Breathitt County, Kentucky, 1940
In 1940 the photographer Marion Post Wolcott photographed Jackson and the forks of the Kentucky River in Breathitt County, Kentucky, for the Farm Security Administration. These are 12 of those negatives, with the captions she wrote for them.
The negatives are federal works. They are in the public domain, they are held by the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress, and anyone may reproduce them. Each caption below is hers, transcribed in full — including the parts a video has no room for.
Mrs. Marie R. Turner, and David Donoho at a pie and box supper. Many parents and young people from the school and nearby communities attend the pie and box supper given by the school to raise money for additional repairs and supplies. Each box or pie is auctioned off to the highest bidder, sometimes bringing a good deal, since the girl's "boyfriend" usually wins and has the privilege of eating it with her afterwards. Quicksand school, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Children going home from school up Frozen Creek carrying their lunch pails. School is held in the summer and stops in January because the creek beds, roads and inadequate clothing make it impossible for them to come in severe weather. Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Mountaineer's daughter and her mother enjoying the sorghum syrup at a neighbor's home during a "syrupping off," Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Mother and relatives weeping at the grave of deceased at memorial meeting. Preacher, with hands over ears, is praying. Near Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky. See general caption no. 1
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Going home from school. In Breathitt County, Kentucky. The school year begins in July and ends in January as most of the children have no shoes and insufficient clothing to walk the long distances over bad roads and up creek beds
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Mountaineer with neighbor's child on front porch of home up Frozen Creek. Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Kennel coal "raised" by mountaineer in the hill back of his home for winter fuel. Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Horse, mules and automobiles standing outside mountain family's yard during a memorial meeting up Frozen Creek, near Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky. See general caption number one
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Homebuilt boiler pit made of mud and rocks where the sap from the sorghum cane is boiled down to the syrup. The man who does the cooking goes from one farm house to another and takes a share of the syrup for his work at the different mountaineers' homes in Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Mountain woman and grandchild sitting on the porch of their home up Frozen Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Friends of the deceased going home after a memorial meeting. Up Frozen Creek, near Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky. See general caption no. 1
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.
Carrying home groceries and supplies across the swinging bridge, Breathitt County, Jackson, Kentucky
Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration, 1940. Library of Congress record.