SCOPE AND CONTENT

            The photographs were created in Louisiana during the 1930’s and 1940’s by a handful of Farm Security Administration photographers including Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Russell Lee, Ben Shahn and Marion Post Wolcott.

            In 1991, Dablow retraced the steps of the Louisiana FSA photographers and wrote a book about his experiences titled “The rain are fallin.”

            According to the Library of Congress Web site:  “Images captured by the FSA photographers are among the most famous documentary photographs ever produced.”  They were created by a group of U.S. Government photographers and show American in every part of the nation.

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Thomastown, LA July 1940. Louisiana Delta, A Farm Security Administration project. An old and new house with a wash on the line. Negative # 53797-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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Akers, LA October 1938. A fisherman and his family returning from an early morning fishing. Negative # 31699-D –Russell Lee

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Natchitoches, LA August 1940. Bayou Bourbeaux Plantation. The interior of a bedroom with two Negro children sitting on the bed. Negative # 54427-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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Melrose, LA June 1940. The son of a mulatto servant on the John Henry Plantation. Negative # 5648-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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Plaquemines, LA October 1935. Children of an unemployed trapper. Negative # RA 6157-M3 –Ben Shahn

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Crowley, LA October 1938. A Cajun orchestra at the fais do do. Negative # 31639-D –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938. A crowd of people listening to a Cajun band. –Russell Lee

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New Iberia, LA October 1938. A sign in a furniture and bedding store. Negative # 11848-M4 –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938. People standing on the street corner waiting for the parade. –Russell Lee

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Jarreau, LA (ND). The owner of the general store slicing bologna. Negative #31747-D –Russell Lee

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Donaldsonville, LA (ND). Boys looking at penny movies at the South Louisiana State Fair. Negative # 31678-D –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938. A mantle and come ancestral portraits in the home of a Cajun farmer. Negative # 316620-D –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938. Some of the provate labels under which rice is packaged at the State Rice Mull. Negative # 31437-D –Russell Lee

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New Roads, LA (ND). A Negro crossing himself and praying over the grave of a relative on All-Saints Day. Negative # 11887-M1 –Russell Lee

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New Orleans, LA (ND). A garage mechanic. Negative # RA 8075 –Walker Evans

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Olga, LA September 1938. A Negro stevedore with a sack of oysters. Negative # 11819-M2 –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938. After the parade is over the people follow the line of it, walking in the middle of the street. –Russell Lee

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Alexandria, LA December 1940. A corner building in the center of town. -Marion Post Wolcott

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Crowley, LA October 1938. A mother with two children with popcorn. Negative # 11706-M2 –Russell Lee

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Abbeville, LA September 1938. Farmers sitting on bags of rice at the state mill. Negative # 11659 –Russell Lee

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New Orleans, LA January 1941. “Sunday PM.” Negative # 31193 -Marion Post Wolcott

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Crowley, LA October 1938. “Cajun children.” Negative # 11737-M4 –Russell Lee

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Transylvania, LA January 1939. “A poster in a farm home.” –Russell Lee

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Morganza, LA (ND). The wife of a client of the Tenant Purchase program of the Farm Security Administration looking out of the window of her old home. Negative # 11896-M4 Photographer unknown

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Crowley, LA October 1938 Musicians in a Cajun band contest Negative # 31457-D –Russell Lee

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Donaldsonville, LA (ND). Woman watching the accomplishments of a vegetable shredder at the South Louisiana State Fair. –Russell Lee

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Norco, LA October 1938. A Negro girl in front of the fireplace in a house along the levee. Negative # 31682 –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938. A man dusting a sign on a hotel, getting ready for the National Rice Festival. –Russell Lee

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Amite, LA October 1935. A resident. Negative # RA 6215-M2 –Ben Shahn

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Hammond, LA October 1935. A child of the Fortuna family, a family of strawberry pickers. Negative # RA 6174-M3 –Ben Shahn

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New Iberia, LA (ND), Skimming boiling sugar cane juice in process of syrup making. Negative # 31723-D –Russell Lee

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Crowley, LA October 1938.  Cajun girls at the fais do do. Negative # 31658-D –Russell Lee

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Crowley LA October 1938. Cajun men and boys at the fais do do. Negative # 31692-D –Russell Lee

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Bill, J. F. and Janice Sellers in 1991 –Dean Dablow

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Plaquemines Parish, LA October 1935. Three Creole girls. Negative # RA 6159-M1 –Ben Shahn

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Jarreau, LA October 1938. A farm boy sitting on cartons in the general store. –Russell Lee

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Abbeville, LA September 1938. Stacking sacks of rice in a warehouse. Negative # 31436-D –Russell Lee

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Alexandria, LA December 1940. The interior of a construction worker’s shack. Negative # 56512-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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New Orleans, LA July 1936. Inscription on the base of the Liberty monument. Negative # 9389-E –Dorothea Lange

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Crowley, LA October 1938. Boys at the National Rice Festival. Negative # 11739-M1 –Russell Lee

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Transylvania, LA January 1939. A Negro mother teaching her children the numbers and alphabet in her home. Negative # 31938-D –Russell Lee

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Donaldsonville, LA (ND). A group of people at the South Louisiana State Fair. Negative # 11749-M1 –Russell Lee

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Donaldsonville, LA (ND). A fortune teller and a mind reader in a side show at the South Louisiana State Fair. Negative # 11769-M4 –Russell Lee

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Donaldsonville, LA (ND). A group of tired people resting at the South Louisiana State Fair. Negative # 11750-M5 –Russell Lee

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Morganza, LA October 1938. Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kimball, standing in the doorway of their home.  They will participate in the Tenant Purchase program of the Farm Security Administration. Negative # 31768-D –Russell Lee

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Place Unknown July 1937 A Louisiana Negress. Negative # 17634-C –Dorothea Lange

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Alexandria, LA December 1940. Children in a tent home two men, two women, and two children live here. Negative # 56698-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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Melrose, LA June 1940. The old store on the John Henry Plantation. -Marion Post Wolcott

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Alexandria, LA December 1940. Mrs. M.C. Ray from Mangum, TX; the wife of a construction worker at Camp Livingston. They had been farming but came here to earn more money.  When they arrived the whole family had the flu. They had to sell their car so they don’t get to town often to buy supplies and milk for the children. The say food is twice the price they paid before they came here. Negative # 56535-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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Schriever, LA June 1940. The canned goods closet, with a chart on the door, of one of the project families. Negative # 54297-D -Marion Post Wolcott

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Copy of introduction pages to an exhibit. “The rain are fallin” by Russell Lee.

(ND)

Paulina, LA The post office. Negative # 11804-M3 –Russell Lee

Paulina, LA (ND) Paulina Food Store. –Russell Lee

Paulina, LA (ND) Corner of Paulina Food Store. –Russell Lee

New Roads, LA October 1938. A woman decorating a family burial vault in the cemetery on All-Saints Day. Negative # 11901-M3 –Russell Lee

New Roads, LA (ND). A cemetery in New Roads. -Dean Dablow

Schriever, LA June 1940. Terrebone, A Farm Security Administration project. A school attended by the children of the project. Negative # 54291-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Schriever, LA The school in 1991. -Dean Dablow

St. Martinville, LA October 1938. A vacant bank building. Negative # 31650-D –Russell Lee

St. Martinville, LA  The bank in 1991. -Dean Dablow

St. Martinville, LA October 1938. A grotto in the church. The sculptured work was done by a local Negro. Negative # 31811-D –Russell Lee

St. Martinville, LA The grotto in 1991. –Dean Dablow

Scott, LA October 1938. A sign proclaiming a “Welcome to the West.” –Russell Lee

Scott, LA The building in 1991. -Dean Dablow

Independence, LA October 1935. An Italian cemetery. Negative # RA 6181-M1 –Ben Shahn

Independence, LA The cemetery in 1991. -Dean Dablow

New Orleans, LA January 1936. The Margaret statue. Negative # 1289-A –Walker Evans

New Orleans, LA January 1936. Enlarged photo of the Margaret statue. –Walker Evans

New Orleans, LA The Margaret statue in 1991. -Dean Dablow

Schriever, LA June 1940. Terrebonne, A Farm Security Administration project. The project office formerly a plantation house. Negative # 54307-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Schriever, LA The plantation in 1991. -Dean Dablow

Convent, LA October 1938. San Francisco, a plantation house on River Road. Negative # 31702-D –Russell Lee

Convent, LA The plantation in 1991. -Dean Dablow

Pilottown, LA September 1938. A bar pilot’s house. Negative # 11815-M5 –Russell Lee

Pilottown, LA The house in 1991. -Dean Dablow

Natchitoches, LA June 1940. The Good Darkey statue. Negative # 54853-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Natchitoches, LA The statue in 1991. -Dean Dablow

Pilottown, LA September 1938. Buildings and boardwalks. Negative # 1820-M2 –Russell Lee

Pilottown, LA The building in 1991. -Dean Dablow

St. Martinville, LA October 1938. Signs on  Main Street under an overhanging balcony. These overhanging balconies are characteristic of the architecture of this region. Negative # 31652-D –Russell Lee

St. Martinville, LA The scene in 1991. -Dean Dablow

New Orleans, LA January 1941. Sunday PM. Negative # 31192-M1 -Marion Post Wolcott

New Orleans, LA January 1941. Sunday PM. Negative # 31193 -Marion Post Wolcott

Donaldsonville, LA November 1938. A man and a woman looking at a display of cheap jewelry. Negative # 11775-M4 –Russell Lee

Amite, LA October 1935. Young residents. Negative # RA 6214-M5 –Ben Shahn

New Orleans, LA January 1941. Sunday PM. Negative # 31191-M2 -Marion Post Wolcott

Morganza, LA November 1938. The Allen family, sharecropper, who are about to receive assistance from the Farm Security Administration. Negative # 11876-M4 –Russell Lee

New Orleans, LA 1936 Belle Grove plantation. Negative # 1276-C –Walker Evans

Jeanerette, LA (ND). A shoe repair shop. Negative # 11635-M4 –Russell Lee

Hammond, LA October 1935. Children of the Fortuna family, a family of strawberry pickers. Negative # RA 6174-M4 –Ben Shahn

Crowley, LA October 1938. A farm mother and her children tow for the National Rice Festival. Negative # 11740-M5 –Russell Lee

Transylvania, LA June 1940. Mr. Thomas Smith lets his mule cool off while cultivating in his garden. Negative # 54022-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Donaldsonville, LA November 1938. A man taking up a flag in front of his house to provide local atmosphere for the South Louisiana State Fair. Negative # 11751-M5 –Russell Lee

New Orleans, LA (ND). Street scene. Negative # RA 6097-M3 –Ben Shahn

Crowley, LA October 1938. Mr. Joseph LeBlanc at his desk in his office reading the morning mail. Negative # 11778-M4 –Russell Lee

Pointe a la Hache, LA October 1935. A parish priest. Negative # RA 6171-M2 –Ben Shahn

Crowley, LA October 1938. People sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the parade. Negative # 11738-M3 –Russell Lee

Donaldsonville, LA November 1938. A young girl buying a doll from a concession manager. Negative # 11783-M1 –Russell Lee

New Orleans, LA (ND).  The keeper of a mission house. Negative # RA 6098-M2 –Ben Shahn

Alexandria, LA December 1940. Construction workers’ children playing beside a garbage and rubbish heap which is in back or their tents, near Camp Livingston. -Marion Post Wolcott

New Roads, LA October 1938. Negro children dressed in their Sunday best for the memorial services ceremonies on All-Saints Day. Negative # 11885-M3 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA November 1938. A sign of a gasoline station advertising a particular brand of petroleum product. Negative # 11789-M3 –Russell Lee

Melrose, LA June 1940. A bedroom with religious pictures on the mud walls of an old hut which was built and is still occupied by mulattoes. It is near the John Henry plantation. Photographer unknown

New Orleans, LA (ND). The Liberty Theater on St. Charles Street. Negative # 1285-A –Walker Evans

Delacroix Island, LA January 1941. A Spanish muskrat trapper telling about the Trapper’s War, the long fight and difficulties with the company men. Negative # 56793-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Delacroix Island, LA January 1941. A Spanish muskrat trapper telling about the Trapper’s War, the long fight and difficulties with the company men. Negative # 57029-E -Marion Post Wolcott

Delacroix Island, LA January 1941. A Spanish muskrat trapper with his wife and adopted child. Negative # 56779-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Crowley, LA October 1938. Negroes sitting on the curb waiting for the parade. Negative # 11720-M1 –Russell Lee

Crowley, LA October 1938. Spectators on the sidewalk. Negative # 11737-M1 –Russell Lee

New Orleans, LA December 1935. A street corner in a poor neighborhood. Negative # 8219-A –Walker Evans

Delacroix Island, LA January 1941. A Spanish muskrat trapper by his camp in the marshes. Negative # 56868-D -Marion Post Wolcott

New Iberia, LA November 1938. The wife of a day laborer who works in the sugar cane fields. Negative # 11880-M4 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA November 1938. Children of day laborers who work in the cane fields. Negative # 11880-M5 –Russell Lee

Morganza, LA October 1938. Bathing facilities in the home of M. LeBlanc, who will participate in the Tenant Purchase program of the Farm Security Administration. Negative # 31782-D –Russell Lee

Transylvania, LA January 1939. A poster in a farm home. Negative # 11937-M2 –Russell Lee

Plaquemines Parish, LA October 1935. Two daughters of the Trische family. Negative # RA 6153-M1 –Ben Shahn

Crowley, LA October 1938. A sign of welcome in the outskirts. Negative # 11721-M2 –Russell Lee

New Orleans, LA October 1935. A Negro woman with a child in a doorway. Negative # RA 6099-M2 –Ben Shahn

Crowley, LA October 1938. A farmer of Cajun origin living south of town. Negative # 31591-D –Russell Lee

Donaldsonville, LA November 1938. A barker at a side show with the performers. Negative # 11770-M3 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA November 1938. A day laborer with a sugar cane knife in front of his shack home. Negative # 11897-M5 –Russell Lee

Donaldsonville, LA November 1938. A concessionaire’s sign. Negative # 11785-M1 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA October- November 1938. A Cajun sugar cane farmer with his daughter. Negative # 11882-M5 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA October- November 1938. A Cajun sugar cane farmer. –Russell Lee

Unknown man lying in grass. (ND) Photographer unknown

Arnold Rodriguez, Rudy Melerine, Claudette Melerine, and Annie Melerine in the Melerine’s Bar examining the photographs made at Delacroix Island in 1941 by Marion Post Wolcott (ND) Photographer unknown

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Donaldsonville, LA (ND). A woman fortune teller at the South Louisiana State Fair. –Russell Lee

Donaldsonville, LA (ND). A fortune teller’s cubicle at the South Louisiana State Fair. –Russell Lee

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Mix, LA (ND). The Post Office. Negative # 11771-M2 –Russell Lee

Mix, LA. The Post Office as it appears in 1991. –Dean Dablow

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Delacroix Island, LA January 1941. A Spanish muskrat trapper in the doorway of his marsh home. Negative # 56826-D –Marion Post Wolcott

Delacroix Island, LA January 1941. A Spanish muskrat trapper in the doorway of his marsh camp. Negative # 56783-D –Marion Post Wolcott

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New Orleans, LA 1941. Old buildings. Negative # 57038-D –Marion Post Wolcott

New Orleans, LA The buildings as they appear in 1991.  –Dean Dablow

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Natchitoches, LA June 1940. A Negro woman who does housework when she is not picking cotton. Negative # 54926-E -Marion Post Wolcott

Natchitoches, LA June 1940. A Negro woman who does housework when she is not picking cotton. Negative # 54925-E -Marion Post Wolcott

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Olga, LA September 1938. Sons of a fisherman. Negative # 11645-M1 –Russell Lee

Olga, LA September 1938. Sons of a fisherman. Negative # 11645-M2 –Russell Lee

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Natchitoches, LA June 1940. The McClung Drug store which has been built over the burial place of the founder of the town. Negative # 54697-D -Marion Post Wolcott

Natchitoches, LA. The building as it appeared in 1991. –Dean Dablow

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New Orleans, LA October 1935. A scene in Jackson Square. Negative # RA 6183-M3 –Ben Shahn

New Orleans, LA October 1935. A scene in Jackson Square. Negative # RA 6183-M4 –Ben Shahn

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New Iberia, LA (ND). The foreman of a sugar cane plantation. Negative # 11843-M1 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA (ND). The foreman of a sugar cane plantation. Negative # 11846-M3 –Russell Lee

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Raceland, LA September 1938. Dancing in a roadhouse. Negative # 11661-M2 –Russell Lee

Raceland, LA The roadhouse as it appeared in 1991. –Dean Dablow

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New Iberia, LA (ND). Negro musicians playing an accordion and a wash board in front of a store. Negative # 11902-M2 –Russell Lee

New Iberia, LA (ND). Negro musicians playing an accordion and a wash board. Negative # 31753-D –Russell Lee

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Pilottown, LA September 1938. A river pilot entering the pilot’s clubhouse. Negative # 11793-M2 –Russell Lee

Pilottown, LA The same clubhouse as it appears in 1991. –Dean Dablow

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New Orleans, LA January 1936. At the corner of Felicity and Orange streets. Negative # 1287-A –Walker Evans

New Orleans, LA The same scene as it appeared in 1991. –Dean Dablow

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Crowley, LA October 1938. Delivering ice to the stands during the National Rice Festival. Negative # 11712-M2 –Russell Lee

Crowley, LA The same scene as it appeared in 1991. –Dean Dablow

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Pointe a la Hache, LA October 1935. A cemetery. Negative # RA 6171-M3 –Ben Shahn

Pointe a la Hache, LA  1991. The changing course of the Mississippi necessitated moving the cemetery. This is what remains of the elaborate tomb in a new cemetery just north of Pointe a la Hache. –Dean Dablow

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Transylvania, LA January 1939. A mother and child who will benefit through the Farm Security Administration resettlement program. Negative # 11927-M3 –Russell Lee

Transylvania, LA January 1939. A family that will benefit through the Farm Security Administration resettlement program. Negative # 11927-M5 –Russell Lee

Transylvania, LA January 1939. A father and his son who will benefit through the Farm Security Administration resettlement program. Negative # 11927-M3(2) –Russell Lee

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New Orleans, La January 1941. Sunday PM. Negative # 31192-M2 –Marion Post Wolcott

New Orleans, LA January 1941. Sunday PM. Negative # 31191-M3 –Marion Post Wolcott

New Orleans, LA January 1941. Sunday PM. Negative # 31191-M5 –Marion Post Wolcott