Life In A Washington DC Boarding House For Government Workers (1943)

Esther Bubley was one of the photographers employed by the US Farm Security Administration (Office of War Information) to record the county as it was between 1935 and 1945. In 1943 she photographed life in a Washington DC boarding house, home to Government workers.

 

Washington, D.C. A girl employed by the U.S. government, a new arrival at a boardinghouse, being greeted by her roommates

Washington, D.C. A girl employed by the U.S. government, a new arrival at a boardinghouse, being greeted by her roommates

 

 

Washington, D.C. A radio is company for this girl in her boardinghouse room

Washington, D.C. A radio is company for this girl in her boardinghouse room

 

Washington, D.C. Pearl Ginsburg refused to have her boardinghouse rent raised

Washington, D.C. Pearl Ginsburg refused to have her boardinghouse rent raised

 

dresser 1

 

Washington, D.C. A clerk in the U.S. Navy Department reading in his room in a boardinghouse

 

Washington, D.C. This boardinghouse room needs a heater in the winter and a fan in the summer

Washington, D.C. This boardinghouse room needs a heater in the winter and a fan in the summer

shower

Washington, D.C. A U.S. Office of Price Administration stenographer and a friend in their boardinghouse room

Washington, D.C. A U.S. Office of Price Administration stenographer and a friend in their boardinghouse room

 

Cards in the lounge

Cards in the lounge

 

Do not disturb

Do not disturb

 

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No men in women's rooms nor women in men's rooms

No men in women’s rooms nor women in men’s rooms

guests
Washington, D.C. Boarders often speculate on the identity of the owner of the house across the street. They like to think it belongs to the President of a South American steamship line

Washington, D.C. Listening to a murder mystery on the radio in a boardinghouse room8d33590v

Washington, D.C. A boardinghouse philosopher

Washington, D.C. A boardinghouse philosopher

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Via: Library of Congress

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