These photos show how life was quite a bit different in Utah in 1940. They were all taken by a group of professional photographers hired by the federal government to document the Farm Security Administration’s initiatives. The project was meant to show Americans a depiction of their rural counterparts, recovering from the Great Depression with the help of special grant money.

  1. Scissors and Lawn Mower Sharpening Service, St. George

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Bingham Canyon Mine, Salt Lake

Andreas Feininger/Library of Congress

  1. Home Pantry, Box Elder

Unknown Photographer/Library of Congress

  1. Going to Church, Mendon

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. State Agricultural College, Logan

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Washing Dishes, Snowville

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. At the Doctor’s Office, Box Elder

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. The Furnace in Your Basement, Santa Clara

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Columbia Steel Company, Geneva

Andreas Feininger/Library of Congress

  1. Hydroelectric Power Plant, Logan

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Eating Lunch at Home, Box Elder

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Main Street, Corinne

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Candy Store, Mendon

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Playing in the Front Yard, Paradise

Unknown Photographer/Library of Congress

  1. Playing Outside, Blue Blaze Coal Mine near Price

Dorthea Lange/Library of Congress

  1. Railroad Station, Corinne

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Arts and Crafts at School, Santa Clara

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Schoolhouse, Mendon

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Driving Through the Herd of Sheep, Duchesne County

John Vachon/Library of Congress

  1. Listening to the World Series Game, St. George

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. Playing a Game of Marbles in the Living Room, Santa Clara

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

  1. The Movie Theater, Escalante

Dorthea Lange/Library of Congress

  1. High School, Escalante

Dorthea Lange/Library of Congress

  1. Main Store, Tropic

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

Which photo is your favorite?

Russell Lee/Library of Congress

Andreas Feininger/Library of Congress

Unknown Photographer/Library of Congress

Dorthea Lange/Library of Congress

John Vachon/Library of Congress

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