"America Eats"

Federal Writer's Project photographs for
the "America Eats" project
Anthony V. Ragusin
Oysters and a political rally, No. 1
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1930-1941
Prints & Photographs Division,
WPA Transfer (199A.2c)

Stetson Kennedy
Coffee is made by boiling it
in this large metal barrel, no. 7
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1930-1941
Prints & Photographs Division,
WPA Transfer (199A.2a)

Stetson Kennedy
The rice and chicken is boiled
together in iron kettles, no. 8
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1930-1941
Prints & Photographs Division,
WPA Transfer (199A.2d)

In the 1930s the federal government, under the auspices of the Work Progress Administration (WPA), created the Federal Writers' Project to provide work for unemployed professionals during the depression. Shown here are six images produced for the "America Eats" project, depicting eating and cooking food at social gatherings such as picnics, barbecues, and food festivals in locations including California, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Stetson Kennedy
Picking the meat from the Chicken
bones is one of the big jobs
in preparing the pilau, no. 9
Gelatin silver print, ca.1930-1941
Prints & Photographs Division,
WPA Transfer (199A.2f)

Cutting the forequarter of beef into 20-lb hanks--Los Angeles Sheriff's Barbecue, no. 17
Gelatin silver print, ca.1930-1941
Prints & Photographs Division,
WPA Transfer (199A.2b)

Removing the barbeque beef from
the pits--Los Angeles
Sheriff's Barbecue, no. 22
Gelatin silver print, ca. 1930-1941
Prints & Photographs Division,
WPA Transfer (199A.2e)