Photography

Leica 35mm Camera

The millions of photographs in the Museum's collections compose a vast mosaic of the nation's history. Photographs accompany most artifact collections. Thousands of images document engineering projects, for example, and more record the steel, petroleum, and railroad industries.

Some 150,000 images capture the history, art, and science of photography. Nineteenth-century photography, from its initial development by W. H. F. Talbot and Louis Daguerre, is especially well represented and includes cased images, paper photographs, and apparatus. Glass stereographs and news-service negatives by the Underwood & Underwood firm document life in America between the 1890s and the 1930s. The history of amateur photography and photojournalism are preserved here, along with the work of 20th-century masters such as Richard Avedon and Edward Weston. Thousands of cameras and other equipment represent the technical and business side of the field.

Culture: Mexicans

Physical Examination of Braceros

Photograph: An agent for the Texas growers association examines a bracero's musculature at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, as a uniformed official looks on.
Description
Photograph: An agent for the Texas growers association examines a bracero's musculature at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas, as a uniformed official looks on.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.02.33
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.02.33

Braceros in Mexico City

Photograph: In Mexico City, Mexico, braceros wait in front of an official building to apply for farm work in the United States.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: In Mexico City, Mexico, braceros wait in front of an official building to apply for farm work in the United States.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.15.07
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.15.07

Water Fountain at Bracero Camp

Photograph: A water spigot stands outside at a camp in Tracy, California.
Description
Photograph: A water spigot stands outside at a camp in Tracy, California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.23.28
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.23.28

Bracero Washing Clothes

Photograph: A bracero washes his clothes at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero washes his clothes at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.32.15
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.32.15

Physical Examination of Braceros

Photograph: Braceros stand with their backs to the wall and stretch while an official examines their figures at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros stand with their backs to the wall and stretch while an official examines their figures at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.17.08
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.17.08

Supervising Braceros in Onion Field

Photograph: A grower and a growers association field representative look over a group of braceros working in an onion field in the Salinas Valley, California.
Description
Photograph: A grower and a growers association field representative look over a group of braceros working in an onion field in the Salinas Valley, California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.31.17
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.31.17

Braceros in Town

Photograph: Braceros walk the streets in the town of Salinas, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros walk the streets in the town of Salinas, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.29.25
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.29.25

Braceros Waiting in Line

Photograph: Braceros present documents while others wait in line to be processed at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros present documents while others wait in line to be processed at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.07.16
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.07.16

Braceros in Living Quarter

Photograph: Two braceros dress their hair with the aid of handheld mirrors in a living quarter at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Two braceros dress their hair with the aid of handheld mirrors in a living quarter at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.48.06
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.48.06

Braceros' Belongings

Photograph: Braceros' belongings litter the ground at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros' belongings litter the ground at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.12.25
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.12.25

Braceros at Meal Time

Photograph: Braceros are served food while others sit and have dinner in a dining hall at a camp in California.
Description
Photograph: Braceros are served food while others sit and have dinner in a dining hall at a camp in California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.47.19
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.47.19

Braceros Waiting in Line

Photograph: Braceros wait in line in front of a building's windows at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros wait in line in front of a building's windows at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.07.22
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.07.22

Checking Bracero's Hands

Photograph: An official checks a bracero's hands for calluses at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Description
Photograph: An official checks a bracero's hands for calluses at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.13.15
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.13.15

Bracero Smoking a Cigarette

Photograph: A bracero relaxes on his bed and smokes a cigarette at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero relaxes on his bed and smokes a cigarette at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.32.34
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.32.34

Bracero Talking to Official

Photograph: A bracero talks to an official during processing at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero talks to an official during processing at the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.03.44
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.03.44

Bracero Camp

Photograph: Clothes dry on a chain link fence at the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Clothes dry on a chain link fence at the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.27.20
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.27.20

Bracero Entertainment

Photograph: Braceros enjoy an impromptu concert near the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros enjoy an impromptu concert near the Monterrey Processing Center, Mexico.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.16.01
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.16.01

Braceros Examining Paychecks

Photograph: Braceros examine their paychecks outside of a building in Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros examine their paychecks outside of a building in Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.44.12
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.44.12

Bracero in Field

Photograph: A bracero with a short-handled hoe over his shoulder stands in a field in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero with a short-handled hoe over his shoulder stands in a field in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.56.07
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.56.07

Bracero Tallying Strawberries

Photograph: A bracero counts boxes of strawberries and punches tally cards on the edge of a field near Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero counts boxes of strawberries and punches tally cards on the edge of a field near Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.31.06
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.31.06

Braceros at Meal Time

Photograph: Braceros have lunch at the edge of a lettuce field in the Salinas Valley, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros have lunch at the edge of a lettuce field in the Salinas Valley, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.37.17
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.37.17

Bracero Camp

Photograph: A hillside slopes town to the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A hillside slopes town to the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.38.34
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.38.34

Bracero Washing Clothes

Photograph: A bracero does laundry outside a living quarter at a camp in California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: A bracero does laundry outside a living quarter at a camp in California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.44.03
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.44.03

Braceros Loading Lettuce

Photograph: Braceros load Toro lettuce boxes onto a truck in a lettuce field in the Salinas Valley, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros load Toro lettuce boxes onto a truck in a lettuce field in the Salinas Valley, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.40.16
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.40.16

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