Photos: John Vachon captures Minnesota at work, 1939-1941

Man loads truck
A man loaded a truck as his family waited in the cab, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 1939.
John Vachon | Courtesy of the Library of Congress

From 1935 through 1944, the U.S. government sent photographers across the country to document American life — and how relief programs were helping those struggling through the Great Depression.

St. Paul native John Vachon worked for the Farm Security Administration — and then the Office of War Information — from 1938 until 1943. He later became a staff photographer at Look magazine.

John Vachon died in 1975, but would have turned 101 Tuesday. All week, we're republishing photos from his Minnesota rovings.

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