DOCUMERICA: Snapshots of America in Crisis in the 1970s

By the late 1960s, the American landscape was ravaged by decades of unchecked land development, blighted by urban decay in the big cities, and plagued by seemingly unstoppable air, noise, and water pollution. 

In November 1971, the newly created Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a monumental photodocumentary project to “photographically document subjects of environmental concern” in the United States. The collection, now at the National Archives, resulted in a collection of more than 20,000 photographs by its conclusion in 1978.

With support from the first EPA administrator, William Ruckelshaus, project director Gifford D. Hampshire contracted well-known photographers to work for the EPA on the project. Estimates of the number involved range between 70 and 120, and they were organized geographically, with each photographer working in a particular area in which they were already active.

Subjects photographed include urban cityscapes, small towns, rural areas, beaches and mountains. They show people going about their everyday lives as well as working in farms; waterfronts; mining and logging, industry and heavy industry. Images document junk yards, highways, Amtrak trains, air and water pollution; and environmental protection and pollution control measures. 

The earliest assignments were closely aligned to the EPA's proposed areas of concern: air and water pollution, management of solid waste, radiation and pesticides, and noise abatement.  However, photographers had considerable creative freedom about what they shot.  Among the areas depicted are national parks and forests, including environmentally sensitive areas that were under development or considered for government protection.

Water cooling towers of the John Amos Power Plant loom over a home located across the Kanawha River, near Poca, West Virginia, August 1973. (Harry Schaefer)

One of four bicyclists holds her ears against the roar of the jet taking off from National Airport in Washington, District of Columbia, May 1973. (John Neubauer)

Clark Avenue and Clark Avenue bridge, looking east from West 13th Street, obscured by industrial smoke, in Cleveland, Ohio, July 1973. (Frank J. Aleksandrowicz)

Balloon logging in the Culp Creek drainage area of Oregon, near Eugene.

A mountain of damaged oil drums lies in a heap in an Exxon refinery near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 1972. (John Messina)

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Amazing Photos of African American Schools of Henry County, Virginia in 1928

Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,151. The county seat is usually identified as Martinsville; however, the administration building (where county offices are located and where the board of supervisors holds meetings), county courthouse, Henry County Sheriff's Office and its jail are located on Kings Mountain Road (SR 174) in Collinsville.

Henry County is part of the Martinsville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

A group of 25 photos from mj aux was taken in 1928 in Henry County, Virginia by W. D. Gresham, the Supervisor of Negro Education and sent to B. C. Goode, Superintendent, Martinsville, Virginia.

Group portrait of students, Camp Branch School, Henry County, Virginia, 1928

African American school house, Chetnut Knob School, Henry County, Virginia, 1928

African American school house, Henry County, Virginia, 1928

African American school house, Henry County, Virginia, 1928

African American school house, Henry County, Virginia, 1928

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48 Amazing Photos That Document Daily Life at Restaurants and Stores of Norfolk, Virginia in 1919

Norfolk  is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Beach.

Norfolk is located at the core of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, named for the large natural harbor of the same name located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. It is one of nine cities and seven counties that constitute the Hampton Roads metro area, officially known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA.

The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. It also shares land borders with the independent cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. Norfolk is one of the oldest cities in Hampton Roads, and is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region.

As the city is bordered by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bayfront property, including beaches on the Chesapeake Bay. It is linked to its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and three bridge-tunnel complexes, which are the only bridge-tunnels in the United States.

Here below is an amazing photo collection from David E. Johnson that shows what daily life at restaurants and stores of Norfolk looked like in 1919.

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40 Cool Pics of Virginia's Family Portraits in the Early 20th Century

Michael Miley (1841-1918) was a popular commercial photographer based in Lexington, Virginia. He is acclaimed for bringing artistry to the medium of photography and often sought to capture his subjects in more candid poses.

These cool pics he shot portraits of families in Virginia from the 1900s and 1920s, some at his studio, others outdoors.

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Young Girl Being Trained to Not React to Smoke Blown in Her Face and Having Her Hair Pulled, 1960

In 1960 Magnum photographer Eve Arnold attended a training school for black sit-ins in Petersburg, Virginia. She documented a series of photos of a young girl being trained not to hit back when harassed by whites.

It’s pretty amazing most people don’t realize how much work goes into protests and social movements. When you are dealing with extremely dangerous social disobedience training is necessary to avoid chaos. You can’t just get a large group of people together and have a successful action. People panic. They might strike out reflexively when threatened. People get hurt or even killed. This training has now become commonplace for protestors.

Eve Arnold (1912–2012) was already one of the foremost photographers of her time. Equally at ease photographing potato pickers in Long Island and the Queen of England, Arnold selected subjects ranging from a nomad bride in the Hindu Kush to Zulu women in a South African hospital, harems in Abu Dhabi, barmaids in Cuba, a fencing mistress in a British school, African American women marching for civil rights in Virginia, and her famous portraits of Marilyn Monroe.

(Photos © Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos)

46 Fascinating Photos That Capture Daily Life of Students at Sweet Briar College, Virginia in the 1960s

Established in 1901 as the Sweet Briar Institute and opened its doors in 1906, Sweet Briar College is a women's liberal arts college in Sweet Briar, Virginia, United States.

The college is on 3,250 acres (13,152,283 m2) in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the former estate of the college's founder, Indiana Fletcher Williams.

A photo collection from Mary Helen Cochran Library that documented daily life of students at the college in the 1960s.

Carol Ford, a Sweet Briar student, jumping over a hurdle on a horse named Dusty at one of the college's horse shows, 1960

Florence T. McCulloch, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages, and student Kadri Nüder talking by the steps to the Mary Helen Cochran Library, 1960

 Florence T. McCulloch, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages; John R. Shannon, Professor of Music; and student Kadri Mider talking in front of the entrance to the Mary Helen Cochran Library, 1960

Students, including Shanaz Anwar Ali from Pakistan, using the study carrels in the lower-level stacks in the Mary Helen Cochran Library, 1960

On the train to SBC, 1962

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27 Black and White Photos That Document the Annual Christmas Dance of Lynchburg College, Virginia in the Late 1950s

An amazing photo collection from Lynchburg College Archives that show Annual Christmas Dance of students in Lynchburg College, Virginia from the late 1950s. Few from 1960.

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48 Vintage Snapshots Documented Student Life at Lynchburg College, Virginia from 1939-1943

Here below is a part of the photo album generously donated by Dr. Gay Morrow, 1943 Class of Lynchburg College, Virginia. They documented everyday life of students here from 1939 to 1943.

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"I Kissed the King" – The Story Behind One of the Sexiest Photos in Rock and Roll History

It was the smooch seen around the world. Sixty years ago this summer, Elvis Presley and a young woman were captured on film kissing in a Richmond hallway.

Elvis, 21, and his mystery blonde caught in “The Kiss”—one of 48 shots taken by Wertheimer that day—in a stairwell at the Mosque Theatre in Richmond, Virginia, minutes before a concert, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

For decades, Barbara Gray, the woman in the picture, went unidentified, but now she is reflecting on kissing The King.

Barbara's brush with Elvis Presley began with a dare.

In June of 1956, Barbara's friends convince her to call Elvis in his hotel room at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston. Elvis had just performed in South Carolina before 4,000 screaming fans.

"I didn't really know him or know what he was about," said Barbara. "The operator answered and I said 'Elvis Presley's room please.'"

Barbara said the 21-year-old singer chatted with her for at least an hour. A curious Elvis invited Barbara to his next concert in Virginia. Two days later the pair would meet at the diner in the Hotel Jefferson.

Elvis brings his “date for the day” along for the taxi ride (with Junior Smith—the brother of Elvis’s road manager Gene—pictured far right) to the theater, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

Elvis and his new acquaintance at the Jefferson Hotel diner, Richmond, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

Elvis and Bobbi—who had never heard his name until the previous day—get cozy in vinyl chairs at the hotel, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

"He just reached out and hugged me," said Barbara. "I didn't know what to say. It was like I was numb."

From her home in South Carolina, the 80-year-old remembers seeing the sultry singer for the first time at The Hotel Jefferson in Richmond.

"Elvis turned around and I almost fainted. He was absolutely gorgeous," said Barbara. "I just melted."

Bobbi loosens up as the rising “King of Rock ’n’ Roll” shows her his script from an upcoming performance on The Steve Allen Show, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

The 20-year-old dancer and model musters a smile at the coffee-shop counter, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

Elvis flirtatiously whispers and shouts in Bobbi’s ear at the hotel, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

Elvis and his manager Gene take care of hotel business as Bobbi stands by, Virginia, June 1956. Photograph © Alfred Wertheimer.

Barbara and Elvis flirted over lunch hours before his two concerts at The Mosque.

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Virginia More Than 70 Years Ago – 29 Amazing Color Photos Show Suburbs of the 'Old Dominion' in the 1940s

Here is a stunning collection of color photos that shows suburbs of Virginia in the 1940s, taken by photographer Jack Delano.

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