Photographs of John Vachon

The approximately 172,000 photographs in the Library of Congress’ collection from the Farm Security Administration (FSA), later the Office of War Information (OWI), provide a unique view of American life during the Great Depression and Second World War. Initially conceived to document government loans to farmers and their subsequent resettlement in suburban communities, this government project expanded to create a visual record of agricultural workers across the United States, as well as a record of both rural and urban centers as the nation prepared for World War II. Each volume in the “Fields of Vision” series features an introduction to the work of a single FSA photographer by a leading contemporary author or writer, and presents 50 striking images that show how the particular vision of these photographers helped shape the collective identity of America.

Introduction by Kurt Andersen, co-published by D. Giles Limited and the Library of Congress.  Paperback, 64 pages, 50 color & black and white images, 7" x 7"