Research Catalog

Title

National Youth Administration collection [graphic].

Publication

1935-1943.

Supplementary Content

Finding aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

NYA Photography Workshop, National Youth Administration for New York City & Long Island.

Description

• 442 items (1.4 cubic ft., 6 boxes); 51 x 39 cm.
• 1 photographic print : gelatin silver, b&w ;
• 33 photographic prints : gelatin silver, b&w ;
• 196 photographic prints : gelatin silver, b&w ;
• 210 photographic prints : gelatin silver, b&w ;
• 1 book: b&w ;
• 1 album: b&w ;

Subjects

• Vocational education
• La Guardia, Fiorello H (Fiorello Henry), 1882-1947
• World War, 1939-1945 > African Americans
• Parris, Guichard
• Group portraits > 1930-1949
• African American apprentices
• African Americans > Employment
• World War, 1939-1945 > Women
• African Americans > Education
• United States > National Youth Administration > Office of Negro Affairs
• Service industry workers
• Industrial mobilization > United States
• Gelatin silver prints > 1930-1949
• Blue collar workers
• African American high school students
• African American teenagers
• War work
• African American singers
• Youth organizations
• Occupational education
• African American young adults

Genre/Form

• Group portraits – 1930-1949.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1930-1949.

Note

• Title devised by cataloger.
• Some photographs bear photographer's or photography studio's handstamp on verso. Some photographs have agency's photo credit handstamped on verso. Many items have descriptive information on verso or recto. Some items are mounted.
• Photographers include NYA Photography Workshop, National Youth Administration for New York City & Long Island.

Terms of Use (note)

• Restricted: Photocopying of some items is prohibited due to condition of prints.

Call Number

Sc Photo National Youth Administration

OCLC

NYPG04-F41

Title

National Youth Administration collection [graphic].

Imprint

1935-1943.

Summary

The National Youth Administration (NYA) was a government sponsored youth training and employment program from 1935 to 1943. The collection consists of images of primarily African American youths engaged in NYA activities including employment and training programs, meetings, and parades. The collection dates from 1935 to 1943 with the bulk of the images from 1942-1943 when the organization was placed under the War Manpower Commission. Other images include NYA's youth activities under the auspices of the Works Projects Administration (1935-1939) and the Federal Security Agency (1939-1942). Images that document the NYA administration are very limited.

The Employment and training series (1935-1943) comprises most of the collection and depicts male and female youths in training programs or at their jobs. Many images document NYA resident training centers where youths were taught such skills needed for the War World II defense effort as auto and aviation mechanics, machine shop work, welding, sheet-metal work, sewing, woodwork and radio repair. Resident training centers depicted include the Astoria Work Experience Center (Astoria, Queens, New York City), Victory Training Center (Harlem, New York City), and the Huron Work Experience Center (Chicago, Illinois). Other images show youths working as clerks, food preparation and service workers, laboratory workers, printers and toy repairers. Among NYA youth employment projects depicted in New York City are the Library and Parks projects. Young people are also shown working in hospitals and schools, employment in the arts, including dance, and the Astoria Radio workshop musical and theatrical performances.

The General series (1935-1943) mainly depicts job interviews, get-togethers, parades, portraits of individual youths and miscellaneous images. Get-togethers mostly capture youths and adults at parties, banquets, and meetings and in restaurants. Identified portraits are of Guichard Parris, Director of Negro Affairs, National Youth Administration for New York City and Long Island. Miscellaneous images include exterior views of NYA offices.

Terms Of Use

Restricted: Photocopying of some items is prohibited due to condition of prints.

Connect to:

NYPL Digital Collections

Finding aid

Added Author

NYA Photography Workshop, National Youth Administration for New York City & Long Island.

Research Call Number

Sc Photo National Youth Administration