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Marion Post Wolcott

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Marion Post Wolcott
America 1930s Photographer
America, (June 7, 1910–November 24, 1990)
MARION POST WOLCOTT

Born in 1910 in New Jersey, Marion Post Wolcott was one of the leading Farm Security Administration (FSA) photographers. Marion’s interest in people was influenced by her mother, Nan, who was an activist for progressive causes and worked with the founder of Planned Parenthood Margaret Sanger (1879–1966). Together they traveled around the US, setting up family planning sites. Wolcott admired her mother’s strong character, compassion, and independence. During her adolescence, Wolcott was exposed to musicians, painters, actors, and free expression. She entered The New School for Social Research in 1928, but shortly after, Wolcott abandoned her studies to pursue dance and moved to Europe as part of a dance troupe.

Due to health issues, Wolcott eventually had to return to the US in the early 1930s, where she started teaching in a small Massachusetts mill town. While teaching, she became increasingly uncomfortable with the dramatic class distinctions between the upper middle class children she taught and the poor from the neighborhood where she lived. In hopes of escaping this situation, in 1932 she returned to Europe to travel with her sister. There, she received her first camera and it quickly became apparent she had a natural talent for photography. In Germany, Wolcott witnessed the rise of Nazi fascism. One of Hitler’s speeches had such a profound effect upon her that she decided to leave Europe.

After returning to the US in 1935, Marion did assignments for Fortune magazine and Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, before a friend recommended that she contact Roy Stryker (1893–1975) at the FSA. When she applied for the job at the FSA, Marion had a mere three years of professional experience using a camera. Stryker took a chance on her and hired her in 1938. Marion continued to work with the FSA until 1942 when she left to start a family with her husband, Lee Wolcott. Although she never returned to the professional field of photography, Marion never ceased to put her camera down; she continued to pursue photography throughout her life.

Kaela Nurmi, '15


Artist Objects
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Image of A judge at the horse races. Warrenton, Virginia

A judge at the horse races. Warrenton, Virginia 2022.17.16

Image of A Negro family on the porch of their home. Natchitoches, Louisiana

A Negro family on the porch of their home. Natchitoches, Louisiana 2021.4.1

Image of Baptism in Triplett Creek

Baptism in Triplett Creek 2007.3.2

Image of Baptism in Triplett Creek, Primitive Baptist Church, Rowan County. Morehead, Kentucky

Baptism in Triplett Creek, Primitive Baptist Church, Rowan County. Morehead, Kentucky 2022.17.9

Image of Boy Scouts inspecting and learning about army equipment. Washington, D.C.

Boy Scouts inspecting and learning about army equipment. Washington, D.C. 2016.6.1

Image of Cashiers paying off cotton pickers in Marcella Plantation Store, Mileston, Miss. Mileston, Mississippi

Cashiers paying off cotton pickers in Marcella Plantation Store, Mileston, Miss. Mileston, Mississippi 2022.17.10

Image of Child in doorway of shack of migrant pickers

Child in doorway of shack of migrant pickers 2007.3.1

Image of Children at desks, one-room schoolhouse. Breathitt County, Kentucky

Children at desks, one-room schoolhouse. Breathitt County, Kentucky 2022.17.21

Image of Coal Miner’s child using the “cathole.” Bertha Hill, Scott’s Run, West Virginia

Coal Miner’s child using the “cathole.” Bertha Hill, Scott’s Run, West Virginia 2022.17.23

Image of Coal miner’s daughter carrying home can of kerosene to be used in oil lamps. Pursglove, Scott’s Run, West Virginia

Coal miner’s daughter carrying home can of kerosene to be used in oil lamps. Pursglove, Scott’s Run, West Virginia 2018.17.2

Image of Colored maids with white child in stroller visiting together on street corner.

Colored maids with white child in stroller visiting together on street corner. 2022.17.6

Image of County judge on the main street, Leadville, Colorado

County judge on the main street, Leadville, Colorado 2022.17.5

Image of Dyer family, Monteagle, Tennessee

Dyer family, Monteagle, Tennessee 2022.17.32

Image of Entrance to Roney Plaza Hotel. Miami, Florida

Entrance to Roney Plaza Hotel. Miami, Florida 2022.17.19

Image of Farmers sleeping in a “white” camp room in a warehouse. They often must remain several days before their tobacco is sold. Durham, North Carolina

Farmers sleeping in a “white” camp room in a warehouse. They often must remain several days before their tobacco is sold. Durham, North Carolina 2022.17.2

Image of Haircutting in front of general store, Marcella Plantation. Mileston, Mississippi

Haircutting in front of general store, Marcella Plantation. Mileston, Mississippi 2017.18.2

Image of Hanging hands of tobacco in barn to dry, Russell Spear’s farm Near Lexington, Kentucky

Hanging hands of tobacco in barn to dry, Russell Spear’s farm Near Lexington, Kentucky 2022.17.11

Image of Image of a cameraman getting ready to take a photograph of some coal miners in front of a building with the sign U.M.W. of A

Image of a cameraman getting ready to take a photograph of some coal miners in front of a building with the sign U.M.W. of A 2022.17.12

Image of Man playing guitar with his two children on porch. Natchitoches, Louisiana

Man playing guitar with his two children on porch. Natchitoches, Louisiana 2022.17.4

Image of Marion Post Wolcott helping change tire, with fence post as jack, in borrowed car, up creekbed road. Breathitt County, Kentucky

Marion Post Wolcott helping change tire, with fence post as jack, in borrowed car, up creekbed road. Breathitt County, Kentucky 2022.17.28

Image of Meeting of hod carriers union, Laeger Tennessee

Meeting of hod carriers union, Laeger Tennessee 2022.17.7

Image of Mexican miner and child. Bertha Hill, Scott’s Run, West Virginia

Mexican miner and child. Bertha Hill, Scott’s Run, West Virginia 2022.17.25

Image of Migrant agricultural workers waiting in line behind truck in the field, for pay for day’s week. Near Belle Glade, Florida

Migrant agricultural workers waiting in line behind truck in the field, for pay for day’s week. Near Belle Glade, Florida 2018.17.1

Image of Mosquito Crossing, Near Greensboro, Georgia

Mosquito Crossing, Near Greensboro, Georgia 2020.6.1

Image of Mr. Whitley in his general store. He also owns a bank, cotton exchange, and real estate. He was the first man to settle in town; he cut down trees and pulled out stumps for “main” street. Wendell, North Carolina

Mr. Whitley in his general store. He also owns a bank, cotton exchange, and real estate. He was the first man to settle in town; he cut down trees and pulled out stumps for “main” street. Wendell, North Carolina 2022.17.33

Image of Mrs. Lloyd, ninety-one years old, and daughter with pellagra, in doorway of old log house. Near Carboro, North Carolina

Mrs. Lloyd, ninety-one years old, and daughter with pellagra, in doorway of old log house. Near Carboro, North Carolina 2022.17.1

Image of Negro using outside stairway for “colored” to enter movie theatre. Belzoni, Mississippi

Negro using outside stairway for “colored” to enter movie theatre. Belzoni, Mississippi 2017.18.1

Image of Negroes from plantation spending their “cotton money” on Saturday nite. Clarksdale, Mississippi

Negroes from plantation spending their “cotton money” on Saturday nite. Clarksdale, Mississippi 2022.17.14

Image of Old house, project family. Gee’s Bend, Alabama

Old house, project family. Gee’s Bend, Alabama 2022.17.24

Image of Old Negro near Camden, Ala.

Old Negro near Camden, Ala. 2022.17.17

Image of Oldest child of migrant packing-house workers preparing supper. Her parents work during the day and sometimes until 2 a.m. The children are left alone. New Homestead, Florida

Oldest child of migrant packing-house workers preparing supper. Her parents work during the day and sometimes until 2 a.m. The children are left alone. New Homestead, Florida 2020.6.2

Image of On assignment in a borrowed car and stuck in a creek bed road. Breathitt County, Kentucky

On assignment in a borrowed car and stuck in a creek bed road. Breathitt County, Kentucky 2022.17.31

Image of Picketing copper miners on strike waiting for the “scabs” (strike breakers) to come out of the mine. Ducktown, Tennessee

Picketing copper miners on strike waiting for the “scabs” (strike breakers) to come out of the mine. Ducktown, Tennessee 2022.17.22

Image of Proprietor of a poolhall playing cards. Woodstock, Vermont

Proprietor of a poolhall playing cards. Woodstock, Vermont 2022.17.30

Image of Saw mill workers organizing into C.I.O union. Whitwell, Tennessee

Saw mill workers organizing into C.I.O union. Whitwell, Tennessee 2021.4.2

Image of Spanish muskrat trappers drinking wine and playing "cache," a form of poker, in their camp in the marshes. Delacroix Island, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana

Spanish muskrat trappers drinking wine and playing "cache," a form of poker, in their camp in the marshes. Delacroix Island, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana 2022.17.27

Image of Spanish trapper hanging muskrats up to dry their fur before skinning. Stretching and drying the pelt follows this. His camp is in the marshes nearby. Delacroix Island, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana

Spanish trapper hanging muskrats up to dry their fur before skinning. Stretching and drying the pelt follows this. His camp is in the marshes nearby. Delacroix Island, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana 2016.6.2

Image of Spectators at paddock fence between races. Warrenton, Virginia

Spectators at paddock fence between races. Warrenton, Virginia 2022.17.29

Image of Sulky Races. Shelbyville County Fair, Kentucky

Sulky Races. Shelbyville County Fair, Kentucky 2022.17.13

Image of Sunset Village, a Farm Security Administration project for defense workers. Radford, Virginia

Sunset Village, a Farm Security Administration project for defense workers. Radford, Virginia 2022.17.3

Image of Tenant farmer’s children, the younger one with rickets from malnutrition. Near Wadesboro, North Carolina

Tenant farmer’s children, the younger one with rickets from malnutrition. Near Wadesboro, North Carolina 2019.10.1

Image of The daughter of Cube Walker, a Negro tenant purchase client, bringing home their cow from the fields in the evening. Belzoni, Mississippi

The daughter of Cube Walker, a Negro tenant purchase client, bringing home their cow from the fields in the evening. Belzoni, Mississippi 2022.17.8

Image of Two couples in a booth in a juke joint near Morehaven, Florida

Two couples in a booth in a juke joint near Morehaven, Florida 2022.17.20

Image of Vegetable workers, migrants, waiting after work to be paid. Near Homestead, Florida

Vegetable workers, migrants, waiting after work to be paid. Near Homestead, Florida 2019.10.2

Image of Wigwam Motel. Bardstown, Kentucky

Wigwam Motel. Bardstown, Kentucky 2022.17.18

Image of Winter visitor being served lunch in a private club. Palm Beach, Florida

Winter visitor being served lunch in a private club. Palm Beach, Florida 2022.17.15

Image of Winter visitors relaxing on the beach beside their car near a trailer park. Sarasota, Florida

Winter visitors relaxing on the beach beside their car near a trailer park. Sarasota, Florida 2022.17.26

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