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May 1940. "Farm Security Administration tenant purchase borrower and family. Crawford County, Illinois." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. View full size.
Thank you MMiller. I have over 300 stories on my website regarding the Lewis Hine child labor photos and the FSA photos. I continue to add new ones from time to time. I also have a lot of articles about other subjects. www.MorningsOnMapleStreet.com
I love your website!! Will you be updating it with any new stories?
"A rug that just won't quit!" appears to be linoleum with a fancy design. These were popular during the 1920s and 30s, and were used in other rooms of the house besides the kitchen. There is quite an interesting history with photos that you can read here.
Mom and dad may be beat, but they are very nearly playing a little footsie, here, even with the FSA photog clicking away. It's kind of romantic.
Like my family they probably called it a rug but it's linoleum.
The two boys must have been playing in the yard while Mr. Vachon set up his camera.
Otherwise mom would have sent them to the water pail first to wash their feet.
At least to me the recently used condition of the boys feet does not quite fit the overall setting.
This is Joe Manning. I wrote a story about this family 11 years ago. Left to right, we see Carl, Charles, Paul and Minnie Patton. I interviewed Charles, then 77 years old. See the story here:
https://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/crawford-county-family-page...
FSA tenant-purchase was a program by which farm renters and sharecroppers (who as such were extremely disadvantaged) could apply for Federal loans with which to buy the farms in question at 3% interest over a 40-year term. While it was a popular and effective program, the sad part was that Congress appropriated only enough funds to accommodate about one out of every 100 families who applied.
New overalls for Dad and boys, and Mom has stockings.
Nice foot powered organ. I played one like it in 1962.
Looks like Easter presents and baskets! Dads looking at buying some chickens! Plus a drawing of Thanksgiving dinner by Carl. Thanks for these insightful pictures of our past.
[For the record, Easter in 1940 fell on March 24. - Dave]
Amazing wall art!
Poultry Keeper magazine!
A rug that just won't quit!
Wonderful.
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