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Exploring Everyday Life in 1930s Manhattan with the Federal Art Project Photographers

The late 1930s were a time of great change and uncertainty in America. The Great Depression had gripped the nation, leaving millions unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. Yet, amidst the hardship, a sense of resilience and hope persisted. This spirit was captured beautifully by photographers working for the Federal Art Project in New York City. Their images of Manhattan during this era offer a fascinating glimpse into a city on the cusp of transformation.

The Federal Art Project was a government program created to provide work for artists during the Depression.  Photographers were hired to document American life, and they turned their lenses on everything from rural landscapes to bustling city streets. In Manhattan, these photographers captured the city’s iconic skyline, its diverse neighborhoods, and its everyday people.

The Federal Art Project photographers didn’t just focus on famous landmarks or grand scenes. They also captured the everyday moments that make up city life.  Children playing in the streets, vendors selling their wares, and people gathering in parks are all documented in these images. These photos provide a valuable record of how ordinary New Yorkers lived, worked, and interacted with their environment.

#1 6th Avenue Subway Reconstruction, 42nd Street, 1937.

#4 Making Shirts on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#5 Fixing a Sewing Machine on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#10 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 15th Street, 1937.

#11 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

#12 Pinning a Pattern on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#18 Ironing a Jacket on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#20 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 48th Street, 1937.

#23 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#26 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 33rd Street, 1937.

#27 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 18th Street, 1937.

#30 Shipping Clothes from 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#31 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 15th Street, 1937.

#32 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#34 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 23rd Street, 1937.

#35 Ironing Pants on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#37 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 26th Street, 1937.

#39 Folding Clothes on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#40 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 14th Street, 1937.

#43 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 42nd Street, 1937.

#45 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

#46 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 26th Street, 1937.

#48 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#50 Singer Sewing Machine on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#52 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#53 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#54 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

#56 West Washington Market — Weighing and Loading Beef, 1938.

#58 Preparations on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#60 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 30th Street, 1937.

#64 Fulton Fish Market: Fish Peddler Selling Sand Shark, 1938.

#66 Cutting Cloth 2 on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#68 Sewing Pants on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#69 Sewing a Quilt on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#72 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 23rd Street, 1937.

#73 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 24th Street, 1937.

#75 Adding Batting to the Quilt on 10th Avenue, 1937.

#77 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 53rd Street, 1937.

#79 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#80 Live Sheep in Pennsylvania Railroad — Pier 78, 1938.

#82 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#84 Sewing Buttons on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#85 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

#86 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#87 Hauling Cloth on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#88 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

#91 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 46th Street, 1937.

#93 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#94 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 48th Street, 1937.

#96 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 24th Street, 1937.

#97 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 48th Street, 1937.

#98 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 13th Street, 1937.

#101 Packaging the Finished Product on 36th Street and 10th Avenue, 1937.

#102 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 18th Street, 1937.

#103 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#104 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 18th Street, 1937.

#108 Eastman Cutters on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#111 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 46th Street, 1937.

#112 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 53rd Street, 1937.

#113 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#114 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 23rd Street, 1937.

#120 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 32nd Street, 1937.

#121 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 48th Street, 1937.

#128 Stitching a Quilt 2 on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#139 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 12th Street, 1937.

#140 Stuffing Boxes on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#144 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#145 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 17th Street, 1937.

#149 Shipping Cloth from 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#151 Stitching a Quilt on 10th Avenue and 36th Street, 1937.

#152 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 23rd Street, 1937.

#153 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 16th Street, 1937.

#154 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 23rd Street, 1937.

#155 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 42nd Street, 1937.

#158 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 42nd Street, 1937.

#162 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 14th Street, 1937.

#163 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 13th Street, 1937.

#165 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 13th Street, 1937.

#170 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 48th Street, 1937.

#172 6th Avenue Subway Construction, 40th Street, 1937.

Written by Henry Parker

Content writer, SEO analyst and Marketer. You cannot find me playing any outdoor sports, but I waste my precious time playing Video Games..

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