1930s Depression Era Appalachian Portraits Itinerant RPPC Photo Archive (22)

Item Details

(Cultural Survey) (FSA) (WPA) (Appalachia) (Working Class) (Child Labor) (Craftsmen) (Basket Makers) (Rug Weaver) (Laundry) (Dorothea Lange)

 

Of the 22 total images, (17) are hand made postcards sent from Woodstock, Virginia or Washington D.C. in the years 1931, 32, 34 or 37 to an identified man at Tisdale Lumber Company in Astoria or Flushing N.Y.C.

 

Our photographer, who often includes film & development notes as though he’s speaking to either an intimate or fellow artist, appears to be the man seated on the rock wall — holding a light meter. He travels w/ a woman and perhaps other man (mentioned in one caption, Mr. Richland). 

 

(5) photographs, including two of a lake, document their trip rather than the portrait work. Notes include :

 

“Our abode for the night — 3450 feet elevation with 4200 peak quarter mile to left — very steep. Fritz and the usual camp hanger on dog looking for scraps (of meat, not fights). Note how the logs are laid vertically, instead of in the usual manner. At this — they furnish free fire wood all you want — oak planks”.

 

And of the colored lake shot — “colored over 100 this size and some 7 x 11” last night. Mostly views taken on or around Labor Day. This gives sort of a tropical appearance, doesn’t it? It is way out in the wilds”.

 

Remaining (17) images are insightful portraits, often labor and still more often children’s labor. Particularly touching image shows the photographer handing out toy balls to children from the trunk of his car on a dirt road, presumably gaining their trust. Stoic girl in a basement portrait is captioned reverse “is the girl who smiled so in the other print, but here before the receipt of gifts”. Heartbreakingly honest and self aware, shots.

 

Subjects & notes follow:

 

Four Generations w/ Flower Pot (PR w/ varying tones)

 

PR Basement Interior Portraits (appears to be Child Labor — work clothes, cold eyes & comment about the smile) w/ some blur & cancellation bleed

 

PR Woman Around Pots & Milk Jugs // Possibly Auctioneer  Woman w/ Needlepoint Interior (said Mr. Richland ghosted behind & noted to be taken without flash)

 

Mother & Children Holding Finished Tapestries (possibly the same woman)

 

PR Young Boy & Elderly Man Basketmakers — poignant comparison w/ caption about “Starting `em Young”

 

“Smoke Hole” — handing presents out of his car to children on a dirt road

 

“Good Exercise // Saint Davids Virginia” appears to be men forging over open fire & quenching in a water barrel

 

Children w/ European Style Grain Sacks — gorgeous, intimate portrait

 

PR Women & Children Outside Tent (likely church — appears to be their Sunday best) w/ notes about tone printing

 

Boys in overalls w/ their new copies of Mother Goose books. It’s easy to tell how precious a toy is to the littlest boy — who holds it close. Creased at edges likely for publication.

 

Woman At Washboard — possibly the best single image here. Blue toned black / white framed by light play from rock crevasses behind. Looks for all the world like a Dorothea Lange composition. 4 x 6” on thin photo paper w/ no markings.

 

Obviously cut on the road, varying from 3.5 x 5.5 to 4 x 6” with either type written or color pencils (the same used for tinting) messages. Postcards are made by applying either a stamp or drawing in the postcard delineations.

 

All show handling wear w/ occasional thumb creases, corner creases and edge wear. Intriguing group made by a skilled hand at a historically important time.