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1940s Business And Work Christmas Holidays On This Day photographs Photojournalism Shopping Travel And Places War

Christmas In Washington DC 1941 – Shopping At Woolworth’s Five-and-Dime And Waiting For The Greyhound Bus Home

Title Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on the day before Christmas Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. 24.

 

Christmas Eve 1941. John Vachon (1914 – 1975) has been detailed by the Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information to photograph people waiting and leaving the Washington D.C. Greyhound bus terminal the day before Christmas.

Vachon’s colleague, John Collier (1913-1992), was there either at the same time or a day or two earlier.

 

Title Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on the day before Christmas Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. 24.

 

Vachon records the scene, waves adieu to the travellers heading to Richmond Virginia and moves on to photograph life in Virginia.

Collier walks around the corner and pops into a Woolworth’s five and ten cent store. The place is packed with shoppers looking for last-minute gifts.

A year earlier, Woolworth’s had produced its first full color catalogue for US customers. News of war far away in Europe had triggered a demand for military toys, such as lead soldiers, and tinplate guns and tanks.

That 1940 catalogue featured a double-page spread photograph of the store’s khaki-painted lead soldiers, sailors and airmen looking out over a sea of rubber boats and submarines harboured in a US base. Some of the items had been made in Japan. The irony is grim.

Japan launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbour just before 08:00, on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941. America was at war. December 1941 was the year when everything changed…

 

Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on day before Christmas. Waiting for bus to Richmond Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer john vachon

Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on day before Christmas. Waiting for bus to Richmond Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer john vachon

Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on day before Christmas. Waiting for bus to Richmond Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer john vachon

Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on day before Christmas. Waiting for bus to Richmond Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer john vachon

Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on day before Christmas. Waiting for bus to Richmond Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer john vachon

Washington, D.C. Greyhound bus terminal on day before Christmas. Waiting for bus to Richmond Contributor Names Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer john vachon

John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec.

John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec.

John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec.
John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec. John Collier Washington, D.C. Christmas shopping in Woolworth's five and ten cent store] Contributor Names Collier, John, Jr., 1913-1992, photographer Created : Published 1941 Dec.

 

Via: Library of Congress.

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