Norman Rockwell comes to life in the photographs of Afred T. Palmer
I made a truly exciting discovery while searching flickr for images on the Commons: the American Library of Congress has a catalogue of photographs featuring women working at the Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, California during World War II. These images remind me strongly of Norman Rockwell’s paintings of Rosie the Riveter (below) and the less well known Liberty Girl.
Norman Rockwell
Rosie the Riveter
1943
The Saturday Evening Post Cover, 29 May 1934
These are real women doing jobs which until then were the sole province of men. These photographs have a remarkable quality, in part because of the careful staginess, almost posed quality of the women while they work. This might be due to the technology restrictions of the time, or perhaps there is something else going on.
This ‘something else’ might be the propagandist intent of such photography. Beyond mere documentation photographs like this, and Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers, served to fuel patriotic sentiment during the war and build confidence in America’s people.
Below is a selection of images from the Library of Congress. For more, visit their flickr page.
Alfred T Palmer (photographer)
Woman at work on motor, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.
October 1942
Colour transparency
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
Women workers install fixtures and assemblies to a tail fuselage section of a B-17 bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant, Long Beach, Calif.
October 1942
Colour transparency
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
A girl riveting machine operator at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant joins sections of wing ribs to reinforce the inner wing assemblies of B-17F heavy bombers, Long Beach, Calif.
October 1942
Colour transparency
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
With careful Douglas training, women do accurate electrical assembly and installation work, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.
October 1942
Colour transparency
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
Women at work on bomber, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif.
October 1942
Colour transparency
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
