Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee (LOC)

Red nail polish!

Sista Strong...Sista Show You Belong...Go On Sista, Go On!

Another picture of same woman. Thanks to fontgoddess, coming_again for finding this.

looks like an early blowdryer

This lady got some muscles for sure!

bling!

Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee (LOC) by The Library of Congress.

Palmer, Alfred T.,, photographer.

Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee

1943 Feb.

1 transparency : color.

Notes:
Title from FSA or OWI agency caption.
Transfer from U.S. Office of War Information, 1944.

Subjects:
Airplane industry
Women--Employment
World War, 1939-1945
Bombers
Drilling
United States--Tennessee--Nashville

Format: Transparencies--Color

Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.

Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

Part Of: Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Collection 12002-41 (DLC) 93845501

General information about the FSA/OWI Color Photographs is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsac

Persistent URL: hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsac.1a35371
hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3d02219

Call Number: LC-USW36-295

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Comments

E. Howe says:

Whoa! What an incredible image. I am SO glad to see that Black women worked on aircraft, too. I love her nail polish, and her ring. I'd LOVE to know her name, if she's still alive. This is such an outstanding portrait!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Nicola A. Hunt says:

this is outstanding...i also noticed the details of her appearence as well as the clear reflection and sharp focus...this is just so rad to have on flickr!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

lizriz says:

Beautiful and inspiring.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

serendipity.rachael says:

What an amazing time captured on film forever!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

kenorland says:

Okay, they never taught us that black women also worked as Rosie. What a crime of omission! So cool to see this.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas W.P. Slatin Photography says:

This is amazing!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Maly B. says:

I am so inspired!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

silverbelly says:

wow this photo has been getting a lot of play in the blogosphere...
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

WireLizard says:

Just hit BoingBoing.

Cool image, all around!

Wonder if there's any way at all of figuring out who this is, if she's still alive, etc? *That* would be seriously cool.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Lomara says:

My Grandma was a "Rosie" at the Vultee plant in Downey, CA during the same year this photo was taken. I've never found a photo of her at work during that time. This photo makes me hopeful there is one out there somewhere, maybe in the Library of Congress.

--
Seen in your 1930s-40s in Color set. (?)
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

fizzix says:

Excellent image! I just found out about the LoC photostream - thanks!

--
Seen in your 1930s-40s in Color set. (?)
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

fontgoddess says:

I believe this photo is another picture of the same woman.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

coming again says:

Wonderful photo!

However, she is métis not black... curious this American trend to see black people everywhere. To my eyes, she is as white as black (surely a father black and a mother white or conversely). It is even more blatanton this photo.

Maybe... the spiritual mother of Barack Obama? ;-)
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

ocker3 says:

I understand what you're saying coming_again, however 'white' people (of which I am one) tend to see any minority mix as being fully that minority, ie if someone is 10% minority, they're treated as 100% usually. I would say it's actually a feature of a number of conservative racial cultures, often an Indian/Chinese baby will be treated by the larger Indian family as being predominantly Chinese rather than half Indian.

I don't think it's solely a trait of people from the USA (note that there is a South as well as North America, and three countries in North America at that) to see a slight minority heritage as a disadvantage or a person of that heritage as Not-White.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Laserone ☆ Lauren says:

AWESEOM find!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Awed Job says:

Felice House completed a series of War Women oil paintings based on some of these LOC images: link

thanks to Old Grimy for pointing that out.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Miss Hazel says:

a powerful image of a powerful woman
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

SteelePop [deleted] says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called 6th element - 碳 - カーボン - 탄소 - углерод, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

tulippluspanda says:

what an inspiring photo, and the color is so rich!

my grandmother also worked on planes during WWII, as a Naval mechanic in New Orleans. I tear up with pride every time I open that photo album...
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

submandave says:

coming_again, this was 1943, so if you seriously believe this woman's parentage consisted of "surely a father black and a mother white or conversely" you are woefully ignorant of the racial situation of the times. I agree that she probably is not of 100% African extraction (few are), but I am sure that through her entire life she was identified by both others and herself as "black". I see no insult in referring to her as such, unless one believes there is something inherently bad about being black, a premise I am unwilling to concede.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

Casto Creations says:

I don't care what color she is ... she rocks! This photo is incredible. My grandmother was also a "Rosie" with Boing in Washington State making airplane wings. It was an amazing time.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

He Who Must Be Named says:

Powerful image!
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

cochran.lynn says:

Iconic
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

annick vanderschelden says:

Very good "Vengeance" portrait.
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

CarbonNYC says:

It's such a great combination of "personal" and "industrial." Reflections often seem overplayed, but here the reflection seems so natural and is so instrumental to the composition. I just love this shot!
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

sylkyred1 says:

I was not able to attach a tag as there are already 75. This is such a wonderful capture. She is in her overalls yet has her nails painted. Quiet strength.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

Tyroc says:

I first saw this picture on the LOC website about three years ago...I thought it was breathtaking then as well as now...
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

KarenJoy1956 says:

I just love this pic - bless her wherever she is.
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

KBlood says:

Women at Work
Posted 23 months ago. ( permalink )

tiffanybbrown says:

@coming_again: In the U.S., she is legally black, though in 1943, the term in use was 'Negro.'

In fact, she could have had blonde hair and blue eyes yet would be legally black if she had any African ancestry. (Black is the only racial category to which this 'one-drop rule' applies, by the way.)

And she appears lighter in the other photo thanks to bad makeup. There weren't many options available to black women back then, and the few available tended towards the chalky or the reddish.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

2Serenity says:

@coming_again - to add to the excellent comments of @tiffanybbrown - please read the book, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson and also The Human Stain by Phillip Roth. Maybe an inside into the mixed world may help you understand your confusion. Wish you the best.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

DiGigrafo says:

Gran concepto, buena luz y composición. Una imagen de calidad.
Saludos
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Athena's Armoury says:

This is fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Francys says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Wonder Woman, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Lyyrix says:

So beautiful...I"ve never seen this!....look at her arms!!...
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Nat-tastic says:

Women were so classy back then!
Posted 21 months ago. ( permalink )

Beth Teresi says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Working 9 to 5, and we'd love to have you join our group and add your photo!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

The Library of Congress says:

Lomara:

To find more images, we suggest searching in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog, as there are black-and-white photographs in our collections which were taken at the Vultee plant in Downey, CA. Perhaps you'll spot your grandmother in one!

Go to: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html and type in VULTEE DOWNEY to see what we have. (After you search, try clicking the Preview Images button to view the results as a thumbnail grid.)

Best of luck!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Lomara says:

Awesome! Thank you so much! I will continue searching for photos of my Grandmother.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Timothy West says:

awesome images so authentic... trcwest.com
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

Ricardo Barbieri says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Man @ work , and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

The Library of Congress says:

ric2801: We received your request to have a Library of Congress photo added to your group Man @ work. Please click on the "Invite this photo to..." link below the comment box and we'll accept it.
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

johey24 says:

I love this photo. Truly a Woman with Soul!
If you have the time, please add your photo to our Group, SWOTM at SWOTM Soul Woman of the Month Group)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

The Library of Congress says:

Beth love s Boston: We received your request to have a Library of Congress photo added to your group: Working 9 to 5. Please click on the "Invite this photo to..." link below the comment box and we'll accept it.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

The Library of Congress says:

johey24: We received your request to have a Library of Congress photo added to your group: SWOTM Soul Woman of the Month Group. Please click on the "Invite this photo to..." link below the comment box and we'll accept it.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

iamchanelle says:

awesome.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Peggy Archer says:

My grandmother also worked as a riveter at Vultee Nashville in the 40's.

I wonder if she knew this lady?
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

JessAndTheCity says:

these are all so cool
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

CowFace says:

wow this set is awesome
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

wircolac says:

Lovely!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

opencontext says:

Props to the Library of Congress for opening up access to these great resources! What wonderful images!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Stephanie Warrior Princess says:

Superb picture, especially in color!

Hitler thought that a woman's place was in the home, so Germany was very slow in mobilizing women for industry and never did to the extent practiced by the Allied countries. He also thought that black people were inferior to whites. Germany was always short on aircraft and all other weapons, munitions, and hardware. Ooops!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

striatic says:

This image has been used in the indicommons.org post: Flickring across the Library of Congress

Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

dorsal stream says:

What a great public resource--a model for how information and heritage should be shared.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

womenwithoutborders says:

Women Expression!!!
please add the tag "Women Expression"
You are ufficially Invited to
add this photo toWomen Expression (Post 1-Comment 2)
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

JDAZE Podcast says:

great shot!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

campbellcierra says:

I love this photo because it shows not only a black woman doing her job, but a woman with a look of perseverance on her face.
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

semion2 says:

nice

map.html
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

kaitlinshiner says:

Beautiful and strong! Such an inspiring photo.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

funk_so_bravo says:

WoW Amazing Shot
Very Well COmposed

My photostream
www.flickr.com/photos/hdpicturestudio/

We Would Love to have you as our Group Member

DSLR LOVERS
www.flickr.com/groups/1074828@N21/
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Sierra Echo Alpha Av8r ---=.O.=--- ...Graham says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called I LOVE THIS SHOT!, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 5 days ago. ( permalink )

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Operating a hand drill at Vultee-Nashville, woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber, Tennessee (LOC)

Comments

E. Howe says:

Nicola A. Hunt says:

lizriz says:

serendipity.rachael says:

kenorland says:

Thomas W.P. Slatin Photography says:

Maly B. says:

silverbelly says:

WireLizard says:

Lomara says:

fizzix says:

fontgoddess says:

coming again says:

ocker3 says:

Laserone ☆ Lauren says:

Awed Job says:

Miss Hazel says:

SteelePop [deleted] says:

tulippluspanda says:

submandave says:

Casto Creations says:

He Who Must Be Named says:

cochran.lynn says:

annick vanderschelden says:

CarbonNYC says:

sylkyred1 says:

Tyroc says:

KarenJoy1956 says:

KBlood says:

tiffanybbrown says:

2Serenity says:

DiGigrafo says:

Athena's Armoury says:

Francys says:

Lyyrix says:

Nat-tastic says:

Beth Teresi says:

The Library of Congress says:

Lomara says:

Timothy West says:

Ricardo Barbieri says:

The Library of Congress says:

johey24 says:

The Library of Congress says:

The Library of Congress says:

iamchanelle says:

Peggy Archer says:

JessAndTheCity says:

CowFace says:

wircolac says:

opencontext says:

Stephanie Warrior Princess says:

striatic says:

dorsal stream says:

womenwithoutborders says:

JDAZE Podcast says:

campbellcierra says:

semion2 says:

kaitlinshiner says:

funk_so_bravo says:

Sierra Echo Alpha Av8r ---=.O.=--- ...Graham says:

Would you like to comment?

The Library of Congress' photostream

1930s-40s in Color (Set)

Women at Work (Pool)

6th element - 碳 - カーボン - 탄소 - углерод (Pool)

Wonder Woman (Pool)

I LOVE THIS SHOT! (Pool)

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