History buffs may want to rethink their plans for the three-day weekend, and even people with only a slight interest in the subject should get ready to make a few mouse clicks. The Library of Congress and Flickr have teamed up to introduce folks to a huge collection of photos, with most of the images dating back to between 1935 and 1943.
Viewers of the collection, which was put together by the Farm Security Administration and the Office of War Information, can look over the highlights quite quickly. Or it’s also possible to spend weeks pouring over the pictures.
A post on the Flickr Blog explains, “The Library of Congress’ newest set features 10 of the most frequently requested photos plus staff picks to introduce you to the vast archive of about 170,000 negatives and 107,000 prints of life in America during the Great Depression and World War II.”
Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother,” seen here, definitely counts as one of the most requested pictures, and should give you an idea of the quality of the collection.
If you then find yourself with even more time to spare, a post on the Library of Congress Blog states, “You can find more than a million pictures among the digitized collections in the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog at the Library of Congress website. You might also enjoy the special presentations of photos that also appear in American Memory and Exhibitions.”
