There are thousands of photographs archived in the Library of Congress. Thankfully, the Retronaut has rifled through the stacks of material and snippets of decades past, and culled some amazing color shots of children in the 1940s. Seems like a different world, because it was. The effects of the Great Depression and World War II hang heavy, but the kids are being kids. See scenes from rural schools, city life, of wide smiles and war bonds posters, and even a shot of two little gents fishing by the pond, looking straight out of a Mark Twain novel.
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress
Photo credit: Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information collections at the Library of Congress