Giving Thanks. Washington, D.C., 1940

As the United States struggled out of a world-wide economic depression, a child in Washington, DC gave thanks for a free lunch at school. The Federal government had purchased surplus farm commodities and distributed them to local schools and relief agencies.

About six years after this photograph was taken, President Harry S. Truman signed the National School Lunch Act which expanded the earlier program. By the end of the first program year, 7.1 million school children had participated.

Medium : 1 photographic print

Created/Published : Farm Security Administration, 1940

Creator : Peter Killian, photographer

Housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 weeks.

Product #: givingthanks