Yale Showcases 170,000 Depression-Era Photos

Among the collection are more than 1,300 images of life in Baltimore in the 1930s.

By Jess Mayhugh. Posted on October 07, 2015, 2:32 pm

-Photography by John Vachon / Courtesy of the Farm Security Administration

There are certain images that come to mind when we think of the Great Depression, most common likely being the Dorothy Lange portrait of a mother with two kids clinging to her on either side.

In all, there were about 170,000 photos taken during that era a part of a project headed by the Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information, whose intent was to focus public attention on the plight of the poor.

Well, now the smarties at Yale University have developed a web-based platform called Photogrammer that makes these photos, taken between 1935 and 1944, incredibly easy to browse by region. Turns out, there are more than 1,300 images of life in Baltimore from that time. There's everything from images of the old Bethlehem Steel plant to pool halls on Howard Street and corner peanut stands.

It's a fascinating glimpse into the soot-stained life full of streetcars, lunch counters, and shipyards. With all of these and thousands more to easily browse, we certainly know how we'll be spending our afternoon.

July 1938. Man sleeping in fish market. Baltimore, Maryland. -Sheldon Dick

April 1943. Baltimore, Maryland. Peanut stand. -Marjory Collins

April 1943. Baltimore, Maryland. Shoe shine boy. -Marjory Collins

April 1943. Workers reading the newsstand papers while waiting for a trolley after work. -Marjory Collins

April 1943. Meat Warehouse. -Marjory Collins

June 1943. Baltimore, Maryland. Funeral of a merchant seaman. Pallbearers with flag-covered casket. -Jack Delano

April 1943. Baltimore, Maryland. Nun awaiting contributions of workers in the Bethlemhem Fairfield shipyard at the company gates just before three o'clock whistle. -Marjory Collins