Marjory Collins described herself as a "rebel looking for a cause." She began her photojournalism career in New York City in the 1930s by working for such magazines as PM and U.S. Camera. In 1941, Collins joined Roy Stryker's team of photographers at the U.S. Office of War Information to document home front activities during World War II. She created remarkable visual stories of small town life, ethnic communities, and women war workers.
New York. Italian-Americans on MacDougal Street relaxing on Sunday, 1942
Washington, D.C. Sunday swimmers at the municipal swimming pool, 1942
New York. O'Reilly's bar on Third Avenue in the 'Fifties', 1942
Arlington, Virginia. FSA trailer camp project for Negroes. Hanging out washing in front of the community building, 1942
Washington, D.C. Scrap salvage campaign, Victory Program. Washington schoolchild brings a load of scrap paper to school once a week, 1942
New York. Italian-Americans watching parade on Mott Street and flag raising ceremony in honor of boys from the neighborhood in the United States Army, 1942
New York. Italian-American cafe espresso shop on MacDougal Street where coffee and soft drinks are sold. The coffee machine cost one thousand dollars, 1942
Baltimore, Maryland. School children and workers returning home on a trolley at five pm, 1943
New York. Waiting room at the Pennsylvania railroad station, 1942
New York. Waiting for trains at the Pennsylvania railroad station, 1942
Washington, D.C. Watermelon vendor at the farmers' market, 1942
New York. Janet and Marie Wynn (lower left), Czech-American children, climbing on monkey bars in Central Park playground, 1942
Washington, D.C. Government workers lunch outside the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington Monument park, 1942
Washington, D.C. Scrap salvage campaign, Victory Program. Children bringing their weekly contribution of scrap paper to school, 1942
New York. The mall restaurant in Central Park on Sunday, 1942
Washington, D.C. Municipal swimming pool on Sunday, 1942
New York. Italian-Americans in the rain watching a flag raising ceremony in honor of the feast of San Rocco at right, 1942
Washington, D.C. Relaxing on the edge of the municipal swimming pool on Sunday, 1942
Washington, D.C. Scrap salvage campaign, Victory Program. Children bringing their weekly contribution of scrap paper to school, 1942
New York. O'Reilly's bar on Third Avenue in the 'Fifties', 1942