Jackson farm near white plains, Georgia, June 1941. A color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The town of Christiansted in Santa Cruz (?), Virgin Islands, December 1941. Color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Houses near the Church in old town, San Juan, December 1941. A color slide. (Photo by Jack Delano, color transparency, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The Catholic Church in the valley of San Juan, new Mexico, July or October 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Farmland near the mountain peaks of the Sneffels, Ouray County, Colorado, October 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Ouray, Colorado, October 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The view of the valley with gold mine "Camp Bird Mine" in the County of Ouray, Colorado, October 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The house of the owner, fruit ranch, County of Delta, Colorado, October 1940. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Milling plant in Caldwell, Idaho, July 1941. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The main street in Cascade, Idaho, July 1941. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The Creamery in Caldwell, Idaho, July 1941. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Cherry orchards, farm lands and irrigation ditch at Emmett, Idaho, July 1941. A color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color transparency, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

A farm for the cultivation of wheat in the city of Walla Walla, Washington, July 1941. Color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The construction of the Shasta dam in California, June 1942. A color slide. (Photo by Russell Lee, color transparency, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942. Color slide. (Photo by John Vachon, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Church near the town of junction city, Kansas, 1942 or 1943. Color slide. (Photo by John Vachon, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

The road leading from Romney, West Virginia, 1942 or 1943. (Photo by John Vachon, color slide, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Wisdom, Montana, April 1942. (Photo by John Vachon, color transparency, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)

Hut in the southern United States, circa 1940. (Photo by John Vachon, color transparency, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)