Arthur Rothstein Minnesota Photographs
Arthur Rothstein made some of the most significant documentary photographs ever taken of rural and small-town America.
These images were created during his years traveling throughout the nation on assignment for the US Farm Security Administration, one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” agencies that restored and rebuilt an America devastated by the Great Depression.
In 1940, Rothstein joined the staff of Look magazine.
With the start of the WWll, Rothstein completed photojournalistic assignments for the US Army Signal Corps in China, Burma, and India.
After a short assignment for the United Nations, he returned to Look magazine, where he served as director of photography for 25 years during the Golden Age of post-war photo magazines.
He then held the same position for Parade magazine for 15 years, until his death in 1985.
During his years in magazine photojournalism Rothstein continued his own work, teaching, writing nine books as well as numerous newspaper and magazine columns on photography.
His photographs of America during the Great Depression were some of the most widely-published photographs of the 20th century, and are held in the collections of major museums around the world.
Son of a dairy farmer, Dakota County, Minnesota, 1939. Photo by Arthur Rothstein. Courtesy of Arthur Rothstein Legacy Project.
It was a hard life for kids growing up on farms during the Dirty Thirties.
Although New Deal legislation curbed child labor in some industries (factory work), all hands worked on farms and ranches.
Farm children often worked side-by-side with adults. Many farms had no electricity or indoor plumbing.
Many schools were forced to close during the Great Depression and education became centered on what was practical – farming skills.
4-H Club meetings provided education and 4-H competitions at county fairs were a showcase for ongoing projects on communication and expressive arts, food and nutrition, fine arts and crafts, textiles and clothing, and horticulture.
Animal competitions included: dairy cattle and showmanship, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Highlights of the County Fair included (and still include): 4-H livestock shows, plant science projects, entomology displays, public presentations and more!
Milker gives pet cat some milk direct from cow, Brandtjen Dairy Farm, Dakota County, Minnesota, 1939. Photo by Arthur Rothstein. Courtesy of Arthur Rothstein legacy Project.
This Arthur Rothstein exhibit is made possible by the Arthur Rothstein Legacy Project.