Traces Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Here's a thread for the photos taken by Russell Lee in 1939 and John Vachon in 1943 of the small, deep-East Texas town of San Augustine. You may ask yourself, why San Augustine? Why did both of these photographers spend so much time there? In April 1939, Roy Stryker, his boss at the Farm Service Administration (FSA) asked Russell Lee to think about an extensive photo-documentary visit to a small, quintessentially American town. Stryker was acting from an impulse familiar to any reader of Traces of Texas: trying to summon up a nostalgia-loving visual reminder of the small town he grew up near (Montrose, Colorado). Russell Lee was on Stryker's wavelength in some important ways. He came from a small town (Ottawa, Illinois) and understood its mannerisms, how to to act among the people, politeness. Lee visited San Augustine initially because of the area's hookworm problem, but that proved impossible because nobody in San Augustine was willing to talk about it. But he liked San Augustine's "everytown" look and daily rhythms and ended up breaking his look at San Augustine in terms of common themes: Education, leisure, work, family, religion, and government activities. This meant, of course, Saturday, when farmers from outside the town came to sell their produce and conduct business. Lee gets the folks buying seeds, the folks eating ice cream, the folks selling produce etc... His kindly Midwest manner served him well; he moved comfortably at any level of society.Conducting BusinessStreet scene Pedestrians Milling around on the Sidewalks A blacksmith at work in his shop. More Street Scenes Blacksmiths working in a shop in San Augustine, Texas, 1939. I ponder being a blacksmith and sort of feel that standing over a hot forge in Texas in the summer is just about some of the most manly work I can imagine. A block of ice melts on the bank steps. Another street scene Farmer buying seeds Fixing a car Paying a bill? A grocer adds up various tabs that folks have run up at his store. I think they are eating an orange in front of the grocery store. Waiting in line to see a movie A boy tries on new shoes as his grandfather, who I think is going to buy them for him, looks kindly on. Scene in a barbershop. I wonder if the truth was ever been stretched in this place. Naaah! 😎 Jeweler repairing watch in San Augustine, 1939 A young man rings a bell at a hotel in San Augustine, 1939A Western Union employee at work with pipe in mouth in San Augustine, 1939 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traces Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 Besides business, another aspect of San Augustine's Everytown U.S.A. rituals that Lee documented was that of a Saturday "Trade Day," when farmers would come into town, gather around the courthouse, sell their goods. buy their provisions etc... and people would trade whatnot for notwhat and so forth. It was, of course, a great place for kids to come together and play with their friends while their parents did their business. Farm kids in town: || Men talking on the courthouse squareTraces of Texas reader Craig Kelsey was so struck by the above photo that he colorized it ... and did a TREMENDOUS job. This is actual coloring, not using a program. How gorgeous is this?A farmer leaves a store with a box of baby chicks An old farmer in San Augustine Saddle horse with supplies tethered to a telephone on the courthouse square in San Augustine Farmer vehicles in front of the courthouse Farmers on a raised curb in front of a coffee sign A farmer and his daughter in town for the day: Farmers gather for an auction at the cattle pens in San Augustine, 1939 A farmer in San Augustine, 1939 A farmer puts fertilizer into his wagon, 1939. A farmer with a loaded wagon leaves town San Augustine, Texas 1939 Spectators at a cattle auction in San Augustine, 1939. I love the three gentlemen up front. At least two of them are brothers. I love how intent every man in this audience is on the action. Really a cool shot. Seeds in front of a store A farmer loading his wagon Farm kidsFarm family on fully loaded wagon. I love the expression on every single face, particularly that of the young man wearing the hat. He's got it going on and he knows it! 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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